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INTRODUCTION

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, which might make them more susceptible to developing adverse events. Previous studies showed that the vitamin D receptor is expressed in the mucosa and that a relation exists between low vitamin D levels and an increased inflammatory mucosal state and impaired mucosal tissue barriers. We examined the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the change in vitamin D levels in children with ALL during high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) treatment and studied the association between vitamin D levels and MTX-induced oral mucositis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We assessed 25(OH)D₂, 25(OH)D₃ and 24,25(OH)₂D₃ levels in 99 children with ALL before start of 4x 5g/m² HD-MTX (T0) and in 81/99 children after discontinuation of HD-MTX (T1). Two cut-off values for Vitamin D …