Abstract

OVERVIEW OF CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA PATIENTS IN THE HOLY CITY OF KARBALA

Hosna Hasan Abbas* and Karrar Kadim Al Mosawy

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by presence of Philadelphia chromosome. Over time CML treatment has change dramatically; especially when Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) introduced, which significantly increase survival and improve quality of life for all patients especially when it’s associated with good drug adherence and sequential response monitoring to TKI. Aim: To study the characteristics of CML patient’s in the Holy City of Karbala and the outcome of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in control of their disease. Method: The present descriptive study included 56 patients, conducted in Al Imam Al Hussein Hematology/Oncology center at the Holy city of Karbala in Iraq from June 2017 - June 2018. Data from patients with CML were collected and critically analyzed for the demographic data, type of treatment they used and their compliance to drug. Results: The median age was 46 years; male-tofemale ratio was 1.24:1. 96.4% patients were diagnosed in chronic phase of their disease. Major molecular response achieved in 79% (27/34) of patients on Gleevec. 37.5% patients were switch to Tasigna after Imatinib resistant or intolerance, 52% of them achieved major molecular response. Drug adherence found in 68% (38/56) patients. Conclusion: CML slightly male predominance, diagnosed at age younger than that report in the United States and Europe, response to TKI nearly similar to that report in international study. Drug adherence and sequential monitoring of patients can improve therapeutic effect of TKI therapy.

Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia, Philadelphia chromosome, BCR-ABL, Imatinib, Nilotinib, Drug adherence.