Treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which
includes CNS prophylaxis, is associated with central and peripheral
neurotoxicity. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects
of chemotherapy on various levels of visuomotor control in survivors of
childhood ALL treated without cranial irradiation, and to identify risk
factors for possible deficits. Visuomotor function was compared between
children after treatment for ALL (n = 34), children after
treatment for Wilms tumor, which consists of non-CNS directed chemotherapy
(n = 38), and healthy controls (n = 151). Three tasks
were administered: a simple visual reaction time task and two tasks
measuring visuomotor control with one requiring a higher level of
cognitive control than the other. Visuomotor deficits were detected only
in the ALL group, with poorer performance restricted to the condition
requiring the highest level of control. Significant risk factors for
poorer performance were female gender and a short time since end of
treatment, and a trend was found for a young age at diagnosis. A high
cumulative methotrexate dose was an adverse predictive factor in girls.
The results indicate that chemotherapy-induced central neurotoxicity in
childhood ALL treatment is associated with higher order visuomotor control
deficits. Girls appear to be particularly vulnerable. (JINS,
2005, 11, 554–565.)