Hematological and biochemical changes in acute leukemic patients after chemotherapy.

AIM: To study hematological and biochemical profiles in acute leukemic patients before and after chemotherapy. METHODS: Sera from 20 normal persons were compared with those from 40 patients of whom 20 patients were followed up after 6-8 months of treatment with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone. RESULTS: Hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count were decreased while reticulocyte count, blood sedimentation, total leukocyte count, bleeding time, bilirubin, blood coagulation time, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and urea were increased in acute myelocytic patients compared to normal. A similar pattern was observed in acute lymphocytic patients except there was no significant increase in serum urea. CONCLUSION: In acute leukemic patients blood chemistry and hematology are useful during diagnosis and treatment. After 6-8 months of treatment 50% remission occurred.