Osmangazi Tıp Dergisi, cilt.22, sa.2, 2022 (Hakemli Dergi)
Bone marrow aspirate for morphology and cytogenetics and qualitative reverse transcriptase polimerase chain reaction on peripheral blood cells is mandatory for the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Bone marrow biopsy and fluorescence in situ
hybridisation may be necessary in selected patients. Performing other tests and diagnostic procedures depends on characteristics
of the individual patient. Although flow cytometry is an essential tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of many hematological
malignancies, it has a limited role in CML. In this study, we evaluated the CD45 side scatter results of our CML patients at diagnosis and during follow up. Totally 56 CML patients (22 female and 34 male) in chronic phase treated with imatinib were included.
Patients were also evaluated after 8 (3-19) months follow up. Complete blood cound parameters and CD45/SSC results of the
patients at diagnosis and follow up were evaluated retrospectively. The Wilcoxon T test was used to compare the means between
the two groups. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. All of them had decreased leukocyte and platelet counts. There was
no difference in hemoglobin value. Comparison of CD45/SSC results at diagnosis and follow up revealed a decrease in granulocyte
and blast percentages, and an increase in lymphocyte, monocyte, normoblast percentages. Complete blood counts and CD45/SSC
results were not different when we divided patients into 2 groups according to being MMR positive or MMR negative. Survival of
MMR positive and negative patients were also found similar. According to the results of our study, we were unable to suggest using
CD45/SSC as a routine diagnostic and/or follow up tool. However, there were limitations of our study such as the limited number
of patients, the variance between the time of MMR evaluation and the evaluation at only one time point. The results may change
in larger studies with serial CD45/SSC analysis and with different tyrosine kinase inhibitors.