Abstract
The management of CML has recently become increasingly complex. The Scotland Leukaemia Registry (SLR) sent questionnaires to all 26 Scottish haematology units, of which 18 (69%) responded. From January 1999 to December 2000, 64 new cases of CML were identified by the audit (incidence 0.64/100,00/yr), of which 46 were registered with the SLR. At diagnosis, all 18 units combined bone marrow examination with cytogenetics/FISH, but only 13 performed RT-PCR. Of four units that calculated the Hasford Score, only two used it to inform clinical decisions. 52% of patients entered clinical trials, 57% involving imatinib mesylate (IM). Of the 23 patients who were tissue typed, suitable donors were found for 18, 11 sibling, and 7 unrelated, representing 28% of the total patient population. Only 13/64 patients (20%) did not have a BMT donor identified or enter a clinical trial. Although 38% of units would consider reduced intensity allografting in patients > 60 years, no centres currently routinely tissue-type such patients. For first line therapy 56% of patients received hydroxyurea +/- interferon. Of the newer agents, 83% of units believed imatinib mesylate should be reserved for clinical trials, 83% would consider using oral ara-C and 89% pegylated-interferon.
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