This Article Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Moore, I. M. Articles by Kaemingk, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Moore, I. M. Articles by Kaemingk, K. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Methotrexate-Induced Alterations in Beta-Oxidation Correlate With Cognitive Abilities in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, kmoore{at}nursing.arizona.edu

Petra Miketova, PhD

College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Marilyn Hockenberry, RN, PhD, FAAN

Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Kevin Krull, PhD

Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Alice Pasvogel, RN, PhD

College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Marissa Carey, PhD

Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia

Kris Kaemingk, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Treatment advances, including central nervous system (CNS) treatment with methotrexate, have led to significant gains in disease-free survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, methotrexate has been associated with neurological problems such as declines in cognitive and academic abilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate methotrexate-induced changes in beta-oxidation in children with ALL receiving methotrexate for CNS treatment. Specific aims were to investigate effects of methotrexate on beta-oxidation of the two most prevalent fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and correlate the ratio of monounsaturation to saturation of these fatty acids with cognitive and academic abilities. The sample included 12 females and 14 males with low-risk (n = 7), standard-risk ( n = 13), or high-risk (n = 6) ALL. Mean age at diagnosis was 94.1 months (SD = 34.4). CSF samples were obtained in conjunction with diagnostic lumbar punctures; subsequent samples were obtained prior to intrathecal methotrexate administration during the induction, consolidation, and continuation phases of treatment. Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed a significant increase in the ratio of monounsaturation to saturation of both fatty acids, which was greatest during the most intensive phase of treatment. Ratios of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acids were negatively correlated with full-scale IQ, verbal IQ, and math calculations. Findings suggest that methotrexate alters beta-oxidation and that the resulting increase in fatty acid monounsaturation is related to declines in some domains of cognitive ability.

Key Words: beta-oxidation • methotrexate • childhood leukemia • cognitive and academic abilities

Biological Research For Nursing, Vol. 9, No. 4, 311-319 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1099800407313268


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?