Serum vitamin E levels in patients of chronic myeloid leukaemia.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate vitamin E levels in sera of patients of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) before and after treatment with busulphan and hydroxyurea and to compare the levels with those in healthy controls.

METHODS

The study was carried out in a total of 50 subjects (mean age 34 +/- 8.86 years; 25 were proved cases of CML and 25 were healthy controls. Vitamin E level was measured by spectrofluorometeric method. In patients of CML vitamin E level was estimated twice i.e. once when their total leucocyte count (TLC) was raised (i.e. before treatment) and then after treatment after bringing the TLC near normal.

RESULTS

The mean serum vitamin E level in 25 normal healthy controls was 7.19 micrograms/ml and that in 25 patients of CML at presentation (before treatment) was 2.67 micrograms/ml. It increased to 3.61 micrograms/ml after treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results show that patients of CML have a significantly lower (p < 0.001) level of serum vitamin E as compared to normal healthy adults and that the level of vitamin E increased significantly (p < 0.001) after treatment even without supplementing vitamin E.