Brief report: effect of intravenous methotrexate dose and infusion rate on neuropsychological function one year after diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of two intravenous (IV) methotrexate (MTX) infusion protocols on cognitive function in children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


METHODS
We compared 19 children treated with 1 g/m(2) of IV MTX over 24 hr (Group 1) to 13 children treated with 2 g/m(2) of IV MTX over 4 hr (Group 2) on measures of working memory, nonverbal, and verbal skills shortly after diagnosis (Time 1) and 1 year later (Time 2).


RESULTS
A significant GroupxTime interaction was found for a composite measure of working memory with Group 2 declining from Time 1 to Time 2. Group 2 performed significantly worse than Group 1 on a composite measure of nonverbal skills at both time points.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that difficulties in working memory and nonverbal skills may be evident during the first year of treatment for ALL and that severity may be dependent on IV MTX dose and/or infusion rate.
Carey
Marissa E
ME
West Virginia University, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, 930 Chestnut Ridge Road, PO Box 9137, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA. mcarey@hsc.wvu.edu
Hockenberry
Marilyn J
MJ
Moore
Ida M
IM
Hutter
John J
JJ
Krull
Kevin R
KR
Pasvogel
Alice
A
Kaemingk
Kris L
KL