Variations in serum malondialdehyde levels in patients with leukemia

Leukemias are malignant neoplasms of hematopoietic stem cells characterized by diffuse infiltration of the blood and bone marrow by neoplastic cells. Leukemias are classified as acute and chronic according to clinical course and myeloid and lymphoid according to the cell predominantly involved in leukemic process. Free radicals are implicated in the pathogenesis of leukemia. Oxidative destruction of polyunsaturated fatty acid is called as lipid peroxidation. In this study, we determined serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level as a lipid peroxidation product in patients with leukemia. The mean serum MDA levels were significantly increased in leukemic patients (p<0>significant difference in serum MDA levels with respect to sex only in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Whereas in age groups, we found significant trend in serum MDA levels in patients with CML, AML and ALL patients. There was no significant difference in serum MDA level in patients with CLL with respect to age. Our finding of the high levels of serum malondialdehyde in leukemic patients as compared to healthy control may be due to increased oxidative stress in patients with leukemia.