Several factors have been implicated to influence gonadal function and adult height in long term survivors of ALL. Age of menarche, AH with respect to TH have so far rarely been reported. 53 girls in 1. CCR reported their age of menarche. They constitute the total group of long term survivors of four different ALL protocols. In 7 pts (CA 11.6 ± 0.6 years, mean ± SD) menarche has not yet occurred. AH is available in 33 girls, parents' height in 29. TH was predicted using the Tanner method: MPH - 6.5 cm. Menarche was observed before therapy in 3 and during or after therapy in 43 girls. The menarcheal age was 12.76 ± 1.28 years (n = 43) and correlated closely with the CA at the end of therapy (r = 0.75). In addition, it was influenced by cranial irradiation and chemotherapy. Menarche occurred earlier, when pts received more than 2000 rads CNS irradiation (p = 0.004, log-rank test) or high doses of cyclophosphamide in their chemotherapeutic regimen (p = 0.02).AH in 33 pts was 164.8 ± 6.4 cm with a TH of 164.5 ± 4.8 cm. AH corresponded closely to TH in girls with early as well as with late menarche.We conclude, that several therapy related factors influence the age of menarche in ALL. AH is within the range of TH and thus not affected by the age of menarche, cranial irradiation and/or chemotherapeutic regimen.
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