Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: arabian perspective

ABSTRACT

The immunophenotypic pattern of acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] varies with race and geographical location. The pattern in Eastern Saudi Arabia was not reported before. This study was performed to compare the pattern of childhood ALL immunophenotype in Eastern Saudi Arabia with those previously reported in other parts of the world. Analysis of 32 consecutive cases of childhood ALL seen in Eastern Saudi Arabia [1991-1996] was performed. Immunophenotype was analyzed by flowcytometry of blood and bone marrow samples. In the 32 analysed cases, common ALL was the commonest phenotype [68.7%]. Pre-B and B-ALL accounted for 9.3% each. Early pre-B ALL and T-ALL were the least common each accounting for 6.2%. Mixed lineage leukemia occurred in 3% of cases. These findings suggest lower prevalence of T-ALL and early Pre-B ALL in Arabs. The most prevalent phenotype is common ALL as in the rest of the world. In this study we found that the immunophenotypic pattern of childhood ALL is different in Arabs which may influence the outcome of the disease in this population