title: Magnetic fields and acute leukemia in children with Down syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  : We analyzed effects of exposure to magnetic fields on the expression of acute leukemia in children with Down syndrome (who have a 20-fold higher risk of leukemia).
  
  
  METHODS
  : We performed a case-control study that included 42 children with both acute leukemia and Down syndrome as cases and 124 healthy children with Down syndrome as controls. We obtained demographic information concerning the children and took spot measurements of magnetic fields at each residence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : The odds ratio for direct measurements of magnetic fields >/=6.00 mG was 3.7 (95% confidence interval = 1.05-13.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : The association between magnetic fields and leukemia in children with Down syndrome suggests the possibility of a causal role for magnetic fields in the etiology of leukemia among a genetically susceptible subgroup of children.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiología, Clínica, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional, Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México. juan.mejiaa@imss.gob.mx
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mejia-Arangure
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fajardo-Gutierrez
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Perez-Saldivar
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gorodezky
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez-Avalos
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romero-Guzman
authors.forename: Maria Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Campo-Martinez
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flores-Lujano
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salamanca-Gomez
authors.forename: Leora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velasquez-Perez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019371:Topography, Medical