Hyperglycemia during induction chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been inconsistently associated with risk of infection. We investigated the incidence of hyperglycemia during induction for childhood ALL in a retrospective cohort study of 144 patients treated on a single national protocol (UKALL2003) and explored its association with infection. All patients received dexamethasone. Overt hyperglycemia was seen in 36% and proven bacterial or fungal infection was most common in this group (OR 4.1 (1.1-15.6), P = 0.039). Both hyperglycaemia and infection were particularly common in patients with Down Syndrome.
Keywords: children; hyperglycemia; infection; leukemia.
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