Clinical characteristics and treatment response in adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)

Objective: To determine comorbidities, clinical characteristics, and treatment response in adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), diffuse large B- cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and follicular lymphoma (FL). Methods: The design was observational from reviewing the medical records of patients seen in outpatient and inpatient settings. It included = 50 subjects who demanded attention during the period 2008- 2012 and that met specific inclusion/ exclusion criteria. The main measures were: comorbidity (population group), clinical stage, patient treatment, response to treatment, overall survival, progression- free survival, and mortality. Statistical analysis: p < 0.05. Results: 270 patients (CLL = 90, DLBCL = 81, FL = 99) were recruited, with a mean age of 72.5, 65.5, and 62.4 years, respectively. These groups of neoplasms, compared with the general population, showed a higher percentage of men (60.0, 56.8 and 52.6 vs. 46.2%) and morbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index: 1.6, 1.5, 1.4 vs. 0.4, respectively; p < 0.05). The administration of chemotherapy treatment was 28.9 vs. 86.4 and 90.9%, respectively (p < 0.001). Overall survival at five years was 84.4, 45.0 and 68.5%, respectively (p = 0.027), while mortality rates were 17.0 vs. 35.3 and 20.6%, respectively (p = 0.041). Compared with other treatments, with administered rituximab the median progression- free survival was 6.8 vs. 4.2 years (p < 0.001). These differences were maintained for the three neoplasms. Conclusions: Comorbidity associated with hematological malignancies is high. The chronic lymphocytic leukemia group showed increased survival with lower mortality rate. Rituximab showed a higher progression- free survival in these neoplasms. (Gac Med Mex. 2016; 152: 59- 69) Corresponding author: Antonio Sicras Mainar, asicras@ bsa. cat