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HERO ID
2857932
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
German case control study on childhood leukaemia--basic considerations, methodology and summary of the results
Author(s)
Kaatsch, P; Kaletsch, U; Meinert, R; Miesner, A; Hoisl, M; Schüz, J; Michaelis, J
Year
1998
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Klinische Paediatrie
ISSN:
0300-8630
EISSN:
1439-3824
Volume
210
Issue
4
Page Numbers
185-191
Language
English
PMID
9743951
DOI
10.1055/s-2008-1043877
Web of Science Id
WOS:000075354500008
URL
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031859354&doi=10.1055%2fs-2008-1043877&partnerID=40&md5=4008f5cca459dd1b225d21cbb166048f
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Abstract
In order to explore potential risk factors of childhood leukaemia, a case control study was performed including all incident cases from 1992 to 1994. The study was based on the German Childhood Cancer Registry. It was restricted to cases from West Germany and extended retrospectively until 1980 for children who were living in regions covered by a previous incidence study on nuclear installations (21). The study was conducted in close correspondence with a preceding case control study in Lower Saxony (13). Results of this study and of others published in the literature were used to define explicit hypotheses for the present study. This paper presents the methodology of the study and gives an overview of some basic results. More detailed analyses of the investigated potential risk factors will be published elsewhere. The study comprised a total of 2358 cases (leukaemias, lymphomas, selected tumours) and 2588 controls. Response rates were 81% for cases and 67% for controls. For leukaemias, the main results regarding maternal factors, pregnancy, birth, immune system, ionising radiation, parental occupation and environmental factors were as follows: Positive associations were observed between childhood leukaemias and young maternal age at birth, high birth weight, tonsillectomy and use of pesticides. Some results suggest a protective effect for allergies and vaccinations. A negative association was observed with maternal smoking and childhood leukaemia. No associations were found with frequency of stillbirths, maternal alcohol consumption, parental exposure to benzene and use of wood preservatives. X-ray examinations in early childhood and parental radiation exposure did not show any consistent associations with leukaemia. Potential risk factors were not reported more frequently by cases and controls living in 114 communities with increased incidence rates. The strength of our study lies in the large number of participating families and in the population-based approach.
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