Longitudinal changes in body mass index, height, and weight in children with acute myeloid leukemia

This study reported height prediction and longitudinal growth changes in Chinese pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during and after treatment and their associations with outcomes.

Changes in 88 children with AML in percentages according to the growth percentile curve for Chinese boys/girls aged 2–18/0–2 years for body mass index (BMI), height, and weight from the time of diagnosis to 2 years off therapy were evaluated. The outcomes of AML were compared among patients with different BMI levels.

The proportion of underweight children (weight < 5th percentile) increased significantly from the initial diagnosis to the end of consolidation treatment. The proportion of patients with low BMI (BMI < 5th percentile) was highest (23.08%) during the consolidation phase, and no children were underweight, but 20% were overweight (BMI > 75th percentile) after 2 years of drug withdrawal. Unhealthy BMI at the initial diagnosis and during intensive chemotherapy leads to poorer outcomes. For height, all patients were in the range of genetic height predicted based on their parents’ height at final follow-up.

Physicians should pay more attention to the changes in height and weight of children with AML at these crucial treatment stages and intervene in time.