[Bone mineral density in leukemic children after completing one month of chemotherapy].
BACKGROUND
An important loss of bone mineral density, associated to pain and fractures, has been reported in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


OBJECTIVE
To measure bone mineral density among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that completed the remission induction phase with chemotherapy, that lasts 30 days.


METHODS
children with ALL, admitted to the oncology unit of a general hospital were considered eligible for the study. body composition and bone mineral density were measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). each child with ALL was paired with a healthy control.


RESULTS
Fourteen children age 1 to 11 years, completed the study, Spine and femoral bone mineral densities were significantly lower than in their matched controls. No differences in total body bone mineral density or content were observed. Children with ALL had a lower fat free mass and a higher fat mass than their matched controls. There was a significant correlation between fat free mass and bone mineral content.


CONCLUSIONS
After one month of chemotherapy, children with ALL had a lower bone mineral density in the spine and femur and a lower fat free mass.
Fischer G
Sylvia
S
Departamento de Pediatría, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso. sylfisgay@yahoo.com
Neira L
Laura
L
Ferreiro M
Myriam
M
Torres C
María Teresa
MT
Giadrosich R
Vinka
V
Milinarsky T
Aída
A
Arriagada M
Marina
M
Arinoviche S
Roberto
R
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors