Clinico-Pathologic Features and Outcome of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia In Ilorin, North Central Nigeria.

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of all patients that were diagnosed and managed for Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in the Department of Haematology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin between 1^st January 2005 and 31^st December 2018 was carried out with the aim of characterizing the clinical, haematological and prognostic features as well as outcome in the patients. A total of 39 patients were reviewed consisting 25 (64.1%) males and 14 (35.9%) females giving a M:F ratio of 1.6:1. The median age of patients at diagnosis was 65.5 years and the highest prevalence was found in the 60 – 69 years age group. The commonest symptoms at presentation were night sweats (59.0%), Body weakness (51.3%), fever (41.0%), and weight loss (41.0%) while the commonest signs included lymphadenopathy in all patients (100%), splenomegaly (87.2%), pallor (53.9%) and hepatomegaly (46.2%). The mean values of haematological parameters were: Packed cell volume (28.6%), Haemoglobin concentration (9.4g/dL), Total white blood cell count (87.6 x 10⁹/L), Absolute lymphocyte count (55.8 x 10⁹/L) and platelet count (134.8 x 10⁹/L). The majority of the patients (94.9%) were diagnosed with advanced disease (Rai stage III and IV) while only 2(5.1%) had Rai stage II and none in Rai stage 0 – I. Chlorambucil-based regimen was used in 71.8% of patients, and only 2 patients had Rituximab as part of their treatment regimen. The clinical presentation, haematological features and disease outcome observed in our study was similar to what had been reported in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Keywords: Clinical, Haematological, Features, Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Ilorin