Thyroid function in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

To determine the late effects of treatment on thyroid function in children who survive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we assessed plasma levels of thyroid hormones in 24 children (15 girls and 9 boys) who had received combination of chemotherapy along with 18-24 Gy of irradiation to the cranium. The children were aged between 1 and 10.5 years (mean 3.1) at diagnosis and thyroid status was investigated between 1.3 and 13 years (mean 6.8) after completion of therapy. Six children showed a low peak of plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), after stimulation with thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH). Three children showed a low basal plasma TSH concentration. Serum levels of thyroxine (T4, fT4) and triiodothyronine (T3, fT3) were normal in all patients. The frequency of thyroid hypofunction (low peak response of TSH to TRH) was more common in children receiving 24 compared to 18 Gy cranial irradiation (50% vs 14%; odds ratio = 7) and those who had completed therapy more than 5 years ago (31.3% vs 12.5%, odds ratio 3.18) although no significant association could be found (95% IC: 0.27-65.8 and 0.24-90 respectively). Because of the low mean age at diagnosis of our population no significant association could be found between children younger than 3 years of age at diagnosis and thyroid hypofunction (odds ratio = 0.14; 95% IC: 0.01-1.48). We conclude that treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia including cranial irradiation may lead to TRH/TSH dysfunction and therefore long term survivors should be followed for a long period after completion of therapy.