Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
To determine whether childhood infections were associated with the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).Methods
We included studies that assessed any infection in childhood prior to the diagnosis of ALL in children aged 0-19 years compared to children without cancer. The primary analysis synthesised any infection against the odds of ALL, and secondary analyses assessed the frequency, severity, timing of infections, and specific infectious agents against the odds of ALL. Subgroup analyses by data source were investigated.Results
In our primary analysis of 12?496 children with ALL and 2?356?288 children without ALL from 38 studies, we found that any infection was not associated with ALL (odds ratio (OR)=1.10, 95% CI: 0.95-1.28). Among studies with laboratory-confirmed infections, the presence of infections increased the odds of ALL by 2.4-fold (OR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.54-3.82). Frequency, severity, and timing of infection were not associated with ALL.Conclusions
The hypothesis put forward by Greaves and others about an infectious aetiology are neither confirmed nor refuted and the overall evidence remains inadequate for good judgement. The qualitative difference in the subgroup effects require further study, and future research will need to address the challenges in measuring infectious exposures.
SUBMITTER: Hwee J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5765221 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Hwee Jeremiah J Tait Christopher C Sung Lillian L Kwong Jeffrey C JC Sutradhar Rinku R Pole Jason D JD
British journal of cancer 20171024 1
<h4>Background</h4>To determine whether childhood infections were associated with the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).<h4>Methods</h4>We included studies that assessed any infection in childhood prior to the diagnosis of ALL in children aged 0-19 years compared to children without cancer. The primary analysis synthesised any infection against the odds of ALL, and secondary analyses assessed the frequency, severity, timing of infections, and specific infectious agents ...[more]