Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 20, 2026

Comprehensive Protocol to Sample and Process Bone Marrow for Measuring Measurable Residual Disease and Leukemic Stem Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
09:57

Comprehensive Protocol to Sample and Process Bone Marrow for Measuring Measurable Residual Disease and Leukemic Stem Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Published on: March 5, 2018

Initial blood fetal hemoglobin concentration is elevated and is associated wtih prognosis in children with acute

J Rautonen1, M A Siimes

  • 1Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Blut
|July 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels in children with leukemia correlate with a higher risk of death or relapse. Increased HbF synthesis appears linked to more aggressive forms of childhood leukemia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is typically present in fetal blood and decreases after birth.
  • Elevated HbF levels can be observed in various hematological conditions, including certain leukemias.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between initial fetal hemoglobin (HbF) concentration and prognosis in pediatric leukemia patients.
  • To determine if HbF levels can serve as a predictive biomarker for outcomes in childhood leukemia.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 100 children diagnosed with leukemia.
  • Multivariate analysis to assess the relationship between initial HbF levels and the risk of death or relapse.
  • Comparison of mean initial HbF concentrations between acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and myeloid leukemia subtypes.

Main Results:

  • Initial fetal hemoglobin (HbF) concentration was generally elevated in pediatric leukemia patients.
  • Each 1 g/l increase in initial HbF was associated with a 1.13-fold increased risk of death/relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (P < 0.05).
  • Each 1 g/l increase in initial HbF was associated with a 1.20-fold increased risk of death/relapse in myeloid leukemias (P < 0.02).
  • Mean initial HbF was higher in myeloid leukemias (3.4 g/l) compared to ALL (1.1 g/l).

Conclusions:

  • Increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis is associated with the degree of malignancy in pediatric leukemia.
  • Elevated HbF levels may indicate a more aggressive disease course in children with leukemia.
  • HbF concentration could potentially serve as a prognostic marker in pediatric leukemia management.

More Related Videos

Flow Cytometry to Estimate Leukemia Stem Cells in Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia and in Patient-derived-xenografts, at Diagnosis and Follow Up09:01

Flow Cytometry to Estimate Leukemia Stem Cells in Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia and in Patient-derived-xenografts, at Diagnosis and Follow Up

Published on: March 26, 2018

Cell-of-Origin Discovery in Infant Leukemia through Integration of 3D Models and Patient Transcriptomic Data10:24

Cell-of-Origin Discovery in Infant Leukemia through Integration of 3D Models and Patient Transcriptomic Data

Published on: August 21, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Disorders of Leukocytes01:27

Disorders of Leukocytes

Leukocyte disorders can lead to either leukopenia, characterized by an abnormally low leukocyte count, or leukocytosis, marked by a very high leukocyte number.
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...