Yahya Odeh1, Rami Halawa1, Majd Al-Ghoul1, Ramzi Shawahna2,3, Sultan Mosleh4. 1. An-Najah National University Hospital, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine. 2. Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, New Campus, Building: 19, Office: 1340, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine. ramzi_shawahna@hotmail.com. 3. An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine. ramzi_shawahna@hotmail.com. 4. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent type of cancer among children. This study was conducted to describe and correlate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment of patients with pediatric ALL in the main referral hospital in Palestine. RESULTS: Complete data of 69 patients were included in this analysis. The majority (79.7%) of the patients had B-ALL phenotype. After induction chemotherapy, remission was experienced by the vast majority of the patients and 5 (7.2%) experienced relapses. Cytogenetics for patients with B-ALL phenotype indicated that 10 (18.2%) patients had t(12, 21) translocation, 5 (9.1%) had hyperdiploidy, 4 (7.3%) had t(1, 19) translocation, and 2 (3.6%) had t(9, 22) translocation. The initial white blood cells (p value < 0.001), absolute neutrophils (p value = 0.011), and hemoglobin (p value < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with B-cell ALL. Platelet counts were significantly lower (p value = 0.012) in patients with splenomegaly and those with bleeding symptoms (p value = 0.008). Presence of palmar pollar was positively associated (p value = 0.035) with T-cell ALL. Presence of hepatomegaly was positively associated (p value < 0.001) with splenomegaly.
OBJECTIVE: Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent type of cancer among children. This study was conducted to describe and correlate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment of patients with pediatric ALL in the main referral hospital in Palestine. RESULTS: Complete data of 69 patients were included in this analysis. The majority (79.7%) of the patients had B-ALL phenotype. After induction chemotherapy, remission was experienced by the vast majority of the patients and 5 (7.2%) experienced relapses. Cytogenetics for patients with B-ALL phenotype indicated that 10 (18.2%) patients had t(12, 21) translocation, 5 (9.1%) had hyperdiploidy, 4 (7.3%) had t(1, 19) translocation, and 2 (3.6%) had t(9, 22) translocation. The initial white blood cells (p value < 0.001), absolute neutrophils (p value = 0.011), and hemoglobin (p value < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with B-cell ALL. Platelet counts were significantly lower (p value = 0.012) in patients with splenomegaly and those with bleeding symptoms (p value = 0.008). Presence of palmar pollar was positively associated (p value = 0.035) with T-cell ALL. Presence of hepatomegaly was positively associated (p value < 0.001) with splenomegaly.