In a nutshell
This study identified the risks and incidence of congestive heart failure in children with acute leukemia (ALL or AML). The study found that risks of heart failure with ALL or AML included female gender and diagnosis at a younger age.
Some background
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood around the body sufficiently to meet the body’s needs. A link between some cancer treatments (e.g radiation) and cardiac problems has been identified. This study aims to explore the risk factors and incidence of congestive heart failure in children with acute leukemia.
Methods & findings
2053 children with either ALL or AML were included in the study.
In total, the incidence of CHF for ALL was 1.7% and for AML it was 7.5%.
Risk factors associated with CHF were identified. In ALL, these included female gender, age of less than one year at the time of diagnosis, radiation therapy and particularly high chemotherapy doses (>250mg/m2). For AML, radiation therapy was the only risk factor that could be identified.
It was more common to develop CHF during treatment than after treatment completion. Those who developed CHF during treatment did not go in to develop it after treatment.
The bottom line
This study concluded that risk factors for developing CHF in children with acute leukemia included female gender, early diagnosis and radiation therapy.
What’s next?
If you are interested in learning more about the link between CHF and cancer, please contact your doctor.
Published By :
Leukemia & lymphoma
Date :
Jul 03, 2018
