This study evaluated 38 children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, under 15 years old, without previous therapy, seen at the Hospital de Base, Medical School of Saõ José do Rio Preto, S.P., during the period between September, 1989 to December, 1997. Nutritional status were compared as well as malnutrition at diagnosis with patients survival were compared. The results showed the following incidences: males 63.2%, females 36.8%. The stratification by age showed greater incidence in the age group of 5-9 years (44.8%), followed by 1-4 years (36.8%), and older than 10 years (10.5%) and the last group, younger than 1 year (7.9%). The study of nutritional status showed that 52.7% of children were wellnourished and 47.3% were undernourished at diagnosis (score Z). The anthropometric measurements showed that 21% of children were malnourished according to the weight for height index, 34.2% according to the height for age index, and 31.5% according to the weight for age index at diagnosis. Malnutrition was commonly present at diagnosis. However, the survival was not influenced by malnutrition. The present study analysis has demonstrated the necessity to improve the nutritional assessment at diagnosis as well as nutritional intervention.
malnutrition; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; prognostic factors
