P. Fortin et Mc. Mackey, Periodic chronic myelogenous leukaemia: spectral analysis of blood cell counts and aetiological implications, BR J HAEM, 104(2), 1999, pp. 336-345
Of 24 published clinical reports of periodic chronic myelogenous leukaemia
(PCML), 21 had sufficient data to analyse for periodicity, and 12 showed si
gnificant periodicity (p less than or equal to 0.05) using the Lomb periodo
gram. Leucocyte oscillations had periods T ranging from 37 to 83 d. When da
ta were also reported fur platelets and reticulocytes there was no signific
ant difference between their periods and those of the leucocytes. These dat
a and their analysis provide strong circumstantial evidence for a haemopoie
tic stem cell origin of PCML. Namely the known chromosomal changes in CML p
atients may, on occasion. also be accompanied by a destabilization resultin
g in an oscillatory efflux into the leucocyte, platelet and erythrocytic pa
thways.