Baseline Tryptase Levels Correlate with Baseline Basophil Levels in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia-Chronic Phase

Aims: To study whether there is any correlation between baseline blood basophil count and serum tryptase levels in newly diagnosed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) patients.

Settings and Design: 40 newly diagnosed CML-CP patients were enrolled from Medical Oncology Hematology OPD based on their baseline BCR-ABL status (done in department of Biochemistry).

Methods and Materials: Serum tryptase level was measured using Sandwich ELISA and peripheral blood basophil count was estimated using automated cell counter & peripheral blood film examination. BCR-ABL quantification was done using real time PCR after conversion of RNA (extracted from whole blood) to cDNA.

Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS Version 23.

Results: Baseline peripheral blood basophil levels showed a significant correlation with baseline serum tryptase levels (p<0.01) and tryptase level also correlated with EUTOS score, which has basophil count as one of the parameters. This may signify that serum tryptase levels can be a surrogate marker of the basophil compartment in CML-CP.

Conclusions: Based on findings of the present study and other studies available in literature, serum tryptase can be utilised as a surrogate marker of the basophil compartment in CML-CP.