Neurological toxicities among children patients during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and occurrence of neuropsychological late effects after the treatment

Due to chemotherapeutical agents used in ALL treatment protocols, the neurological toxicity can be observed. In a group of 1855 children with ALL treated according to the ALL-IC 2002 protocol, 250 (13.5%) cases of neurological (both central and peripheral) toxicities occurred. As a pilot study, only patients from the Lublin center entered the study. A battery of neuropsychological tests were administered in 3 studied groups: 1. Survivors with treatment-related acute neurological toxicities history – clinical (CG); 2. Patients during treatment – prospective clinical (PCG), and 3. Matched healthy controls (CtrG). The aim of our study was to evaluate the connection between the occurrence of neurological toxicities during treatment for ALL and neuropsychological late effects in children after treatment completion. We found a lower IQ level in both clinical groups as compared to healthy controls. In CG patients we found more specific neuropsychological difficulties than in PCG and controls. In 2 from 4 CG patients we diagnosed dyslexia-like disorders. Our findings need further research based on CG patients from other pediatric onco/hematology wards.