[Pre-therapeutic and evolutive characteristics of patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast]. / Caractéristiques préthérapeutiques et évolutives des patients atteints de la leucémie myéloïde chronique à Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia is based on the presence of translocation t(9,22). Additional cytogenetic abnormalities may exist at diagnosis and have prognostic value. The authors evaluated the relationship between these additional chromosomal abnormalities, clinical presentation, and therapeutic response. METHOD: In a retrospective and comparative study from 2005 to 2015, at Yopougon university hospital, 51 cases of myeloid leukemia were selected, including 22 cases with additional chromosomal abnormalities. RESULTS: Thirteen types of additional Ph1 abnormalities were detected in one group, with a median age of 39years (13-73); a sex ratio of 1.4 and a low social class (49%). The median consultation time is 13months (2-29). Hepatomegaly (54%, P=0.05); fever (81.8%, P=0.0017); bone pain (63.6%, P=0.0001); lymphadenopathies (27.3% P=0.014); poor general condition [WHO>1 (77.3%, P=0.001)], high Sokal index (63.6%, P=0.0019), eosinophilia>5% (72.7, P=0.02) and circulating blastosis were found more frequent in the group with additional abnormalities treated with imatinib mesylate. We obtained 13.6% hematologic remission and 22.7% cytogenetic remission (P=0.02). The average survival was relatively short (20months vs. 76.4months, Log-rank<0.0001). We deplored a high death rate (59.1%). CONCLUSION: The presence of an additional anomaly constitutes a pejorative element refractory to imatinib.

Imatinib Mesylate Effectiveness in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia with Additional Cytogenetic Abnormalities at Diagnosis among Black Africans.

Imatinib mesylate provides good results in the treatment of CML in general. But what about the results of this treatment in CML associated with additional cytogenetic abnormalities at diagnosis among black Africans? For this, we retrospectively studied 27 cases of CML associated with additional cytogenetic abnormalities, diagnosed in the department of clinical hematology of the University Hospital of Yopougon in Côte d'Ivoire, from May 2005 to October 2011. The age of patients ranged from 13 to 68 years, with a mean age of 38 years and a sex ratio of 2. Patients were severely symptomatic with a high Sokal score of 67%. CML in chronic phase accounted for 67%. The prevalence of additional cytogenetic abnormalities was 29.7%. There were variants of the Philadelphia chromosome (18.5%), trisomy 8 (14.8%), complex cytogenetic abnormalities (18.5%), second Philadelphia chromosome (14.8%), and minor cytogenetic abnormalities (44.4%). Complete hematologic remission was achieved in 59%, with 52% of major cytogenetic remission. The outcome was fatal in 37% of patients. Death was related in 40% to hematologic toxicity and in 30% to acutisation. The median survival was 40 months.

Characteristics and Results of the Management of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas: The Experience of Côte d'Ivoire.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas have been little studied in black Africans. The purpose of our study was to determine the characteristics and results of the management of these lymphomas. Patients and Methods. In a descriptive and analytic retrospective study we studied the medical records of 63 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma hospitalized during the period from 1991 to 2007. The diagnosis was made after lymph node or organ biopsy. Response to treatment, OS, PFS, and toxicity were studied. The complete response has been analyzed univariate and multivariate analysis. Results. The median age was 42 years. The sex ratio was 2. The HIV serology was positive in 11 cases, and 8 patients had antiretroviral therapy. In 71% the lymphoma was at stages III and IV of Ann Arbor. IPI was ≥3 in 65%. Complete remission was achieved in 43%. Only 43% of patients had had a good compliance. Progression-free survival at 3 years was 32%, and overall survival at 3 years was 50%. 13% of patients were lost to follow up, and 51% of them died. In terms of analysis the complete remission rate was influenced by the stage of Ann Arbor (P < 0.0001), biological b symptoms (P < 0.01), the IPI (P < 0.0001), and the socioeconomic standing (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only IPI and stage of Ann Arbor influence the complete remission.