SummaryOBJECTIVE In order to determine if a serious disease like childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and the treatment necessary to cure the patients has long term effects on bone mass, we assessed bone mineral density (BMD) and several parameters involved in bone formation in a group of young adult survivors of ALL. DESIGN AND PATIENTS Fourteen male and ten female survivors, treated for ALL in childhood, were cross-sectionally studied, at a mean age of 25·1 years (range 20·1-34·9). All patients, except for two, had received cranial irradiation as part of their treatment (mean radiation dose 2460 cGy).MEASUREMENTS Height and weight were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, femoral trochanter and at 1/3 distal and ultradistal in the radius. Early morning serum levels of LH, FSH, oestradiol or testosterone, IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 were determined as well as several specific markers of bone turnover.RESULTS Mean height, expressed as standard deviation score (SDS) was ¹1·12, significantly reduced. BMD in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and at 1/3 distal and ultradistal in the radius, was significantly lower compared to the reference population (P < 0·05). No correlation was found between the BMD values and the cumulative dose of administered cytotoxic drugs, the age at diagnosis of ALL or the duration of follow-up. Mean IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 SDS-scores were ¹1·24 and ¹0·78 respectively, significantly reduced. GH stimulation tests performed in a subgroup of 9 patients showed an insufficient peak GH response in at least one test in all tested patients. The values of LH, FSH oestradiol or testosterone were within the normal adult range. Serum markers of bone formation and bone resorption were in the normal range, indicating that bone turnover was normal at the time of the study.CONCLUSIONS Bone development in patients cured of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is disturbed, resulting in a significantly reduced bone mineral density. Impaired growth hormone activity, as a long term effect of cranial irradiation, may be one of the underlying causes as well as the illness itself and the administered cytotoxic drugs. Since a reduced bone mineral density predispose patients to osteoporosis, intervention in order to improve bone mass should be considered.
The high cumulative dose of dexamethasone, applied in the DCOG ALL9 protocol, prompted us to investigate the risk of osteoporosis, fractures and avascular necroses of bone (AVN) in children treated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Fracture risk and incidence of symptomatic AVN was assessed in 778 patients(482 boys, 297 girls), included in the ALL9 protocol since 1997. Total cumulative doses (TCD) of dexamethasone were 1370 mg/m2 and 1244 mg/m2 and of MTX 8.1g/m2 13.6g/m2 for NHR and HR patients respectively. No CNS-irradiation was applied. In children aged >3 years, lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXAscan), at diagnosis(T0), after 32 weeks(T1), at discontinuation of treatment at 109 weeks(T2), and one year after discontinuation of treatment(T3). Results were expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS). Symptomatic AVN was defined as on MRI confirmed AVN lesions in combination with non-vincristine related persistent pain in arms or legs. Fractures were reported in 82/778 (10.5%) patients. Most occurred after mild trauma. No difference was found in fracture incidence between boys and girls. BMD was measured in 387/427 (90.6%) eligible patients. Median BMD-SDS was significantly lower than zero at all times of evaluation, the lowest BMD values were found at T2 (−1.47 SDS). Fracture risk was 3.9 times higher as compared to healthy school children. Fracture incidence was correlated with BMD at T2 and T3(p=0.04 and p=0,04 respectively), but not at T0 and T1. A significant more rapid decline in BMD from T0 to T2 and to T3 was seen in patients with fractures as compared to patients without fractures. After discontinuation of therapy, BMD recovered faster in cases without fractures. Symptomatic AVN occurred in 33/778 (4.2%) of our patients (med age 14, range 6,5–18 years) showing irreversibility in 22 % of the cases. Differences found in the incidence between the centers may suggest underestimation of the risk of fractures and AVN in this prospective study. Children with ALL show a significantly increased fracture risk. Patients with a more severe reduction in BMD during treatment are more susceptible to fractures. The AVN incidence in this protocol did not exceed previous reports of prednisolone-based protocols.
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