CHANGES IN SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL AND COAGULATION PROFILE IN CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA SUBJECTS ON IMATINIB

Medical sciences

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a disease that affects haemopoietic cells of the myeloid series and it is characterized by the presence of Philadelphia chromosome leading to abnormal proliferation of the cells’ lineage. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in some haematological and coagulation profile in chronic myeloid leukaemia subjects on imatinib; a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI). This study was carried out at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). It included 40 CML patients. 22 of them have been recieving imatinib mesylate (400mg) for at least 3 months. They were further divided 3,6, 9 and 12 months of TKI use. The rest (18) have not yet been placed on TKI (Imatinib). Full Blood Count, (FBC), was assayed using Haematology analyzer, Prothrombin Time (PT), and Partial Thromboplastin Time with Kaolin (PTTK) were analyzed using Quick’s method, and serum Calcium level was assayed using Arsenazo III method. Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) was determined using descriptive statistic, while student t-test was used to determine difference between the Mean values at p<0.05 level of significance. The mean values of WBC were significantly lower in CML subjects on TKI for 3 months at p= 0.025 when compared with that of CML subjects not on TKI. At 6 months of TKI use, mean values of total WBC count were significantly lower at p= 0.047 in comparison with that of CML subjects not on TKI. The mean values of total WBC count remained significantly lower after 9 months of TKI use at p= 0.014 when compared with CML subjects not on TKI. At 12 months of TKI use, the mean valuesof WBC, Platelets count, and Prothrombin Time (PT), were significantly lower at p=0.001, p=0.042, and p=0.042 respectively when compared with that of CML subjects not on TKI. This study suggests that some haemostatic and haematological parameters are affected in both CML subjects using the TKI (imatinib) and those not yet on TKI. However, this study supports findings that imatinib has the potential to restore normal haemopoietic function thereby improving chances of survival and life expectancy. Monitoring of these parameters may help in the prevention of coagulation related diseases.

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