Alterations of Haemoglobin, Total and Differential White Blood Cell Counts in Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Myeliod Leukemia in Owerri, Nigeria

Leukemia can be described as a malignant progressive disease in the blood from excessive or abnormal immature whiteblood cell. Which results to acute or chronic leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is one of the most commonleukemias occurring in the adult population. It is a type of leukemia which starts in the myeloid cells of the bone marrow.In CML, the disorder is characterized by translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11), resulting in the fusion of BCR and ABL1 genes intothe pathogenic BCR-ABL1 oncogene, with many subsequent effects on downstream pathways. The study was aimed atdeterring the levels of alteration of haemoglobin, Total and different white blood cell counts in patients attending FederalTeaching Hospital, Owerri. A total of 60 subjects (30 patients and 30 controls) were recruited for the study. Participantscompleted an informed consent from and questionnaire. Two milliliters (2 mls) of venous blood sample was collected atthe ante-cubital vein aseptically and 2 mils was dispensed into ethylendiaamine tetraacetic acid containers, and used forthe analysis of hemoglobin using cyanmethemoglobin method, white blood cell count (WBCS) using manual WBC anddifferential white cell counting method. The mean values of haemoglobin (8.78±1.82)g/dl and neutrophils(28.47±10.27)%,in patients with leukemia were significantly reduced when compared to controls. (11.89±1.04)g/dl, and (48.83±12.86)%,(t=8.08,P=0.000) and (t=6.78,P=0.000). On the other hand, The mean values of TWBC (30.43±29.19)x109/L, lymphocytes(57.90±11.16)%, monocytes (11.07±6.87)% and Eosinophils (2.20±1.32)% in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia weresignificantly raised when compared to the controls (7.14±2.27) x109/L, (48.83±12.86)%, (44.50±13.86)%, (4.93±3.05)% and(1.53±0.94)%. (t=4.36, p=0.000, t=4.13, p=0.000); (t=4.47, p=0.000); and (t=2.25, p=0.028). The mean values of Hb (9.82±1.34)g/dl,Neutrophils (30.35±10.70)% and lymphocytes (58.06±12.70)%, in males with chronic myeloid leukemia were non-significantlyhigher compared to the females(7.42±1.46)g/dl,(26.00±9.53)%,(57.69±9.25)%,respectively(t=4.69,p=0.178;t=6.78,p=0.257)and (t=4.13,p=0.931). The mean values of TWBC (27.74±23.21)x109/L, monocytes (9.76±5.21)% and eosinophils(1.29±0.85)%were significantly raised in males with chronic myeloid leukaemia when compared to females (33.94±36.29)x109/L,(12.77±8.51)%, and (1.85±0.98)%, respectively(t=4.36,p=0.574;t=4.47,p=0.242) and t=2.25,p=0.111).There was a nonsignificantnegative correlation of haemoglobin with TWBC, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes and Eosinophils in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Patients. (r=-0.16, p=0.41, r=-0.15, p=0.432, r=-0.03, p=0.868; r=-0.06, p=0.728 and r=-0.29,p=0.110). CML is associated with alteration in the levels of haemoglobin, total and differential WBC counts, resultingin anaemia and leukocytosis. Therefore complete blood count (CBC) is recommended as a routine test in the diagnosis,management and treatment of CML.