Background: Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is not an uncommon hematological malignancy which primarily affects elderly individuals. It is more common in developed world than in developing countries. The rational of this study was to determine the clinico-hematological profile in Pakistan.
Materials and methods: In this prospective cross sectional study, sixty patients with CLL were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2013. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.
Results: The mean age was 59.0±9.2 years (range 40-82) and the male to female ratio was 2.1:1. Peak age group was 60-70 years (38.3%) and 18.3% were under 50 years old. Major complaints were weakness (51.7%), fever (18.3%) and abdominal discomfort (13.3%). Main clinical findings were splenomegaly (46.6%), lymphadenopathy (36.6%) and pallor (26.7%). Some 16.7% were diagnosed incidentally. The mean hemoglobin was 10.8±2.4 g/dl, with a total leukocyte count of 91.5±87.8x10(9)/l and platelets 197.8±103.2x10(9)/l. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were seen in 26.7% and 21.7% of cases, respectively. High LDH and hyperuricemia were detected in 15% each and elevated serum creatinine was seen in 11.6%. According to Rai staging 11.6% were in stage 0, 13.3% stage 1, 26.7% each for stage II and stage III while 21.7% patients were in stage IV.
Conclusions: CLL in our patients in Pakistan, unlike in the West, is seen in a relatively young population with male predominance. Primarily disease is of B- cell origin and about 2/3 of the patients present at advanced stage.