No adverse effect of vincristine on handwriting in children after completion of therapy

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Abstract
Background Long‐term writing difficulties in children after treatment with vincristine for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Wilms tumor, B non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, and malignant mesenchymal tumors, were investigated. Procedure Handwriting of 33 survivors and 33 controls matched for age, sex, and grade, was assessed with the BHK‐scale. The examiner was blinded for whether a child was a case or a control. Results No significant difference in writing speed was found. Mean difference in number of letters produced during 5 min was 6.4 (±67.1, range −103 to +169). No significant difference was found in quality of writing scores; mean difference in points was 1.5 (±7.7, range −19 to +22). Cumulative vincristine dose, age at diagnosis or time since completion of treatment did not affect writing speed or quality. Conclusion Chemotherapy, including vincristine, does not lead to long‐term problems in speed or quality of writing in children treated for cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:841–845.

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