Reduced insulin sensitivity in childhood survivors of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with lipodystropic and sarcopenic phenotypes

Background Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) treated with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and total body irradiation (HSCT/TBI) have a high cardiometabolic risk despite lacking overt clinical obesity. This study characterised body composition using different methodologies and explored associations with reduced insulin sensitivities in a group of ALL survivors treated with/without HSCT/TBI. Procedure Survivors of childhood ALL treated with HSCT/TBI (n = 20,10 M) were compared with Chemotherapy‐only (n = 31), and an obese non‐leukaemic controls (n = 30). All subjects (aged 16–26 years) were investigated with: auxology (BMI, waist and hip circumferences), DEXA (total and regional fat, fat‐free mass), abdominal MRI (subcutaneous, visceral, intramuscular fat), oral glucose tolerance tests (impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes, insulin sensitivity) and serum adiponectin. Results HSCT/TBI Group displayed a higher prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance (45%); lower insulin sensitivity; lower lean mass with higher prevalence of reduced fat‐free mass index (from DEXA); higher visceral and intramuscular, and lower subcutaneous fat on MRI, compared with the Chemotherapy‐only and Obese controls. BMI was lowest in HSCT/TBI Group. Waist‐to‐hip and android‐to‐gynoid ratios were similar between HSCT/TBI and Obese Groups. Insulin sensitivity adjusted for visceral fat mass was lower in the HSCT/TBI than the Chemotherapy‐only and Obese groups. Adiponectin in the HSCT/TBI Group was lower than the Chemotherapy‐only group, and correlated negatively with time post HSCT/TBI. Conclusions HSCT/TBI survivors have an increased risk of abnormal glucose tolerance and reduced insulin sensitivity with reduced subcutaneous and increased visceral fat distribution, increased total fat mass and reduced lean mass. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.