Seasonality in acute promyelocytic leukemia: Fact or myth?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a biologically and clinically distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Etiological and seasonal factors that play a role in APL still unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the available data to assess the impact of seasonal variations on incidence of APL over a period of 6 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational study based on APL record of a Hematology Nasiriyah Center from January 2014 to January 2020 was processed. The collected data of diagnosed (APL) patients at this center for 6 years was analyzed, and APL presenting in each month of the year was also assessed for any evidence of seasonality. RESULTS: Fifty-eight cases of APL were included in this study: there were 22 males (37.93%) and 36 females (62.07%). The mean age was 31.1 ± 14.4 years (minimum 15 and maximum 67). We found a pronounced peak of APL occurrence in March (within winter and early spring months) and decline in summer to zero point in August, which was repeated periodical all studied 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal pattern of APL was observed. Investigation of specific seasonal risk factors would be informative in explaining the etiology behind the observed variation.

Keywords

• acute promyelocytic leukemia
• iraq
• leukemia
• spring
• winter