STUDY OF PLATELET FUNCTION DEFECTS IN CASES OF CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA

AIM: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is one of the chronic myeloproliferative disorders. The emerging data overwhelmingly suggests that study of platelet defects in CML would be useful for comprehensive management of CML. This study was conducted to identify the platelet function defects and to correlate the results with clinical symptoms in cases of CML. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data of CMLpatients, diagnosed and managed at a tertiary centre from January 2018 to September 2019 were analyzed. Patient's platelet rich plasma was subjected to platelet function tests (PFT) with Chronolog Dual Channel Platelet Aggregometer using arachidonic acid, epinephrine, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and ristocetin as agonists. RESULTS: Most cases of CML(30%) were from age range of 51 to 60 years and 83% of cases were male. Splenomegaly was seen in 97% of cases. 3 Median haemoglobin was 13 g/dl and median total WBC count was 6.315 x 10 /µL. About 64% of all cases showed the total platelet count of 201- 3 300 x 10 /µL. Median platelet distribution width (PDW) was 10.7 and median value of mean platelet volume (MPV) was 9.4. There was signicant association between platelet aggregation response with ADP and bleeding manifestations. In 98% of cases showing normal platelet aggregation responses with ADP, bleeding manifestation were absent. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that platelet function defects are seen in CML. Platelet aggregation study can be useful especially in those patients exhibiting bleeding manifestations with normal or increased platelet counts. This would enable a comprehensive management in cases of CML.