A Longitudinal Study of Growth in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

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Abstract
Growth in terms of both height and weight was studied in a longitudinal sample consisting of 10 children who all experienced the onset of acute leukemia between 18 mo. and 7 yr of age. In spite of the lack of deviation in body size at birth, these children had somewhat higher values for attained size than the reference group 1 yr before diagnosis. The information from this study showing a decrease in growth rate before the start of treatment, could suggest that the disease causes the growth failure. Growth rate for height increased with time from the 1st yr of treatment, which could be correlated to a positive effect of medical treatment of the disease. A very stable regulation of growth between 18 mo. and 12 yr of age is indicated. The children dropped temporarily in mean 1 SD corresponding to .apprx. 4 cm, from 1 yr before the start of treatment to the end of the 3 yr of treatment. It seems, however, that it is possible for the body to repair such a temporary growth inhibition as is seen in the catch-up growth during the following 2 yr. Height measured in SD for the group 2 yr after discontinuing treatment was practically the same as height at the time of the start of treatment. Children with leukemia during the 1st years of life and during the pubertal period may not show a similar growth pattern.