Effect of Chemotherapy on Malondialdehyde levels in Leukaemias.

Leukemia are the family of hematological malignancies of bone marrow resulting in uncontrolled proliferation of white blood cells. We have analyzed the MDA levels in 108 leukaemic patients. In the present study, the mean of the plasma MDA levels in leukaemic patients were found to be significantly elevated (572.41+11.79) as compared to that of the normal controls (375.84+5.48) indicating the possible role of invivo peroxidation of membrane lipids in the etiology of leukaemias. Sexwise comparision of the MDA levels in the leukaemic groups showed an elevated levels of lipid peroxidatrion byproducts among the affected males (588.23+14.49) as compared to that of the femeles (541.61+ 19.57). With respect to the age, the MDA levels were seen to be progressively increasing with advancing age. The highest levels of MDA were found in the age group of 30-40 years in an the types of leukaemia. In general the treated group showed comparatively low levels of MDA (543.13+13.46) to that of the untreated group (631.21+20.05) indicating the effect of chemotherapy on MDA levels. With respect to stage, the M5 stage among the AML type (619.67+28.22), L3 among the ALL type (769.00) and blast crisis among the CML group (619.67+112.89) were exhibiting elevated levels of MDA.