Intelligence function in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after treatment.

In order to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy and central nervous system prophylaxis on the intelligence function of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 147 patients were divided into 2 groups according to their different treatment regimens. Group A included 75 patients with ALL who were diagnosed and treated from 1981 to 1986. Group B included 72 ALL patients diagnosed and treated from 1988 to 1990. A control group included 73 healthy children who shared the same education and environmental background with the patients. Chinese revisions of Wechsler measures of intelligence quotient were used to estimate verbal IQ, performance IQ and total IQ in the 3 groups. American-produced Systate software was used to analyze the data. Results showed that IQ distribution, verbal IQ, performance IQ and total IQ of group A were obviously lower than those in the control group. Verbal IQ and total IQ of group B were also reduced. Significant differences of verbal IQ and performance IQ as well as total IQ were also found between groups A and B. Multiple regression analysis showed negative correlations between IQ and cranial irradiation dosage, times of intrathecal MTX and time after irradiation.