Glycosylated and Total Hemoglobin Concentrations as Prognostic Factors in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether age-and sex-adjusted hemoglobin concentration (Hb) is an independent prognostic factor in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and to examine the role of glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) in the mechanism underlying this relation. Both Hb and adjusted Hb were associated with prognosis. However, their independence was lost when data on GHb were included. Elevated GHb, in spite of its association with low total Hb, was an independent risk factor. These results do not support the hypothesis that prolonged bone marrow suppression before initial diagnosis would indicate a good prognosis.

Key Words:

• children
• glycosylated hemoglobin
• hemoglobin
• leukemia
• prognosis