Glucocorticoid induced diabetes and lipid profiles disorders amongst lymphoid malignancy survivors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hyperglycemia and glucose test abnormalities are problems during the treatment of patients with lymphoid malignancy, caused by corticosteroid therapy. However, its long-term complications or risk of developing diabetes are not available.

METHODS

Two hundred patients with lymphoid hematologic malignancy were recruited and followed up for median of 47 months. The underlying hematologic malignancy includes Hodgkin's disease (HD), Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia(CLL), Multiple Myeloma (MM) and Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Fasting blood sugar, glucose tolerance test and lipid profiles were measured before each chemotherapy cycle and every 3 months after. This study was designed to evaluate patients for long-term follow up of glucose tests abnormalities.

RESULTS

The mean age of the non-diabetic patients was significantly lower than that of diabetics and patients with fasting glucose disorder (p < 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes and impaired FBS and GTT was higher in NHL (9%), CLL (6.5%) and MM (1.5%), respectively. For lipid profiles, the highest levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were observed in multiple myeloma and the lowest in Hodgkin's lymphoma (P:0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

The most important factor for steroid-induced diabetes is age, which was more prevalent with age increase (P < 0.001). Glucocorticoid-induced diabetes is common in multiple myeloma and then in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in comparison with Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.