No adverse effect of vincristine on handwriting in children after completion of therapy.
BACKGROUND
Long-term writing difficulties in children after treatment with vincristine for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Wilms tumor, B non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and malignant mesenchymal tumors, were investigated.


METHODS
Handwriting of 33 survivors and 33 controls matched for age, sex, and grade, was assessed with the BHK-scale. The examiner was blinded for whether a child was a case or a control.


RESULTS
No significant difference in writing speed was found. Mean difference in number of letters produced during 5 min was 6.4 (+/-67.1, range -103 to +169). No significant difference was found in quality of writing scores; mean difference in points was 1.5 (+/-7.7, range -19 to +22). Cumulative vincristine dose, age at diagnosis or time since completion of treatment did not affect writing speed or quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy, including vincristine, does not lead to long-term problems in speed or quality of writing in children treated for cancer.
Hartman
A
A
Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.hartman@erasmusmc.nl
van den Bos
C
C
van Dartel
N
N
Stijnen
Th
T
Pieters
R
R
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine