However, the occurrence of cytopenias was also clearly dependent on the stage of the disease, the frequency of grade 3 or 4 neutropenias (ANC < 1.0 x 109/ l) and thrombocytopenias (platelet count < 50 x 109/ l) being between 4 and 6 times higher in blast crisis and accelerated phase (59– 64% and 44– 63% for neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, respectively) as compared to newly diagnosed patients in chronic phase CML (16.7% neutropenia and 8.9% thrombocytopenia).