Planned C sections related to the increased risk of developing children’s leukemia

Children born by the planned C section have an increased risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) in later life. This is shown by a study conducted by scientists from the Karolin Institute. Scientists emphasize that the risk remains low.

The study, published in, covers almost 2.5 million children born in Sweden in two periods, 1982–1989 and 1999 to 2015. They were born 15.5 percent of them through C-section, i.e. almost 376,000 children. In the whole group 1495 children later developed leukemia.

Using the medical birth register, scientists were able to divide sections C into planned and emergency imperial sections. Children who later developed leukemia were overrepatted in a group born by the planned Section C. In particular, the risk of the most common form of childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) increased. The risk of everything was 21 percent higher in children born by the planned Section C compared to vagina -born children.

The risk of developing the most common form of all, acute lymphoblastic lymphoblastic leukemia (B-all), was 29 percent higher in people born by the planned C section. The increased risk remained even when scientists adapted to other important factors in mothers and children. The increased risk was more clear in boys than the girls and younger children.

Scientists emphasize that the risk remains low, regardless of the method of delivery. B-all was diagnosed with 50 to 70 Swedish children a year. According to scientists behind the study, the excessive risk associated with the planned C sections corresponds to about one B-ALL case annually.

Sections C are an important and often -saving part of obstetrics. We do not want mothers to disturb medically indicated C sections. But when this result is combined with other test results, which shows that the risk of later asthma, allergies or type 1 diabetes in children born by the planned section C, there is a reason to discuss sections C, which are not medically indicated. “

Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi, researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and main author of the study

Scientists discuss possible mechanisms that could explain why it is planned, not emergency C sections, which carry an increased risk of some diseases, all of which are associated with immune factors. The reasoning is that emergency imperial sections usually begin as a vaginal delivery. This causes stress for the child and exposure to vaginal bacteria if the amniotic sack has broken.

However, in planned C sections, which are usually performed before the start of delivery, the child does not experience this stress and is not exposed to vaginal bacteria. Scientists suggest that this difference can help explain the increased risk of everyone and think that the study can contribute to a better understanding of what contributes to children.

Some results did not reach the threshold of statistical significance, which means that the chance cannot be completely ruled out.

“Fortunately, everything is rare. This means that a lot of C is needed to get a statistically significant result and it is difficult to get such a large sample in a Swedish registry study. However, the results are similar to significant, they are in line with what the previous studies showed, and remains when we adapt to other important factors, which still constitutes them,” says Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi.

The research is financed by the Swedish research council and the Swedish Cancer Society.