Premature ocular aging features in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2021

Abstract

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) demonstrate features of premature aging in a multitude of organ systems. The aim of this pilot study is to determine the presence of premature ocular aging features in CCS, specifically childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors. Methods:This prospective case-control study was conducted over a period of 21 months, starting July 2015 till March 2017. A total of 59 childhood ALL survivors who attended the Paediatric Oncology Clinic of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and 48 age, race, and gender-matched controls went through a series of ocular examinations and tests. Inclusion criteria used to recruit survivors were age above 16 years, history of ALL in childhood, completion of treatment for ALL, and a remission period of at least 5 years. Patients with ocular disease and those who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were excluded. The parameters measured were visual acuity, amplitude of accommodation, pupil cycle time (PCT), and tear break-up time (TBUT). Results:Survivors of childhood ALL demonstrated significant differences in amplitude of accommodation, PCT, and TBUT compared to age-matched controls. Survivors had a lower median (interquartile range IQR]) amplitude of accommodation compared to controls (11.0 D 9.0-13.0] vs. 12.0 D 10.5-15];p = 0.045). Survivors also showed a longer median (IQR) PCT in comparison to controls (931.00 mseconds (857.00-1063.00) vs. 875.50 mseconds (825.75-966.00);p = 0.024). In addition, median (IQR) TBUT was worse in survivors in comparison to the control group (9 seconds 6-13] vs. 11 seconds 10-15];p = 0.001). Conclusion:Survivors of childhood ALL demonstrate premature ocular aging features compared to age-matched controls. Thus, survivors may benefit from having ocular examinations as part of their routine late-effects screening to detect age-related ocular morbidities early in its course.

Keywords

Childhood cancer survivors, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors, Premature ocular aging, Ocular changes

Publication Title

Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology

Divisions

fac_med

Funders

Universiti Malaya[IIRG 021-2019]

Volume

10

Issue

4

Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc

Publisher Location

140 HUGUENOT STREET, 3RD FL, NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10801 USA

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