Epidemiological spectrum and diagnostic management of chronic myeloid leukemia – actualization and milestones

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) comprises 15-20% of all leukemia cases in adults, being the most common chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm, with the patients’ immunocompromised status in the advanced phases. The international periodical literature stipulates the increased susceptibility of patients with malignant tumors to SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the contagion risk is not determined in regards to the histological type of hematologic malignancies. The aim of the study was the comparative evaluation of the current epidemiological patterns and the contemporary diagnostics output in CML, axed on the optimization of tactics of diagnosis management in the context of the pandemic with COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods: An analytical, qualitative, secondary study was performed – the narrative review of literature in the form of a synthesis article. Fifty three relevant primary sources were identified and selected, according to the significance of the impact score, with the subsequent and scientific data extraction and analysis. Results: CML varies between 0.8 - 2.0 cases per 100000 population. The total number of patients diagnosed with CML increased annually by 2% during 2007-2016. In 2017, a comparatively high level of the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) (0.6 per 100,000 population, 95% IU) and the DALYs (disability-adjusted life-years) age-standardized rate (ASR) (16.71 per 100,000 population, 95% IU) were registered in quintiles with low SDI. By the quantitative RT-PCR analysis of blood cells for BCR-ABL p210 gene transcript, the published studies highlight its large variations: 21.84 - 100% IS. FISH and PCR are able to detect rare BCR-ABL gene variants and breakpoints that may go unnoticed by conventional cytogenetics. Conclusions: Despite the declining overall trend of ASIR, ASDR and age-standardized DALYs at the expense of high SDI quintiles, the CML burden remains stable due to the growing population in developing countries and the aging population in developed countries. Management of patients with primary diagnosed CML, with high risk factors, should include enhanced surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Diagnostics management of patients with CML includes morphological, cytogenetic and molecular-genetic investigations of the peripheral blood and bone marrow regardless of the phase of clinical evolution, with FISH and RT-PCR as proving resolutive modalities.