Abstract:
Among the malignant hematological disorders, the incidence of thrombosis is higher in patients with lymphoma or with acute leukemia. Significant morbidity and high mortality in acute leukemia due to complications of bleeding and infection frequently overshadow thromboembolic events. Disseminated intravascular coagulation is an important cause of bleeding and thrombosis in various benign and malignant diseases.
This is a descriptive prospective analytical case control study, conducted at Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum (RICK) during the period between March 2012 to July 2012.
The study aimed to determine prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen level and platelets count among Sudanese pediatric leukemic patients under 12 years old attending Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum (RICK).
Individuals recruited for this study were fifty pediatric leukemic patients (25 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 15 acute myeloid leukemia, 5 chronic myeloid leukemia and 5 chronic lymphocytic leukemia).
Among the patients, 17 were males and 33 were females, also thirty healthy pediatric individuals were selected as a control group.
80 blood samples were collected from both patients and control used to measure prothrombin time PT, Activated partial prothrombin time APTT, platelet count and fibrinogen level.
The results of this study showed significant prolongation in PT(15 sec), APTT(39.1 sec) and INR(1.1) compared to control group.
Platelet count was significantly decreased compared to control group and the difference was statistically significant in ALL, CLL and AML patients, but it significant increase compared to control group in CML patients.
Fibrinogen level was normal and there were insignificant difference compared to control. (Reference range 150 - 400 g/dl).
The present results conclude those leukemic patients are at risk of bleeding.
