Demographic features of pediatric B-ALL (B Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) patients in Pakistani population.

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate demographic features of pediatric B-ALL patients in Pakistani population and their prognosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Study Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Department of Pathology Tertiary Care Children Hospital, Lahore. Period: 1^st January 2016 to 31^st December 2016. Material & Methods: A total of 66 samples of newly diagnosed B-ALL patients (aged 1-15 years) were taken for study. For diagnosis of B-ALL, bone marrow aspiration, cytochemical staining, immunophenotyping was done. Results: Out of 66 B-ALL patients, 35 (53%) were males and 31 (47%) were females. The median age for pediatric ALL subjects was 5 years. Out of 66 B-ALL patients, 39 (59%) were in standard risk group. The prognosis of ALL patients in our study was poor as compared with international statistics with 12/21 deaths (57%) in standard risk group. Also, history of consanguinity of parents was significantly high in dead patients (p = 0.013). Deaths were also comparatively more in males than in females. Conclusion: The prognosis of pediatric B-ALL patients in our study was poor as compared with international statistics because of multifactorial reasons. Strategies are needed to be adopted to improve the outcome of B-ALL patients in our population.