Seropositivity for Viral Infectious Diseases in Leukemia Patients and Its Relationship with Cytogenetic Changes

Introduction: Leukemias are involving the bone marrow and the soft tissues in the inner parts of the bones. This malignancy is the most common pediatric cancer, and its etiologic causes are not well understood. This multifactorial disease is believed to be linked to genetic and non-hereditary environmental factors. Cytogenic analyses of chromosomal abnormalities provide diagnostic and prognostic values in leukemia patients. Given the high prevalence of viral diseases and clinical suspicions of the relationship between certain viral infections and leukemia, it is necessary to investigate this possible relationship, especially in third-world countries. The present study recruited 65 children with leukemia (AML, CML, or ALL) who were presented to two tertiary hospitals. At first, all the patients underwent testing for HBV, HCV, CMV, EBV, and HIV. Bone marrow specimens were studied for identifying possible chromosomal abnormalities in cytogenic investigations. According to our findings, there was a relationship between the incidence of leukemia, the 12:21 chromosomal translocation, and CMV infection. Therefore, preventing CMV infection can lead to a reduced incidence of leukemia. It is expected that the findings of this study enlighten scientists to conduct more extensive research on the relationship between viral diseases and leukemia in third-world countries.

Materials and Methods: The present study recruited 65 children with leukemia (AML, CML, or ALL) who were presented to two tertiary hospitals. At first, all the patients underwent testing for HBV, HCV, CMV, EBV, and HIV. Bone marrow specimens were studied for identifying possible chromosomal abnormalities in cytogenic investigations.

Results: According to our findings, there was a relationship between the incidence of leukemia, the 12:21 chromosomal translocation, and CMV infection. Thus, CMV infection is highly suspected to cause a chromosomal abnormality and predispose children to leukemia . Therefore, preventing CMV infection can lead to a reduced incidence of leukemia.

Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is relevant to the 12:21 chromosomal translocation and CMV virus infections, So the reduction in leukemia prevalence is dependent on the prevention of CMV disease. It is expected that the findings of this study enlighten scientists to conduct more extensive research on the relationship between viral diseases and leukemia in third-world countries.