Assessment of Cognitive Function in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The success in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has significantly contributed to the growing number of pediatric cancers survivors with long-term complications as impaired neurocognitive and psychological functioning. The aim of the present study was to assess the cognitive function in children with ALL. The study was conducted on 3 groups: The first group include 20 known ALL patients, receiving chemotherapy in the maintenance phase, the second group included 20 ALL survivors who had completed 3 years of chemotherapy and were off therapy at the time of the study and the third group included 20 healthy children of matching age and sex from the population or siblings of ALL patients as controls. Their age ranged from 5 to 15 years. They were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical examination and laboratory investigations, and neuropsychological assessment using: Wechsler Intelligence Scale to assess cognitive function and socioeconomic status (SES) of the parents was assessed according to a scoring system modified after Fahmy and El Sherbiny. The results revealed that there was no significant difference between cognitive function of ALL children receiving treatment in the maintenance phase and the control group. While the leukemic children who had completed 3 years of treatment and were off therapy had a significantly lower cognitive function compared to ALL cases receiving treatment and to the control group. In conclusion, the cognitive function is not affected by the occurrence of ALL itself but it may show a progressive decline with ALL treatment.

Author(s): Hoda M Hassab, Hanan G. Azouz, Elham E. Elsakka, Heba B. Awwad

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