Height and weight pattern up to 20 years after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

To assess height and body mass index standard deviation scores up to 20 years after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Height and body mass index standard deviation scores were measured in 33 patients (14 boys and 19 girls) with childhood ALL at diagnosis, after the end of treatment, at final height, and at follow up 10-20 years (median, 16.2) after diagnosis. Eleven patients were treated with chemotherapy only and 22 patients were treated with chemotherapy and cranial irradiation.

In the chemotherapy only group, height standard deviation scores were the same at follow up as at diagnosis, but there was a significant decrease in height standard deviation scores during treatment. Mean body mass index standard deviation scores increased steadily from the start of treatment until final height and continued to increase from final height until follow up. In the cranially irradiated group, mean height standard deviation scores decreased steadily from the start of treatment until follow up. Mean body mass index standard deviation scores increased continuously from the start of treatment until final height and from final height until follow up.

Chemotherapy combined with cranial irradiation and chemotherapy alone might be persisting risk factors for obesity even after final/height has been attained in patients treated for childhood ALL. Chemotherapy is a risk factor for reduced final height only when administered in combination with cranial irradiation. These problems need to be recognised and dealt with at follow up examination.