Analysis of handwriting of children during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) often complain about handwriting problems.


METHODS
Using a computerized writing task, we have prospectively studied the processes necessary for the production of handwriting movements in 11 children (5-12 years old) during treatment for ALL. Children were tested at time points closely related to the vincristine administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Children treated for ALL drew slower, with longer pause durations and increased drawing pressure. Children were able to overcome the problems, except for a consistently increased drawing pressure. This increased drawing pressure may be an attempt of the children to obtain sufficient kinesthetic information and thus can be seen as an adequate adaptation mechanism in case of peripheral neuropathy due to the neurotoxic effects of vincristine. However, neurotoxic effects of other cytostatic drugs cannot be excluded.
Reinders-Messelink
H A
HA
Children's Cancer Center, University Hospital Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. W.A.Kamps@bkk.azg.nl
Schoemaker
M M
MM
Snijders
T A
TA
Göeken
L N
LN
Bökkerink
J P
JP
Kamps
W A
WA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014956:Writing
D014750:Vincristine