title: Clinical characteristics of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in male and female patients: A retrospective analysis of 705 patients.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical characteristics of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that occurred in male and female patients at one institution in Southern China. The medical electronic records of Nanfang Hospital, affiliated to Southern Medical University, were searched for patients with a definite diagnosis of ALL that were diagnosed between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2012. The clinical data of the patients were collected and analyzed. A total of 705 eligible patients were identified. The gender ratio of male to female patients was 1.84:1. The average ages at the time of diagnosis were 16.43 and 19.54 years for male and female patients, respectively (P=0.007). No significant differences were identified in the seasonal occurrence distribution, blood group distribution or ratio for the presence of the Ph chromosome between males and females. However, a higher incidence of T-cell type ALL was identified in males (P=0.023). The present study reveals that ALL demonstrates a male predominance, but similar clinical characteristics of ALL are present in males and females in Southern China.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China ; Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China ; Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Su-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China ; Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China ; Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fan-Yi
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chun-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China ; Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: acute lymphoblastic leukemia; clinical characteristics; retrospective analysis