Chronic myeloid leukaemia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

• Published in: International journal of hematology 2012-05, Vol.95 (5), p.556-563
• Main Authors: Webb, Michael J., Barrett, Claire L., Pretorius, Christel, van Jaarsveld, Magdalena F., Louw, Vernon J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic infection; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Cytogenetic Analysis; Cytogenetics; Demography; Drugs; Eosinophilia; Exanthema; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematology; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV-1 - drug effects; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - complications; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - drug therapy; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - genetics; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Original Article; Patient compliance; Patients; Retrospective Studies; Side effects; Signs and symptoms; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viruses
• ISSN: 0925-5710; 1865-3774
• DOI: 10.1007/s12185-012-1073-2

The occurrence of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has rarely been reported in the literature. In this report, we describe the experience of a single centre in the management of 10 such patients, including demographic information, disease characteristics and response to therapy. We had a black female predominance in our series, with only a minority of patients achieving a complete cytogenetic response. The main reason for this appears to be compliance, which was influenced by distance to the treating centre. The side-effect profile was similar to that expected, with the exception of one patient who developed a drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Although CML patients co-morbid for HIV face certain unique challenges when compared to non-infected patients, their long-term outcome can be positive when appropriately managed.