Younger age and shorter chronic phase in b2a2-positive chronic myeloid leukemia adults with high white blood cell count at diagnosis.

Controversial results between the bcr-abl mRNA type and its relationship to clinical data at presentation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have been reported. We analyzed 71 adults with chronic phase CML using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) validated by sequencing and observed that in a subgroup with elevated white blood cell (WBC) count at diagnosis, younger patients and shorter chronic phase were more commonly registered in b2a2-positive individuals.