title: Metabolic syndrome in childhood leukemia survivors: a meta-analysis.
abstract: A significant number of long-term complications have been described in childhood leukemia survivors. In particular, these patients may present features of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and therefore increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the prevalence and the risk of MetS in survivors of childhood leukemia. Two authors independently performed a systematic literature search in PubMed and EMBASE to March 2014, reviewed and selected articles, based on pre-determined selection criteria. Twelve articles, comprising 2,337 participants (1,462 cases and 875 controls), were included in the meta-analysis. Only three of them were case-control studies eligible for the meta-analysis. The childhood leukemia survivors showed an increased risk of MetS as compared to healthy controls (OR = 4.36; 95 % CI 1.19-16.22). The risk was significantly increased only in patients treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (OR = 7.79; 95 % CI 1.27-47.77), and not in patients treated with only chemotherapy (OR = 2.35; 95 % CI 0.40-13.78). Childhood leukemia survivors, in particular if treated also with radiotherapy, are prone to develop MetS more than healthy controls. Monitoring of MetS components in these patients is necessary to avoid cardiovascular consequences later in life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pediatrics Unit, University of Bari 'A. Moro', Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy, mariafelicia.faienza@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Maria Felicia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Faienza
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grano
authors.forename: Giacomina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*