ABSTRACT
Background: Several studies have been conducted to evaluate and investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying alterations in ABO blood group antigens in oncogenesis. We observed that no study has been reported yet that correlate cytological, molecular and haematological responses of Imatinib therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with different types of blood groups. Objective: To determine the distribution of CML in the ABO blood group, clinical spectrum of CML in different blood groups, and treatment response of CML patients in correlation with ABO and Rh blood groups. Material and Methods: All the patients included in the study were diagnosed on the basis of clinical features, peripheral smears and bone marrow aspiration findings. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cytogenetic analysis were done in all patients at the time of initiation of therapy. Blood grouping and Rh typing of each patient were done at the initiation of therapy. Results: Out of 100 included patients, 58 were male and 42 were female patients. It was observed that 45 (45%) patients were having a B+ blood group; 33% patients were having O+ blood group, followed by A+ (10%), AB+ (8%), A- (2%), B- (1%) and AB- (1%). Around 43.64% study subjects with O + blood groups showed complete cytogenetic response, followed by B+ (41.82%), A+ (10.91), A- (1.82) and AB+ (1.82). An equal number of patients (40% each) with O+ and B+ blood groups, followed by A+ (20%) showed undetectable Abelson-breakpoint cluster region (BCR-ABL)/ratio (%). About 75% of patients showed complete haematological response (CHR) and 25% showed PHR. Patients with B+ and O+ blood groups (41.33%) showed a CHR. It was observed that a maximum number of patients were suffering from symptoms of an abdominal mass (37%), 43.24% of patients with B+ blood group showed an abdominal mass, followed by O+ (35.13%), A+ and AB+ (8.11% each), B - and AB- (2.70% each). Conclusion: This study revealed that study subjects with B+ and O+ blood groups showed better cytogenetic, molecular and haematological responses as compared with patients with other blood groups at 6 and 12 months of treatment with Imatinib.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The causes of iron deficiency may be either due to excessive loss or, less frequently, decrease absorption. Data related to etiology are not available from this part of the country. OBJECTIVE: A study to evaluate the etiology of iron-deficiency anemia at a teaching hospital in the northeastern part of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, cases of iron-deficiency anemia were selected from the OPD and indoor, after taking proper written consent. Iron-deficiency anemia was diagnosed by sending the complete hematological investigations. Other specific investigations including imaging were done in selected patients as per indications. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients of iron-deficiency anemia were included in the study. The age of the selected population was between 18 and 80 years. 37.3% were male and 62.7% were female patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done in 56, out of these, 9.7% had antral gastritis and 2.9% had a duodenal ulcer. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was done in 30 patients and out of these seven patients had hemorrhoids, one patient had multiple ulcers in the colon, one had ulcers in the sigmoid colon, and one had ulceroproliferative mass in the transverse colon. Biopsy through the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed chronic duodenitis in three patients (2.9%), carcinoma stomach in one (0.98%), and periampullary carcinoma in one (0.98%). Biopsy after lower gastrointestinal endoscopy showed one case each of carcinoma colon, ulcerative colitis, nonspecific colitis, and nonspecific enteritis. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia is not sufficient without the diagnosis of underlying etiology. Special concern will be taken to gastrointestinal malignancies like colorectal cancers in which iron-deficiency anemia may be the only manifestation and diagnosis that can be missed if we do not investigate properly.
