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yesterday

Planned C-Sections Tied to 21% Higher Childhood Leukemia Risk

Missing labor exposures emerge as a potential driver of the modest leukemia risk increase, prompting calls for thorough patient counseling on elective cesareans without undermining essential procedures.

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Overview

  • A Swedish cohort study of nearly 2.5 million births published July 3 in the International Journal of Cancer found planned cesareans carry elevated leukemia risk.
  • Children delivered by planned C-section had a 21% higher chance of acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared with emergency procedures and a 7% higher chance than vaginal births.
  • Researchers point to skipped labor stress hormones and vaginal bacterial exposure as possible mechanisms affecting early immune development.
  • The absolute risk increase is small, equating to roughly one extra leukemia case per year in Sweden.
  • Lead author Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi urges informed discussions on non-medically indicated C-sections while affirming that necessary cesareans remain critical for safety.