OBJECTIVE:

To estimate vitamin E levels in sera of patients of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) before and after treatment with busulphan and hydroxyurea and to compare the levels with those in healthy controls.

METHODS:

The study was carried out in a total of 50 subjects (mean age 34 +/- 8.86 years; 25 were proved cases of CML and 25 were healthy controls. Vitamin E level was measured by spectrofluorometeric method. In patients of CML vitamin E level was estimated twice i.e. once when their total leucocyte count (TLC) was raised (i.e. before treatment) and then after treatment after bringing the TLC near normal.

RESULTS:

The mean serum vitamin E level in 25 normal healthy controls was 7.19 micrograms/ml and that in 25 patients of CML at presentation (before treatment) was 2.67 micrograms/ml. It increased to 3.61 micrograms/ml after treatment.

CONCLUSION:

The results show that patients of CML have a significantly lower (p < 0.001) level of serum vitamin E as compared to normal healthy adults and that the level of vitamin E increased significantly (p < 0.001) after treatment even without supplementing vitamin E.