Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate the association of gender and age with the resistance shown to Imatinib in CML with
evaluation of WBCC in different age groups. Study Design: Cross Sectional Analytical study. Setting: Islamic International
Medical College, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Patients were enrolled from the CML clinic in Holy
Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period: January 2019 to December 2021. Material & Methods: Sampling technique was non
probability consecutive sampling. We included 75 newly diagnosed CML patients, who were taking Imatinib 400 mg. Blood
samples of all these patients were analysed at the start of treatment and also after 3 months to determine the complete
haematological response (CHR) and patients were labelled as resistant who failed to achieve complete haematological
response at this stage according to the Leukemia Net guidelines. Results: Our study demonstrates that 54.7% of the patients
were Imatinib responders while 45.3 % patients were Imatinib resistant. Patients who were labelled as responders have
shown complete haematological remission at 3 months of treatment. (Platelet Count < 450 x 10 9/L - WBCC < 10 x 10 9/L -
Differential without Immature Granulocytes (MC, PMC, MB) and With Less Than 5% Basophils - Non-Palpable Spleen) A chi
square test of independence was performed to examine the relation between gender and response and between age groups
and response. The relationship between age groups and response is significant with p value of 0.003. While the relationship
when determined between gender and response, it was found to be non-significant with p value of 0.08. It was also found out
that WBC count in responders is at lowest in second age group and also highest in second age group in case of resistant
patients that is age between 31-40 years. Conclusion: Imatinib resistance is common while treating patients with chronic
myeloid leukemia. There is significant association with the different age groups and non-significant association with the
gender in terms of response to the treatment of Imatinib. It was also found that age also effects the WBC count with Imatinib
though it was not significant.
