EFFECT OF AGE AND SEX UNDER IMATINIB MESYLATE THERAPY ON CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA PATIENTS: A PILOT STUDY FROM INDIA

摘要

Among adults in India, Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is most common leukemia and accounts for 30% to 60% of all adult leukemias. Imatinib mesylate induces the highest rate of complete hematological and cytogenetic responses, but its efficacy is still debated in different sets of patients. Total 50 newly diagnosed patients of CML were enrolled. Patients receiving imatinib 400mg orally daily were monitored carefully for haematological changes and changes were noted at 3, 6 and 9 month. Patients were categorized on the basis of age and gender, and hematological and cytogenetic responses were compared. Cytogenetic studies were done at 6 months to ascertain the response. Imatinib produced >80% response in various hematological parameters in different groups of patients. Younger age group and male patients shows better hematological as well as cytogenetic response at 6 months. Older age group and female patients shows poor responses in comparison to younger age group and male patients of CML. Further study on large samples of CML patients is advised to search out the possible reasons of such differences.