Serum Leptin Level in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

cute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant (clonal) disease of the bone marrow, in which early lymphoid precursors proliferate and replace the normal hematopoietic cells of the marrow. It is the most common cancer among children, and the most frequent cause of death before age of 20. Many genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in ALL pathogenesis by blocking lymphoid differentiation and drives aberrant cell proliferation and survival. It is clinically presented by manifestations of bone marrow infiltration (cytopenias), hyperleucocytosis, and organs infilteration (hepatosplenomagely, lymphadenopathy, and other systems infiltration). Diagnosis of ALL is based on CBC with peripheral blood film examination, bone marrow aspirate, immunophenotyping and cytogenetics study. Recently leptin has been used as a biomarker for diagnosis & prognosis of ALL after chemotherapy.