laboratory features
Last reviewed 01/2018
- peripheral blood:
- the white count is raised, usually > 30 x 10^9 / litre, commonly, 100-250 x 10^9 / litre
- differential:
- the myeloid series is left-shifted with mature forms dominating
- granulocytes especially neutrophils and myelocytes, greatly increased
- basophilia and eosinophilia is common (1)
- low percentage of blasts
- red cells - anaemia in later stages, normocytic, normochromic
- platelets - often normal, may be increased or decreased
- bone marrow:
- hypercellular with prominent granulocytic hyperplasia
- megakaryocytic numbers often raised
- high proportion of blasts suggests transformation
- trephine biopsy - useful to assess degree of fibrosis and loss of marrow fat spaces
- Philadelphia chromosome - often detected in peripheral blood or bone marrow
- neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score is low providing evidence of qualitative abnormalities in neutrophils
- serum vitamin B12 is high due to increased secretion of transcobalamin III
- serum uric acid and alkaline phosphatase - often raised
Reference: