Premium
Symptoms of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in long‐term survivors of childhood leukemia
Author(s) -
Krull Kevin R.,
Khan Raja B.,
Ness Kirsten K.,
Ledet Davonna,
Zhu Liang,
Pui ChingHon,
Howard Scott C.,
Srivastava Deo Kumar,
Sabin Noah D.,
Hudson Melissa M.,
Morris E. Bran
Publication year - 2011
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.22994
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , blood cancer , population , childhood cancer , psychiatry , cancer , environmental health
Background Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) sometimes have clinical features that suggest attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though few studies have examined specific symptoms in survivors. Procedure Long‐term survivors of childhood ALL (n = 161) received a neurological examination, while parents completed rating scales to establish formal criteria for ADHD. Symptom profiles were generated and compared across demographic and treatment characteristics, as well as medical tests associated with brain pathology. Results Prevalence rates of ADHD were similar in survivors (10.5%) compared to those reported in the general population (7–10%). However, 25.5% of survivors reported symptoms that impair functioning in multiple settings, with attention problems being most common. These symptoms were associated with cranial radiation therapy (CRT) (mean inattentive symptoms [SD] = 3.6 [3.19] for group treated with CRT vs. 1.6 [2.40] for non‐CRT group, P = 0.0006), and survivors who demonstrated impaired anti‐saccades during the neurologic exam (mean inattentive symptoms [SD] = 3.4 [3.29] for those with impaired anti‐saccades vs. 1.4 [2.41] for those with normal anti‐saccades; P = 0.0004). Conclusions The presence of a neurologically‐based phenotype of attention problems in survivors of leukemia that is not fully captured by the syndrome of ADHD suggests that treatments specific to childhood ALL should be explored. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 1191–1196. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.