The Factors Affecting Early Death in Newly Diagnosed APL Patients

Background and aim: In the past, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was considered as one of the most rapidly lethal form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The objective of this study was to assess clinical parameters affecting early death (ED) in patients with APL.

Materials and methods: Forty-three patients with APL who were diagnosed at Hacettepe University Hospital between the years of 2005 and 2018 were evaluated.

Results: In univariate analyses, presentation with hemorrhage, DIC or infection at diagnosis, ECOG performance score, blast percentage on bone marrow, Sanz score, leukocyte, thrombocyte, fibrinogen and LDH levels were found to be statistically significantly different between patients with ER and patients without ED. In multivariate analysis, presentation with hemorrhage, DIC or infection at diagnosis, ECOG performance score, blast percentage on bone marrow, Sanz score, leukocyte, thrombocyte, fibrinogen, and LDH levels were found to be independent factors that are related with higher rate of ED in 30 days after treatment.

Conclusion: Induction chemotherapy should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis of APL. Improving ED rates may become the greatest challenge for the future treatment of the diseases.