Lipid profile and oxidized lipoprotein levels in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is blood and bone marrow malignancy. Low-density oxidative lipoprotein (oxLDL) is a pro-inflammatory factor that has free radicals in its structure. OxLDL levels are also rising in diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. Studies have shown that oxLDL and dyslipidemia are more common in patients with various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the level of blood lipids and oxLDL in these patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

In a descriptive study, 36 patients who were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia from April 2016 to March 2017 were enrolled. This study was done in Shahid Ghazi Blood Department of Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Basic information including age, sex, type of disease, cause for referrals of the patients were collected. After obtaining informed consent from patients and 12 hours of fasting, 5 cc blood samples were sent to the Central Laboratory of Shahid Ghazi Hospital to measure the level of blood lipids including cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and oxLDL levels. Blood lipid and oxLDL levels were measured by automatic analyzer (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) (ELISA method).

23 patients (54.8%) were male and 19 (45.2%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 44.06±14.48 years. The lowest age was 25 and the highest was 80 years. In the study, the mean serum cholesterol level was 147.64±42.28 mg/dl, the blood triglyceride was 183.28±79.34 mg/dl, the LDL was 84.89±26.35, and the HDL 29±14.51, the mean oxLDL was 1482.5±6031.85 ng/ml.

The results of this study indicate that dyslipidemia in patients with acute myeloid leukemia has not been evident. Concerning oxLDL, an oxidative stress factor involved in acute myeloid leukemia requires further investigation and studies.