Does weight for age have prognostic significance in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

ABSTRACT

To assess the effects of nutrition status [Weight for Age] of leukemic children on the treatment outcome. A prospective study from May, 1996 to June, 1999. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore. One hundred patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL] below the age of 14 years with L1 and L2 FAB morphology were included in this study. Treatment protocol used was FBM. Patients were classified according to waterlow classifications of malnutrition [1976]. Group-I, as Under-Nourished children [UNC] and Group-II as Well-nourished children [WNC].Percentages in both groups were found out with respect to total expired, Relpses and completed treatment. In Group-I [UNC] 44.5% completed treatment and are alive, 9.5% relapsed and 46% expired. In Group-II [WNC] 59.5% completed treatment and are alive, 5.5% relapsed and 35% expired. Overall, in WNC group 22% completed treatment and are alive, 2% relapsed and 13% expired. In UNC group 28% completed treatment and are alive, 6% relapsed and 29% expired. Our data was not significant [P=0.791] to prove the hypothesis that the malnutrition [Anthropometrical] adversely effects the treatment outcome in Pakistani children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL]. Weight for age does not has prognostic significance in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL] and should not be considered as prognostic factor