Nutritional Status of the Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at Diagnosis and after Completion of Induction

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition is an important concern in children with leukemia. Malnutrition and weight lost are common and are due to verity of mechanism involving the tumor, the host response to the tumor such as infection and pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic drugs. Objective: To evaluate and compare the nutritional status of children with ALL at diagnosis and after completion of induction therapy. Methodology: This prospective observational study included 60 children newly diagnosed as ALL, aged 2-15 years, over a period from April 2012 to September 2012 in the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, BSMMU. The anthropometric measurements and serum albumin level were taken. Anthropometric indices are calculated by NCHS (WHO-2000) and classified as Z score. Children <-2 SD are considered as underweight (WFA), stunted (HFA) and wasted (WFH). Serum albumin level below 21g/dl is considered as severely malnourished. The Hb values of the children are compared with normal values by age. The children got induction chemotherapy according to MRC-11 protocol. They were in regular follow up and again anthropometric measurements and serum albumin level were taken after completion of induction. Results: Out of 60 children with ALL, 48 (70%) were underweight, 45 (75%) were stunted 36 (60%) were wasted at diagnosis. Incidence of malnutrition among leukemia children after completion of induction were 24 (40%) underweight, 45 (75%) were stunted and 6 (10%) were wasted. The results showed that children in the newly diagnosed stage had a higher prevalence of malnutrition. However no statistically significant difference in the nutritional status was found among newly diagnosed and after completion of induction in term of underweight and stunting but newly diagnosed patients had statistically significant wasting than patients who had completed induction chemotherapy. No patient showed severe malnutrition based on the cut-off point for serum albumin on both stages. All the children (100%) had less than normal range hemoglobin levels. Conclusion: Malnutrition was higher in children with newly diagnosed leukemia. Children had significant differences in the nutritional status in term of wasting at diagnosis than after completion of induction therapy. So, the nutritional status of children with leukemia should be monitor periodically.