Pulmonary function of children with acute leukemia in maintenance phase of chemotherapy

Thalita Medeiros Fernandes De Macêdo,Tania Fernandes Campos,Raquel Emanuele De França Mendes,Gabriela Suéllen Da Silva Chaves,Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto De Mendonça,Danielle Corrêa França

doi:10.1590/s0103-05822014000400007

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the pulmonary function of children with acute leukemia.METHODS: Cross-sectional observational analytical study that enrolled 34 children divided into groups A (17 with acute leukemia in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy) and B (17 healthy children). The groups were matched for sex, age and height. Spirometry was measured using a spirometer Microloop Viasys(r) in accordance with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured with an MVD300 digital manometer (Globalmed(r)). Maximal inspiratory pressures and maximal expiratory pressures were measured from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively.RESULTS: Group A showed a significant decrease in maximal inspiratory pressures when compared to group B. No significant difference was found between the spirometric values of the two groups, nor was there any difference between maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure values in group A compared to the lower limit values proposed as reference.CONCLUSION: Children with acute leukemia, myeloid or lymphoid, during the maintenance phase of chemotherapy exhibited unchanged spirometric variables and maximal expiratory pressure; However, there was a decrease in inspiratory muscle strength.

Highlights

Leukemia, a malignant disease most frequently found in patients aged from 0 to 18 years old, represents 25-35% of all tumors in this population.[1]
The assessment of pulmonary function in children with acute leukemia demonstrates that spirometric and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) variables of the study sample are within the expected for healthy controls
We found no studies considering the immediate effects of chemotherapy on the pulmonary function of children with leukemia

Summary

Introduction

A malignant disease most frequently found in patients aged from 0 to 18 years old, represents 25-35% of all tumors in this population.[1] Leukemia almost always presents in its acute form in children. The chosen treatment for this neoplasia is chemotherapy, which can be used in conjunction with other therapies. The chemotherapy protocols last more than a year and a half.[4] The treatment is divided into phases with the maintenance phase being the lengthiest period of the treatment. It is the stage in which children already have greater clinical stability and have passed through the other stages.[4]

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