Erythrocyte characteristics in childhood acute leuckemia

ABSTRACT

The percentage of haemoglobin F and A2 were estimated in seventy two cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and seven cases with acute myeloblastic leukemia who were attending the Oncology clinic and unit in Al-Mansur Teaching Hospital over a period of one year and five months from May 1993 to the end of Sep. 1994. The majority, 62 cases were evaluated during chemotherapy, 15 cases were off treatment, 2 cases still not given chemotherapy. In addition, the percentage of erythrocytes with "fetal-like" features [F-cells%] were estimated. Both haemoglobin F and haemoglobin A2 were normal in the majority of cases of ALL and AML while the percentage of F-Cells was high. In ALL macrocytosis and/or anisocytosis seen in the majority with normocytosis and/or anisocytosis seen in AML. Sixteen non-leukemic control were studied as well. In the majority haemoglobin F was normal, haemoglobin A2 was high and the percentage of F-cells was also high