Screening survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2012 Sep;29(6):551-61. doi: 10.3109/08880018.2012.708892.

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors were screened for risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Forty-four ALL survivors in first remission were enrolled. Twenty-six also received 12-18 Gy cranial radiotherapy (RT). Patients' body mass indexes (BMIs) at dignosis and during the study were compared. Metabolic syndrome (MS) evaluation was performed in patients, parents, and siblings older than 6 years. Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index of the survivors was also calculated. In survivors with impaired fasting glucose levels, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Thyroid functions and IGF-1 and/or IGFBP-3 levels of the survivors who received cranial RT were evaluated. Median age of the survivors was 11.5 years (6-23). At diagnosis, mean BMI percentile was 46.7 (3-95) and mean z-score was -0.09 ± 1.14; during the study, these values rose to 71.1 ± 25.6 (3-100) and 0.8 ± 0.94, respectively (P < .001). One patient (2.2%) and nine survivors (20%) were obese at diagnosis and during the study, respectively (P = .005). Survivors had significantly higher BMI percentile and BMI z-score compared to their siblings (P = .006 and P = .011, respectively). The study group was small and we could not show a correlation of the patients' obesity with RT, thyroid functions, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 levels. In three survivors (6.8%), there was MS. Maternal and paternal MS was not found as a risk factor for MS of the survivors (P = .1, P = .5, respectively). The HOMA index revealed insulin resistance (IR) in 12 (27.2%) of the survivors, whereas OGTT revealed abnormal glucose regulation and/or IR in four. As a conclusion, ALL survivors have high risk for obesity and MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Composition
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy
  • Obesity / diagnosis*
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / mortality*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate
  • Survivors*
  • Young Adult