ASSESSMENT OF HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND DNA PATTERN IN LEUKAEMIA PATIENTS KADUNA NIGERIA

Leukaemia is the general name given to a group of cancers that develop in the bone marrow. It originates in developing blood cells that have undergone a malignant change leading to multiple uncontrolled malfunctioning cells. The end result include fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections and easy bleeding or bruising. The search for accurate information, data and solution is still a challenge to many developing countries like Nigeria. The study therefore reported the assessment of hematological parameters and DNA pattern in leukaemia patients attending hemato-onchologyclinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria.500 suspected leukemia patients attending haemto-oncology clinic of ABUTH from March 2015 to October 2018 were included in the study. 3mL of the patients? blood were collected into EDTA bottles and analysed for full blood and differential count using automated blood counter and also thin blood smear were made, stained and examined for leukemic cells. The DNA were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction assay. Data were subjected to simple statistical analysis and results recorded. Full blood count and cytomophological method detected 30 (6%) prevalence of leukemia while PCR assay detect 28 (5.6%) prevalence in Kaduna State. The pattern of leukaemia DNA detected include 2.8% in Kaduna North district, 1.8% in Kaduna South District and 1% in Kaduna central district respectively. Decreased platelet count, packed cell volume and increased white blood cell count and presence of blasts and smudges cells were significant (P≤0.05).The molecular pattern of leukaemia and the prevalence were significant (P≤0.05) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The presence of abnormal DNA and some hematological parameters is related to leukaemia infection in Kaduna state Nigeria.