[Growth disorders after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood]

To evaluate the character of growth disorders and risk factors of their development after treatment of acute lympho- blastic leukemia (ALL) patients in childhood.

In this study 25 patients (16 women and 9 men) who had undergone treatment for ALL in childhood were assessed. Patients underwent polychemo- therapy and cranial irradiation. Average age at the time of the survey - 21,2±3,9 years; average age at the time of treatment - 6,9±3,4 years; average follow-up - 13,8±4,9 years. Healthy volunteers were included in the control group (10 women and 6 men) at the age of 25,9±3,6 years. Patients' anthropometric and laboratory parameters were measured.

SDS of the final height in ALL survivors was significantly lower in comparison with the control group (p=0,009). ALL survivors had significantly higher difference between final and target height compared to control (p=0,049). 4 of 8 men (50,0% CI: 24,5% - 75,5%) and 13 of 15 women (86,7% CI:68,1-95,7%) have reached the target height. 73,9% (CI: 56,3% - 86,8%) of ALL survivors have reached target height which is significantly lower than in the control group (p<0,001). We found a significant backward correlation be- tween the age at the time of treatment and reaching of the target height (r=-0,415, p=0,049). ALL survivors also suffered from obesity - 12%, dyslipidemia - 36,8%, insulin resistance - 66,7%.

Treatment for ALL in childhood causes a de- crease of final height. Its main risk factor is the age at the time of the treatment. ALL survivors are diagnosed with the other endocrine disorders and they need an endocrinologist's observation.