The Scotland Leukaemia Registry audit of incidence, diagnosis and clinical management of new patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 1999 and 2000

Scott Med J. 2004 Aug;49(3):87-90. doi: 10.1177/003693300404900305.

Abstract

The management of CML has recently become increasingly complex. The Scotland Leukaemia Registry (SLR) sent questionnaires to all 26 Scottish haematology units, of which 18 (69%) responded. From January 1999 to December 2000, 64 new cases of CML were identified by the audit (incidence 0.64/100,00/yr), of which 46 were registered with the SLR. At diagnosis, all 18 units combined bone marrow examination with cytogenetics/FISH, but only 13 performed RT-PCR. Of four units that calculated the Hasford Score, only two used it to inform clinical decisions. 52% of patients entered clinical trials, 57% involving imatinib mesylate (IM). Of the 23 patients who were tissue typed, suitable donors were found for 18, 11 sibling, and 7 unrelated, representing 28% of the total patient population. Only 13/64 patients (20%) did not have a BMT donor identified or enter a clinical trial. Although 38% of units would consider reduced intensity allografting in patients > 60 years, no centres currently routinely tissue-type such patients. For first line therapy 56% of patients received hydroxyurea +/- interferon. Of the newer agents, 83% of units believed imatinib mesylate should be reserved for clinical trials, 83% would consider using oral ara-C and 89% pegylated-interferon.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzamides
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyurea / therapeutic use
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Incidence
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Registries
  • Scotland / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Hydroxyurea