What is a notable feature in the blood of a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia?

In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a notable feature is the presence of granulocytes at various stages of development, which reflects the nature of the disease. CML is characterized by an overproduction of myeloid cells that leads to a spectrum of granulocyte maturation, meaning that instead of a uniform population of mature cells, the blood will show immature cells, promyelocytes, myelocytes, and mature granulocytes. This variety in developmental stages indicates that while the body is producing a greater quantity of myeloid cells, that production is disorganized, which is a hallmark of CML.

The condition does not typically present with a high count of transformed blast cells, which is more indicative of acute leukemias rather than chronic forms. Similarly, CML does not usually maintain a normal count of differentiated granulocytes either, as the disease results in increased total white blood cells along with the abnormal development of the myeloid lineage. While there may be erythropenia in some cases, a severe reduction in red blood cells is not a primary feature of CML; instead, it is more commonly seen in other types of hematological disorders. Thus, the diverse stages of granulocyte maturation is the defining characteristic seen in the blood