A recent change in medication can improve quality of life. The ability to work is an important component of quality of life of patients with CML. Ability to work should be specifically considered in CML treatment.

RESUMOObjetivo: Relatar os efeitos endócrinos tardios em crianças e adolescentes após tratamento oncológico e associá-los à doença de base e ao tratamento. Sujeitos e métodos: Foram realizadas avaliações clínicas e laboratoriais visando à detecção de distúrbios endócrinos em 320 pacientes após terapia oncológica, seguidos por seis anos. Resultados: Em 94 pacientes, detectaram-se: 32 pacientes apresentaram baixa estatura (nove em tratamento com hormônio de crescimento), 14 tiveram puberdade precoce (10 em uso de análogo de GnRH) e 19 revelaram ser portadores de distúrbios de tireoide (12 com hipotireoidismo, seis com nódulos de tireoide e um com tireoidite linfocitária crônica). Obesidade foi encontrada em 18 deles. Seis com diabetes insípido e cinco com puberdade atrasada, três com pan-hipopituitarismo. Houve associação entre a radioterapia e a presença de endocrinopatias. Conclusão: Noventa e quatro de 320 (30%) dos pacientes fora de terapia apresentaram alteração endócrina, o que enfatiza a importância do seguimento precoce e regular, possibilitando-lhes, com tratamento, melhor qualidade de vida. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2010;54(9):819-25 Descritores Neoplasias; crianças; adolescentes; endocrinopatias; sobreviventes de câncer ABSTRACT Objective: To report the main endocrine effects after cancer treatment in children and adolescents and associate them to the disease and its treatment. Subjects and methods: Clinical and lab evaluation for endocrinopathy was performed in 320 patients after cancer therapy have been followed for six years. Results: The most prevalent endocrine late effects in patients were: 32 patients had short stature, nine of them were under growth hormone therapy. Precocious puberty was found in 14 patients, 10 of them received GnRH analog. Thyroid diseases were present in 19 patients (12 with hypothyroidism; six with thyroid nodules/cysts; one with chronic lymphocytic thyroidytis). Obesity was found in 18 patients. Six presented insipidus diabetes, five delayed puberty and three panhypopituitarism. Radiation was associated with the appearance of the aforementioned endocrinopathies. Conclusion: Ninety four of 320 (30%) patients presented endocrine late effects which emphasize the importance for these patients to be regularly followed-up in order to precociously diagnose endocrine late effects and provide them a better quality of life. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2010;54(9):819-25

Objective: To assess the vaccination history and the status of vaccine-induced protection from measles and rubella in children after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.Methods: Measles and rubella immunological status was assessed by the ELISA technique for 22 children previously treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.Results: From the total of 22 patients, 20 had been given two doses of measles vaccine and 18 had had one dose of rubella vaccine. The percentage of patients seropositive for measles and rubella were 65 and 88.9%, respectively, with no correlation with age of patient, aggression of treatment or the time passed between the end of treatment and sample collection. Conclusions:We detected that vaccination had failed against measles and rubella in 35 and 11.1% of cases, respectively. We recommend that a measles booster be given after the completion of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and that rubella immunity status should be assessed at this point, with revaccination performed when necessary.J P e d i a t r ( R i o J ) . 2 0 0 6 ; 8 2 ( 6 ) : 4 8 1 -4 : Immunization, immunosuppression, chemotherapy. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar a história vacinal e a situação da proteção vacinal contra sarampo e rubéola em crianças portadoras de leucemia linfóide aguda após o término do tratamento.Métodos: O estado imunológico contra o sarampo e a rubéola foi avaliado pela técnica ELISA em 22 crianças com leucemia linfóide aguda após o término do tratamento.Resultados: Dos 22 pacientes, 20 haviam recebido previamente duas doses da vacina do sarampo, e 18 deles, uma dose da vacina da rubéola. Soropositivos para sarampo e rubéola resultaram em 65 e 88,9%, respectivamente, sem correlação com idade do paciente, agressividade do tratamento ou tempo decorrido entre final do tratamento e coleta da amostra.Conclusão: Detectamos falha na proteção vacinal contra sarampo e rubéola em 35 e 11,1% dos casos, respectivamente. Recomendamos, ao final do tratamento para leucemia linfóide aguda, aplicar reforço da vacina contra sarampo, avaliar o estado imunológico contra rubéola e, se necessário, revacinar o paciente. A avaliação da situação imunológica dos pacientes após o término do tratamento, no que tange à proteção vacinal contra doenças comuns na infância, é assunto pouco estudado, mas relevante. Ela permite averiguar o estado imunológico dessas crianças através da situação sorológica para doenças contra as quais foram previamente imunizadas. Dessa análise, dependerão as recomendações quanto à imunização desses pacientes, sendo que o esquema ideal de reimunização ainda é objeto de discussão 3 .

Bras. Hematol. Hemoter. 2010;32(4):295-302.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) requires strict daily compliance with oral medication and regular blood and bone marrow control tests. The objective was to evaluate CML patients' perceptions about the disease, their access to information regarding the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, adverse effects and associations of these variables with patients' demographics, region and healthcare access. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cross-sectional study among CML patients registered with the Brazilian Lymphoma and Leukemia Association (ABRALE). METHODS: CML patients receiving treatment through the public healthcare system were interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: Among 1,102 patients interviewed, the symptoms most frequently leading them to seek medical care were weakness or fatigue. One third were diagnosed by means of routine tests. The time that elapsed between first symptoms and seeking medical care was 42.28 ± 154.21 days. Most patients had been tested at least once for Philadelphia chromosome, but 43.2% did not know the results. 64.8% had had polymerase chain reaction testing for the BCR/ABL gene every three months. 47% believed that CML could be controlled, but 33.1% believed that there was no treatment. About 24% reported occasionally stopping their medication. Imatinib was associated with nausea, cramps and muscle pain. Self-reported treatment adherence was significantly associated with normalized blood count, and positively associated with imatinib. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of information or understanding about disease monitoring tools among Brazilian CML patients; they are diagnosed quickly and have good access to treatment. Correct comprehension of CML control tools is impaired in Brazilian patients. RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVOS:Leucemia mieloide crônica (CML) exige estrita adesão à medicação oral e ao monitoramento do sangue e da medula. O objetivo foi avaliar percepções de pacientes com leucemia mieloide crônica (LMC) sobre a doença, seu acesso à informação sobre diagnóstico, monitoramento e tratamento, efeitos adversos e a associação destes com dados demográficos, geográficos e de acesso a tratamento. DESENHO E LOCAL: Estudo prospectivo transversal realizado com pacientes de LMC cadastrados na Associação Brasileira de Leucemia e Linfoma (Abrale). MÉTODOS: Pacientes com LMC recebendo tratamento do sistema público de saúde foram entrevistados por telefone. RESULTADOS: Entre os 1.102 pacientes entrevistados, os sintomas mais frequentemente levando à busca de consulta foram fraqueza e fadiga. Um terço foi diagnosticado por exames de rotina. O tempo entre sintoma inicial e procura por ajuda foi de 42,28 ± 154,21 dias. A maioria foi testada pelo menos uma vez para o cromossomo Filadélfia, mas 43,2% não sabiam os resultados. 64,8% fizeram exame de reação em cadeia da polimerase para o gene BCR/ABL a cada três meses. 47% acreditavam que LMC pode ser controlada, mas 33,1% acham que não há tratamento. Cerca de 24% disseram que ocasionalmente interrompem o tratamento. Imatinibe as...

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Objective To analyze and compare the health-related quality of life of adult survivors of acute lymphocytic leukemia and Wilms’ tumor amongst themselves and in relation to healthy participants.Methods Ninety participants aged above 18 years were selected and divided into three groups, each comprising 30 individuals. The Control Group was composed of physically healthy subjects, with no cancer history; and there were two experimental groups: those diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia, and those as Wilms’ Tumor. Quality of life was assessed over the telephone, using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey.Results Male survivors presented with better results as compared to female survivors and controls in the Vitality domain, for acute lymphocytic leukemia (p=0.042) and Wilms’ tumor (p=0.013). For acute lymphocytic leukemia survivors, in Social aspects (p=0.031), Mental health (p=0.041), and Emotional aspects (p=0.040), the latter also for survivors of Wilms’ tumor (p=0.040). The best results related to the Functional capacity domain were recorded for the experimental group that had a late diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia. There were significant differences between groups except for the Social and Emotional domains for self-perceived health, with positive responses that characterized their health as good, very good, and excellent.Conclusion Survivors of acute lymphocytic leukemia showed no evidence of relevant impairment of health-related quality of life. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (via telephone) can be a resource to access and evaluate survivors.

ResumoO progressivo sucesso dos esquemas terapêuticos para neoplasias malignas de início na infância permitiu uma melhora significativa da sobrevida dos portadores nas últimas décadas. Contudo, sequelas tardias secundárias à toxicidade destes esquemas devem ser devidamente monitoradas. Dada a relevância da avaliação de aspectos da saúde física, saúde mental, bem como fatores emocionais e sociais dos sobreviventes, avaliou-se a qualidade de vida dos entrevistados por uma abordagem alternativa: o contato telefônico. Aplicou-se o questionário SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study 36 -Item Short Form Health Survey) validado para a língua portuguesa, em trinta indivíduos, maiores de 18 anos e de ambos os sexos, sobreviventes de leucemia linfocítica aguda, sem terapia antineoplásica há pelo menos cinco anos, em acompanhamento médico no Ambulatório Fora de Terapia do ITACI (grupo experimental), e em trinta indivíduos sadios, pareados por sexo e idade ao grupo experimental (grupo controle). Os sobreviventes analisados apresentaram todos os aspectos do SF-36 superiores ao valor médio. Os resultados médios do total de pontos foram estatisticamente semelhantes ao do grupo controle. O SF-36 proporciona dados valiosos para que a equipe de saúde estabeleça condutas terapêuticas aos sobreviventes. A avaliação por telefone se mostrou importante recurso no acompanhamento ambulatorial desta população. Os sobreviventes de Leucemia Linfocítica Aguda avaliados apresentaram adequados escores de qualidade de vida na atualidade. Palavras-chave:Qualidade vida, Leucemia, Sobreviventes, Telefone. Evaluation of quality of life of survivors of childhood leukemia AbstractThe progressive success of therapeutic plans for malignant neoplasias that started in childhood allowed an important increase in the survival rate of carriers during the last decades. However, late sequelae secondary to the toxicity of such plans shall be duly monitored. Considering the importance of evaluating the aspects of physical and mental health, as well as emotional and social factors of the survivors, the quality of life of the interviewed persons was evaluated by an alternative approach: telephone calls. The SF-36 questionnaire (Medical Outcomes Study 36 -Item Short Form Health Survey), validated for the Portuguese language, was applied to thirty persons with more than 18 years of age and of both sexes, survivors of acute lymphocytic leukemia, without antineoplastic therapy for at least five years, under medical attendance at the Ambulatory outside the ITACI therapy (experimental group), and also to thirty healthy persons, matched by sex and age to the experimental group (control group). Analyzed survivors scored higher in all aspects SF-36 than the average value. The average results of the total points were statistically similar to the control group. SF-36 provides valuable data for the health team to establish therapeutic procedures to survivors. Evaluation by phone became an important resource in the ambulatory follow-up of this population. Survivors of Acute Lymphocyti...