Characterization of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at Arnaldo Milián Castro Provincial University Hospital

Abstract

ntroduction: chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a malignant proliferative disorder of mature, incompetent lymphocytes that accumulate massively in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid tissues.

Objective: to characterize patients having the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia clinically and epidemiologically at Arnaldo Milian Castro Provincial University Hospital in Santa Clara, Villa Clara between 2015 and 2017.

Methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was conducted. The target group consisted of 23 patients who were included in the study. Individual medical records were reviewed to obtain the necessary information, with respect to the principles of medical ethics.

Results: the age group over 65 years (87.0 %) and male sex (65.2 %) predominated. At diagnosis, patients with clinical stages I and II of Rai represented 39.1% for each group, and according to Binet's classification, stage B patients represented 78.3%. There was complete remission in 58.0% of the patients, with the Leukeran - Prednisone combination is the most common treatment applied (42.1%). Infectious complications were present in 65.2% of cases.

Conclusions: chronic lymphocytic leukemia is more frequent after 65 years of age in male gender, generally diagnosed at intermediate risk stages. The clinical response to treatment is favorable in most cases, commonly presenting infectious complications, which is a fundamental cause of morbidity in these patients.