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Attention and information processing in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with chemotherapy only
Author(s) -
Mennes Maarten,
Stiers Peter,
Vandenbussche Erik,
Vercruysse Gertrui,
Uyttebroeck Anne,
Meyer Geert De,
Van Gool Stefaan W.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.20147
Subject(s) - medicine , neuropsychology , chemotherapy , cognition , methotrexate , lymphoblastic leukemia , pediatrics , quality of life (healthcare) , leukemia , psychiatry , nursing
Background Omitting radiotherapy for central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis has improved the overall quality of life for long‐term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, recent reports suggest minor cognitive impairment in survivors who received chemotherapy only. Procedure This study focused on attentional functioning and speed of information processing in 23 children previously treated for ALL according to EORTC 58881 and EORTC 58951 protocol. Patients received intrathecal methotrexate combined with high doses intravenous methotrexate as CNS prophylaxis. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks, a computerized attention assessment program. Variables of both speed and accuracy of the patients were compared with those obtained from 23 age‐ and sex‐matched control children. Results Patients were equal to control children concerning baseline speed, sustained attention, response inhibition, and response organization. However, they were significantly slower than controls in three tasks: encoding, memory search letters, and focused attention 4‐letters. Interactions with the difficulty of the task were found. There were no differences in number or type of errors between groups on all tasks. Conclusions ALL survivors treated with chemotherapy have specific information processing difficulties. They process information slower than control children, especially when more information has to be processed or when attention has to be focused precisely. In spite of being slower, patients are equally accurate compared to control children. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.