Reversal of Protein-Energy Malnutrition in Children During Treatment of Advanced Neoplastic Disease

Abstract

The effectiveness of enteral and parenteral feeding in supporting a satisfactory nutritional status and/or reversing protein-energy malnutrition was evaluated in 28 children, ages 1-19 (14 female) with advanced malignant disease (21 solid tumors, 7 leukemia-lymphoma). At the onset of treatment, 21 patients received intensive nutritional counseling (INC) and oral supplementation while 7 received total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Sixteen of 21 patients who received INC had a decreased intake (.hivin.x 48 .+-. 24%) in Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for kilocalories and dramatic weight loss (.hivin.x 16.4 .+-. 12.4%). A total of 18 patients received TPN for a mean of 24 days (7-60); kcal averaged 90 .+-. 26% RDA during weight gain. At onset of TPN, the mean serum albumin, transferrin and total lymphocyte counts were 3.06 .+-. 0.38 g/dl, 175 .+-. 62 mg/dl, and 1102 .+-. 966/mm3, respectively, 15/18 children had subnormal anthropometric measurements and 17/18 patients were anergic to recall skin test antigens. TPN for less than 9-14 days neither repleted weight, skinfold reserves, nor serum albumin concentrations (> 3.2 g/dl) although an early increase (P < 0.02) in transferrin concentration was observed. TPN for 28 days supported weight gain (3.27 kg, 16 .+-. 6%), increased serum albumin (0.62 .+-. 0.43 g/dl, P < 0.001) and transferrin (62 .+-. 42, P < 0.002) to normal concentrations and reversed anergy in 7/11 patients retested. The severity of protein energy malnutrition which accompanies intense treatment of children with cancer and the nutritional and immunological benefits of a 28 day course of TPN are shown.