RESUMO
AIM: The rationale for platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is that both the platelet and lymphocyte counts are affected by the CLL pathogenesis and could influence treatment decision-making. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data of CLL patients diagnosed at our institution between 1989 and 2013 were collected. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the role of PLR in the duration of watchful waiting, postdiagnosis survival and postchemotherapy survival. RESULTS: The data of 100 patients with CLL were reviewed for this study. The PLR correlated only to watchful waiting in the univariable analysis (Hazard ratio = 0.48 [0.32-0.73]; p = 0.018). In the multivariable analysis, the duration of watchful waiting was determined by Binet staging and lymphocyte count (p < 0.001). The postdiagnosis survival was determined by age (p = 0.002) and lymphocyte count (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: The PLR did not seem to act as a prognostic biomarker for CLL.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent form of leukemia in Europe and North America, and it mainly affects older individuals. Many approaches are implemented in the management of CLL from a watch and wait (WandW) strategy to chemotherapeutic regimens. We here reviewed our clinical practice for the relevance of the W and W strategy in Lebanese CLL patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 patients with CLL diagnosed in four institutions in Lebanon, between 1992 and 2013, were selected and their files were reviewed. Characteristics of these patients were noted including age, sex, RAI and Binet scores, CBC values, presence of hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, performance of bone marrow biopsy or peripheral blood flux cytometry for diagnosis, adoption of W and W strategy, different chemotherapeutic regimens and the indications for treatment. RESULTS: Some 38 patients (40%) diagnosed with CLL were women and 57 (60%) were men with a mean age of 65.1 years [36-89]. Of the total, 50.5%, 17.2%, 14%, 7.5% and 10.8% had an RAI score at diagnosis of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, while 65.6%, 17.2% and 17.2% had Binet scores of I, II and III. The mean lymphocyte count at diagnosis was 39885/mm3 [1596-290000], the mean hemoglobin level was 12.7 g/dl [6.2-17] and the mean platelet count was 191255/mm3 [14000-458000]. While 26.3% of patients with CLL had splenomegaly, only 7.4% had hepatomegaly. Some 33.7% had undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 66.3% flow cytometry of circulating blood and 5.3% a lymph node biopsy. Overall, the W and W was adopted in 62.4% (58) of patients with a mean duration of 37.7 months [3-216]. The W and W was used in 82.6%, 73.3%, 46.2%, 14.3% and 0% of patients having RAI scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, and, it was used in 80%, 46.7% and 6.25% with Binet scores of I, II and III. The most frequent indication for treatment was anemia and thrombocytopenia, accounting for 32.7% of cases. The most frequently used chemotherapeutical regimens were chlorambucil until the end of the last century and flufarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab during the last decade. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective review of CLL clinical practice showed an important implementation of the W and W strategy with a long duration, especially in early stage cases with low RAI or Binet scores.
