Haematological, Immunophenotypic, and Cytogenetic profile of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia among the Sudanese Population

Abstract

Leukaemia represents the second type of the ten top most common cancers and the first malignancy of childhood cancer in Khartoum. This study intended to explore the haematological, the immunophenotypic, and the cytogenetic profile of acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) among the Sudanese population. This case-control study included140 patients attending Khartoum Oncology Hospital (KOH), who were diagnosed as ALL and 140 haematological-healthy volunteers between 2016-2018. Data were collected through a purposeful form and from hospital records. The analysis showed that two-thirds of ALL patients were males (63%). The mean age of all subjects was 11 years with a predominance of the rate among the age group 6-10 years of age (34.3%). The B-cell immunophenotype represented 75.5%. Philadelphia chromosome was positive in 4.3% of the ALL children and 30.1% in older age (>18 years) patients. The mean of the complete blood count parameters of ALL patients (Hb=10±1 g/dl, RBC=4±1x 106/l, HCT=34±1%, PLT =269 ±125x109/L) was significantly lower than that in controls (Hb=12±1g/dl RBC=5±5.2106/l, HCT=36±3%, PLT=353±8x109/L)(p =0.00) and the mean of the other parameters (WBC= 19±51 x103/l, MCV=84±12fl, MCH=28±2 pg, Blast=8±21%) was significantly higher (p=0.00) than that in controls (WBC= 8±2 x103/l, MCV=81±3fl, MCH=27±1pg, Blast=0.00%). In conclusion, ALL has different features of mean age (6-10 years) and high incidence of Philadelphia chromosome (4.3%) in Sudanese children. While, in keeping with published literature, ALL shows a predominance of males, the B-phenotype frequency rate (%75.5) and the variation in haematological parameters