Erythrocytic Pyruvate Kinase and Malondialdehyde Levels in Acute Leukaemia Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Many acquired enzymopathies have been reported in patients with acute leukaemia. Oxidative stress is also found to be increased in acute leukaemia, which can be indicated by the increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Malondialdehyde itself may lead to the alteration of the enzyme, pyruvate kinase. Therefore, this study was planned to estimate the levels of erythrocytic pyruvate kinase and malondialdehyde in patients of acute leukaemia before and after chemotherapy. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 patients of acute myeloid leukaemia, 20 patients of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 20 healthy controls. The levels of pyruvate kinase and malondialdehyde were estimated in the haemolysate in the controls and in the patients at the time of diagnosis. These levels were also estimated in the patients after six weeks of chemotherapy or remission, whichever was earlier. The results were compared statistically. Results: The levels of erythrocytic pyruvate kinase were found to be decreased significantly in the acute leukaemia patients as compared to controls and to be increased after chemotherapy, while the levels of erythrocytic malondialdehyde were found to be increased significantly in these patients as compared to the controls and to be decreased after chemotherapy. The levels were not statistically significantly different in acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Conclusion: The erythrocytic pyruvate kinase and the malondialdehyde levels may help in the diagnosis, for asessing the severity and for the monitoring of the acute leukaemia patients.

Keywords

• erythrocyte
• pyruvate kinase
• malondialdehyde
• acute leukaemia
• chemotherapy