Association of Inflammatory Biomarkers with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case–Control Study

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy, which is the unchecked proliferation of the myeloid precursor cells, and clinical results range from one patient to another. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study aims at exploring the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and the progression of AML and their relationship to the severity of the disease. METHODOLOGY: The study design was a case–control design and consisted of 100 newly diagnosed AML patients and 50 age-and sex-matched healthy controls, from February 18, 2025, to January 10, 2026. Diagnosis was made by clinical examination, hematology, bone marrow examination, and immunophenotyping. Patients with previous chemotherapy, inflammatory diseases, or other malignancies were excluded. Blood samples were taken after fasting, and serum inflammatory markers were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematological and biochemical parameters were measured by automatic analyzers. Automated analysis of routine hematological and biochemical parameters was performed. RESULTS: All inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, were significantly higher in AML patients than in controls ( P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in white blood cell (12.5 ± 3.8 vs. 6.8 ± 1.5 × 10 9 /L), and a significant reduction in hemoglobin and platelet levels ( P < 0.001). The levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea were also significantly higher in AML patients. There were significant positive correlations between inflammatory biomarkers, such as between CRP and IL-6, irrespective of demographic parameters, indicating simultaneous activation of the inflammatory pathway in AML pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated inflammatory parameters in AML are associated with immune dysregulation, systemically elevated inflammation, impaired hematopoiesis and organ dysfunction, suggesting that they can be used as markers of severity and progression of AML.