Enteral nutrition support for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the stage of induction chemotherapy and effect on chemotherapy complications

Objective To observe the changes in nutrition indicators and the effect on chemotherapy complications as well as the safety of enteral nutrition by way of providing enteral nutrition support for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the stage of induction chemotherapy. Methods From November 2016 to September 2017, 60 children with newly diagnosed ALL at the Hematology Oncology Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital were enrolled in this study.They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, 30 cases for each group.The experimental group was given a high-calorie diet, high-quality protein, and high-medium-chain trigly-ceride enteral nutrition on the basis of a conventional low-fat diet, and the duration lasted the whole induction treatment of ALL children; while the control group was given a low-fat diet routinely.By analyzing relevant indicators before induction chemotherapy (D0), chemotherapy day 15 (D15), and after chemotherapy (D33), the changes in nutritional status and the effect on chemotherapy complications in 2 groups were investigated. Results There was no significant difference in the body mass index (BMI) and the thickness of triceps skinfold between 2 groups before and after chemotherapy (all P>0.05). The upper arm circumference increased after chemotherapy in the experimental group[before treatment: (15.80±2.63) cm, after treatment: (16.27±2.57) cm], while that of the control group decreased slightly[before chemotherapy: (17.19±3.71) cm, after chemotherapy: (17.15±3.64) cm], and the difference between 2 groups was statistically significant (P 0.05). Elemental zinc was not significantly different compared with the control group.The incidence of neutropenia after chemotherapy in ALL children was higher (37/60 cases, 61.67%). The recovery of neutropenia after chemotherapy in the experimental group was better than that in the control group.After chemotherapy, the severity of anemia in the experimental group was lighter than that in the control group.The amount of blood transfusion required and amount of transfusion per capita were less than those in the control group (54 person-times vs.74 person-times, 2.45 times vs.3.08 times). The total number of transfused blood products was less than that of the control group (78 person-times vs.101 person-times), but none of the findings above were statistically significant (all P>0.05). The degree of hepatic damage in the experimental group decreased after chemotherapy, but there was no significant change in the control group.The initial activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT) prolongation in the trial group was more than that in the control group (5 cases vs.3 cases), and less than the control group (0 case vs.1 case) after chemotherapy.The frequency of fever in the experimental group during chemotherapy was less than that in the control group (6 cases vs.8 cases), and the average time of fever was shorter than that in the control group (2.8 d vs.4.1 d). None of the above findings were statistically significant (all P>0.05). During the course of chemotherapy, 0 pancreatitis occurred in the experimental group, and 1 pancreatitis occurred in the control group.There was no difference in remission rates between 2 groups of chemotherapy for 15 days and chemotherapy for 33 days. Conclusions The nutritional status of children with ALL was reduced after initial induction chemotherapy.Enteral nutrition support was helpful to maintain the nutritional status for children at the initial stage of chemotherapy, high-calorie diet, high-quality protein, and high-medium-chain triglyceride enteral nutrition support improves blood system tolerance to chemotherapy and reduces chemotherapy complications. Key words: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Child; Enteral nutrition support; Chemotherapy complication