Protein energey malnutrition and skeletal muscle wasting in childhood acute lymphoblastic lukemia.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the nutritional status and the extent of skeletal muscle wasting in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the time of diagnosis and after induction chemotherapy.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary care teaching hospital.

METHODS

25 new cases of ALL underwent somatometric measurements and ultrasonographic evaluation of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous fat at initial presentation and after completion of induction therapy.

RESULTS

Malnutrition (weight for age < 80percnt) was evident in 13 cases (52percnt), but cumulative incidence of malnutrition (weight for age < 80percnt, weight for height < 90percnt, height for age < 95percnt, skin fold thickness < 5th centile, midarm muscle circumference < 5th centile) was 88percnt. Nine children lost weight during induction (range: 0.2 to 5.8 kg; means +/- SD: 1.9 plusmn 1.8 kg). All these cases had a complicated course during induction chemotherapy. Fourteen children (56percnt) had skeletal muscle wasting during induction chemotherapy. All those children who had lost weight also had skeletal muscle wasting. Subcutaneous fat, in contrast increased in 24 cases (96percnt).

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition exists in a significant proportion of children with ALL. If induction chemotherapy is complicated, children lose significant weight and have significant muscle wasting. Increase in subcutaneous fat occurs in almost all children, which is probably a consequence of therapy with oral steroids