Kinetic of liver enzymes and serum electrolytes in HCV, HBV, and HIV negative chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib or nilotinib.

The outcome for chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients was changed dramatically since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. This study intended to evaluate side effects of TK Imatinib or Nilotinib on liver enzymes and serum electrolytes in relation to hematologic and molecular response in HCV-, HBV-, and HIV-, CP-CML patients. The study was a quasi-experimental pre-post single group design, included 38 HCV-, HBV-, and HIV-newly diagnosed Philadelphia positive CP-CML patients with normal hepatic and renal function. They were divided equally into two groups, 19 received Nilotinib, and 19 received Imatinib. Hematologic, BCR-ABL gene expression by RT-PCR, electrolytes and liver enzymes were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Patients age ranged between 20 and 62 years. Anemic manifestations represented the highest rate (n=23, 60.5%). The mean WBCs count was significantly reduced after treatment (p < 0.001). The WBCs count was significantly reduced in the Nilotinib group than the Imatinib group (97% and 94%, respectively, p=0.049). The mean hemoglobin level was significantly increased after treatment (p=0.010). The mean platelet level did not change over the treatment period. The mean AST, ALT, and ALP levels were significantly increased after treatment, (p=0.014, p=0.002, and p=0.047, respectively). The ALP level was significantly increased in both groups (p=0.001). The mean sodium potassium, phosphorous, and calcium level was not changed over the treatment period. The mean BCR-ABL gene expression was sharply decreased after treatment (p < 0.001). A higher reduction was observed in the Nilotinib group (99%) than the Imatinib group (91.5%) (p=0.025). Imatinib resulted in rise of AST and ALP levels than Nilotinib, while both had the same effect on the ALT level. Higher reduction in BCR-ABL gene expression was achieved by Nilotinib. Nilotinib and Imatinib did not affect serum levels of sodium, potassium, phosphorous, or calcium.