Outcome of CML patients with de novo bleeding complications: Do they behave differently?

Abstract

e18546 Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic neoplasm. A subset of CML patients present may present with unusual bleeding manifestations. There is limited data on the incidence and outcome of such patients on treatment with imatinib. Methods: We analysed the CML patients treated at PGIMER Chandigarh from January 2003 to December 2018. Baseline spleen and liver size, hematological parameters, Sokal and Hasford score, site and severity of bleeding (as per WHO classification) were recorded. The treatment response, occurrence of cytopenias and need for second line TKI were analyzed. Results: Sixty-six patients (2.8%) out of 2350 adult CML patients had bleeding at diagnosis. The median age was 35 years (range 15 – 66 years); 56.1% were males. The median duration of follow up was 79 months (range 6 – 123 months). Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly was found in 89.3% and 65.1% patients, respectively. Baseline median hemoglobin was 9.5 g/dL; TLC was 151600/mm3 and platelet count was 301000/mm3. Based on Sokal score, 15/66, 26/66 and 25/66 patients belonged to low, intermediate and high risk categories, respectively. According to Hasford score, 22/66, 36/66 and 8/66 patients belonged to low, intermediate and high risk categories, respectively. Based on WHO grading, 33/66, 30/66 and 3/66 patients had grade 1, 2 and 3 bleed, respectively. 48 patients had mucocutaneous bleeding [cutaneous 17, gum bleed 16, epistaxis 15], 4 had psoas haematoma, 7 had vaginal bleeding, 3 had ocular bleeding, 6 had GI bleed [upper GI 3, lower GI 3], 3 had hematuria. 74.2% achieved CHR at 6 weeks and 83.3% achieved MMR at 12 months with Imatinib. 18 developed cytopenias which required Imatinib interruption or dose reduction. 18 required Imatinib dose escalation for suboptimal response, 5 patients received second line TKI. Six patients progressed to advanced phase CML (AP/BC) after a median duration of 32 months (range 21 – 49 months). Bleeding manifestations resolved in all patients and there was no recurrence of bleeding on follow up. Conclusions: Bleeding is an uncommon presentation of CML. It might be a harbinger of an increased risk of cytopenias, suboptimal treatment response and disease progression on Imatinib.