Chronic Myeloid leukemia is a clonal
disease of multipotent haematopoietic
cells associated with specific
cytogenetic changes involving a translocation t(9;22) (q34q11), more commonly known as
Philadelphia Chromosome (Ph1). A total of 525
patients with CML (480
adults and 45
children) diagnosed at the Nizam's Institute of Medical
Sciences, Hyderabad, formed the subjects of this study. Hematological investigations were carried out using standard
methods. Unstimulated peripheral
blood samples and/or
bone marrow aspirates were used for
cytogenetic analysis. Hematological evaluation at presentation showed that 435 were in chronic phase, 36 in accelerated phase and 54 in
blast crisis. Chromosomal
analysis revealed that 86.3% were Ph1 positive and 13.7% Ph1 negative. Additional
chromosome changes observed during
blast crisis included an extra
Ph1 chromosome,
Trisomy 8 and
Trisomy 19. The results were correlated with
survival pattern and
prognosis of
patients following certain
treatment protocols.