Article
Academic career after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
A Kingmaa, L A J Rammeloob, A van der Does-van den Bergc, L Rekers-Mombargb, A Postmaa
a Children's
Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of
Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, Netherlands, b Department of Pediatrics
and Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Free
University Hospital of Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam,
Netherlands, c Dutch Childhood Leukemia Study Group, PO Box
43515, 2504 AM The Hague, Netherlands
Correspondence to: Dr Kingma email: W.A.Kamps{at}medrug.nl
Accepted 4 February
2000
AIM
To evaluate academic career in
long term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL),
in comparison to their healthy siblings.
PATIENTSNinety four children
treated for ALL with cranial irradiation 18 or 25 Gy and intrathecal
methotrexate as CNS prophylaxis. Median age at evaluation was 20 years;
median follow up since diagnosis was 15 years at the time of the study.
METHODSPatients and their 134 siblings completed a questionnaire on school career. The percentage of
referrals to special primary schools for learning disabled, and the
final level of secondary education in patients and siblings were
compared, using a six point classification. Within the patient group,
the effect of possible risk factors (age at diagnosis, irradiation
dose, and gender) was investigated.
RESULTSSignificantly more patients
than siblings were placed in special educational programmes. A
significant difference was found for level of secondary education. No
effect of gender or irradiation dose was found, but younger age at
diagnosis was significantly related to both referrals and school levels.
CONCLUSIONTreatment for childhood
ALL with cranial irradiation and chemotherapy at a young age is clearly
associated with poorer academic career.
Keywords: childhood leukaemia; cognitive functioning; academic career
© 2000 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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