Journal of Blood Disorders & Transfusion

Abstract

The Effect of Imatinib Treatment Duration on the Quality of the Life of Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Katerina Skrivanova, Marcela Bendova, Ladislav Dusek, Daniela Zackova, Zdenek Racil and Jiri Mayer

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QL) as well as the frequency and severity of depression in patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) in relation to the duration of Imatinib treatment. Methods: A detailed analysis of 56 adult patients with CP CML divided into groups according to the length of Imatinib treatment was performed as follows: Group A (n=28)- patients treated for 15 months (median); and Group B (n=28)-patients treated for 50 months (median). All used questionnaires EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 2), SF 36 and BDI were localized and validated. Results: The results from the QL questionnaires found a trend in the improvement in the QL of patients treated with Imatinib for 50 months (median) compared to patients treated for 15 months (median) only. However, a statistically significant improvement in the QL of patients with longer Imatinib treatment was found only in patients without co-existing invalidity and/or rheumatic disease. Moreover, these two comorbidities increased the level of depressive symptoms in patients with CML during the early period of Imatinib therapy. Conclusion: We found a trend in the improvement in the QL of patients with CML in relation to the duration of Imatinib therapy. Statistically significant improvement in the QL of patients with longer Imatinib treatment was found in patients without co-existing invalidity and/or rheumatic disease only.