2025-02-27
Sepsis and memory: a link not to be forgotten!
Neurology Oncology
#Leukemia #ALL #AML #Infection #Sepsis #Neurocognition #Memory
Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are particularly vulnerable to infections due to aggressive treatments that weaken their immune systems. Chemotherapy and corticosteroids reduce natural defenses, while the use of central venous catheters increases the risk of bacterial and fungal infections.
Among these infections, severe sepsis is one of the most serious complications. This excessive inflammatory response to an infection can lead to multi-organ dysfunction, septic shock, and sometimes death. Beyond endangering patients’ lives, sepsis can also cause treatment interruptions, increasing the risk of relapse.
While the immediate consequences of sepsis are well-documented, its long-term effects on survivors of pediatric leukemia remain poorly understood. Some studies suggest that patients who have survived severe sepsis may be at higher risk of developing chronic disorders.
This study aims to explore the link between severe sepsis episodes during leukemia treatment and complications in adulthood. The goal is to identify potential physical and cognitive sequelae to improve the management and long-term medical follow-up of survivors.
A total of 644 adult survivors of pediatric leukemia were included in the study. Among them, 46 patients (7.1%) had experienced a severe sepsis episode during their treatment. The study compared their health status in adulthood with that of survivors who had not experienced sepsis. The risks of chronic diseases affecting the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, neurological, and neurocognitive systems were evaluated.
The findings demonstrate that severe sepsis does not increase the risk of chronic diseases in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, or neurological systems. However, survivors who had sepsis showed a significantly higher risk of moderate to severe neurocognitive disorders (63% vs. 51.8%, p < 0.001). These deficits primarily affect attention, memory, executive functions, and visuospatial abilities. These results highlight a possible link between sepsis during cancer treatment and long-term cognitive sequelae in survivors of pediatric leukemia.
Pediatric acute leukemia, whether lymphoblastic or myeloid, now benefits from effective treatments that have significantly improved survival rates. However, these treatments weaken the immune system, exposing patients to a higher risk of severe infections, including sepsis, which can lead to multi-organ dysfunction and complicate the therapeutic course.
While the immediate effects of severe sepsis are well known, its long-term impact on the health of pediatric leukemia survivors remains poorly understood. Sepsis can cause damage to multiple organs, and some studies suggest an increased risk of neurocognitive sequelae in patients who have survived a sepsis episode during treatment.
This study aims to assess the relationship between severe sepsis and the onset of chronic disorders in adulthood among survivors of pediatric leukemia, particularly in terms of neurocognitive function.
The results show that severe sepsis during pediatric leukemia treatment is associated with an increased risk of long-term neurocognitive deficits, primarily affecting attention, memory, and executive functions. However, it does not increase the risk of major chronic diseases affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, or nervous system.
The study may be influenced by survival bias, as only patients who survived sepsis were analyzed. Additionally, the exact mechanisms explaining the impact of sepsis on cognitive disorders remain unclear, with other contributing factors potentially playing a role. Further research is necessary to better understand these links, identify risk factors, and develop prevention strategies and early interventions for cognitive deficits to improve the quality of life of pediatric leukemia survivors.
Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are particularly vulnerable to infections due to aggressive treatments that weaken their immune systems. Chemotherapy and corticosteroids reduce natural defenses, while the use of central venous catheters increases the risk of bacterial and fungal infections.
Among these infections, severe sepsis is one of the most serious complications. This excessive inflammatory response to an infection can lead to multi-organ dysfunction, septic shock, and sometimes death. Beyond endangering patients’ lives, sepsis can also cause treatment interruptions, increasing the risk of relapse.
While the immediate consequences of sepsis are well-documented, its long-term effects on survivors of pediatric leukemia remain poorly understood. Some studies suggest that patients who have survived severe sepsis may be at higher risk of developing chronic disorders.
This study aims to explore the link between severe sepsis episodes during leukemia treatment and complications in adulthood. The goal is to identify potential physical and cognitive sequelae to improve the management and long-term medical follow-up of survivors.
Read next: ALL: a constantly evolving battle
Does Sepsis Leave a Mark on the Brain?
A total of 644 adult survivors of pediatric leukemia were included in the study. Among them, 46 patients (7.1%) had experienced a severe sepsis episode during their treatment. The study compared their health status in adulthood with that of survivors who had not experienced sepsis. The risks of chronic diseases affecting the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, neurological, and neurocognitive systems were evaluated.
The findings demonstrate that severe sepsis does not increase the risk of chronic diseases in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, or neurological systems. However, survivors who had sepsis showed a significantly higher risk of moderate to severe neurocognitive disorders (63% vs. 51.8%, p < 0.001). These deficits primarily affect attention, memory, executive functions, and visuospatial abilities. These results highlight a possible link between sepsis during cancer treatment and long-term cognitive sequelae in survivors of pediatric leukemia.
Read next: Sepsis: A Critical Challenge for Global Health
Sepsis and Memory: A Link Not to Be Forgotten!
Pediatric acute leukemia, whether lymphoblastic or myeloid, now benefits from effective treatments that have significantly improved survival rates. However, these treatments weaken the immune system, exposing patients to a higher risk of severe infections, including sepsis, which can lead to multi-organ dysfunction and complicate the therapeutic course.
While the immediate effects of severe sepsis are well known, its long-term impact on the health of pediatric leukemia survivors remains poorly understood. Sepsis can cause damage to multiple organs, and some studies suggest an increased risk of neurocognitive sequelae in patients who have survived a sepsis episode during treatment.
This study aims to assess the relationship between severe sepsis and the onset of chronic disorders in adulthood among survivors of pediatric leukemia, particularly in terms of neurocognitive function.
The results show that severe sepsis during pediatric leukemia treatment is associated with an increased risk of long-term neurocognitive deficits, primarily affecting attention, memory, and executive functions. However, it does not increase the risk of major chronic diseases affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, or nervous system.
The study may be influenced by survival bias, as only patients who survived sepsis were analyzed. Additionally, the exact mechanisms explaining the impact of sepsis on cognitive disorders remain unclear, with other contributing factors potentially playing a role. Further research is necessary to better understand these links, identify risk factors, and develop prevention strategies and early interventions for cognitive deficits to improve the quality of life of pediatric leukemia survivors.
Read next: IVIG: an ally against fever in ALL?
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