title: Antioxidant levels at diagnosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure serum zinc, selenium, retinol and tocoferol levels at diagnosis of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to compare it to that of a control population. Correlation was made with episodes of febrile neutropenia during the first 8 wk of therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting levels of serum zinc, selenium, retinol and tocoferol were measured in 45 children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and in 20 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower levels of baseline selenium and tocoferol were noted in patients who developed febrile neutropenia compared to the patients who did not (p = 0.022 and 0.026 respectively). Serum retinol was also lower in patients who developed sepsis when compared to those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of antioxidants may be considered in clinical trials aiming at reducing infection related morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hematology Oncology and BMT Unit, Institute for Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dinand
authors.forename: Spriha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Toteja
authors.forename: Manas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Satya Prakash
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sachdeva
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014801:Vitamin A; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D024505:Tocopherols