J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Apr;30(4):463-469. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.4.463.

Neurocognitive Outcome in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Korea

• Kim SJ
• Park MH
• Lee JW
• Chung NG
• Cho B
• Lee IG
• Chung SY

• KMID: 2164455
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.4.463

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate long-term neurocognitive outcomes and to determine associated risk factors in a cohort of Korean survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Forty-two survivors of ALL were compared with 42 healthy controls on measures of a neurocognitive test battery. We analysed potential risk factors (cranial irradiation, sex, age at diagnosis, elapsed time from diagnosis, and ALL risk group) on neurocognitive outcomes. ALL patients had lower, but non-significant full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ, 107.2 +/- 12.2 vs. 111.7 +/- 10.2), verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ, 107.7 +/- 13.6 vs. 112.2 +/- 11.4), and performance intelligence quotient (PIQ, 106.3 +/- 14.2 vs. 110.1 +/- 10.7) scores than healthy controls. However, patients treated with cranial irradiation performed significantly lower on FSIQ (102.2 +/- 8.1), VIQ (103.3 +/- 11.7), and PIQ (101.4 +/- 13.2) compared to non-irradiated patients and healthy controls. ALL patients also had poor attention, concentration, and executive functions. Among ALL survivors, cranial irradiation was a risk factor for poor FSIQ, being male was a risk factor for poor PIQ, and younger age was a risk factor for poor attention. Therefore, the delayed cognitive effects of ALL treatment and its impact on quality of life require continuing monitoring and management.

Keyword

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Attention; Child; Cranial Irradiation; Cognition

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Age Factors
Child
*Cognition
Female
Humans
Intelligence
Male
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/mortality/*psychology
*Survivors
Tertiary Healthcare

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