Abstract
Serum selenium concentrations were analysed in 24 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and in 152 healthy schoolchildren. Selenium was determined by the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. Lower median selenium levels were found in children with leukemia, who were on maintenance therapy and who later relapsed, than in controls (p < 0.02) and in children who remained in remission and could have treatment discontinued (p < 0.01). Median observation time for children remaining in continuous complete remission (CCR) was 66 months. There was no significant correlation between low or high serum selenium concentrations on the one hand and either age, sex, weight and height, white blood cell counts (WBC), blood platelets, S-ASAT, S-ALAT, serum protein or serum albumin on the other. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of selenium for the course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.
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