Platelet count at diagnosis predicts survival in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND

The identification of prognostic variables in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia has allowed the design of different treatment regimens according with the estimated risk of relapse of the disease in each patient.

OBJECTIVE

To associate the initial platelet count with survival in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The survival of two groups of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was compared, divided considering the platelet count that each patient had at the time of the onset of leukemia; a platelet count of 50 × 109/L was chosen as the cut-off point for the division into groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

A platelet count > 50 × 109/L predicted a better prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with p = 0.002 in the bivariate analysis (Kaplan-Meier log rank). The multivariate analysis with Cox regression identifies the initial platelet count as a predictor of overall survival, with p = 0.025 (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.15-4.47)).

CONCLUSIONS

The platelet count at diagnosis is directly associated with survival independently of the other prognostic factors described.