title: Motor performance and functional exercise capacity in survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired motor performance and reduced maximum exercise capacity during and after treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been shown. However, no longitudinal study monitoring motor performance after cessation of treatment has been published. Whether sub-maximal exercise capacity is reduced is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Motor performance of pediatric ALL survivors, treated with Dutch Childhood Oncology Group ALL-9 protocol was measured with the movement-ABC at stop treatment and ≥5 years later. At follow-up functional exercise capacity was also investigated using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Heart rate and oxygen saturation were measured with a portable pulse oximeter before and after the 6MWT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen boys and 15 girls, median age 12.3 years (range: 9.0-18.7), median time since completion of chemotherapy 5.2 years (5.0-7.1), participated. Mean height/age and weight/age were within the norm, whereas mean BMI/age was significantly increased (mean SDS 0.38, SEM 0.17, P = 0.04). Motor performance had improved significantly (P = 0.001). In contrast, functional exercise capacity at follow-up was significantly impaired (mean SDS -2.05, SEM 0.13, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At ≥5 years after completion of ALL treatment motor performance had improved significantly, but functional exercise capacity was significantly impaired. The exact underlying cause of this late effect needs further study.
authors: Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.hartman@erasmusmc.nl
authors: Annelies
authors: A
authors: Hartman
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Hop
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Takken
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Pieters
authors: Marry
authors: M
authors: van den Heuvel-Eibrink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult