ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA IN THE ELDERLY

One hundred and fifty-five consecutive patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) seen between 1980 and 1989 were studied. Patients aged 60 years or more was retrospectively compared with those aged 59 years or less, regarding clinical features and treatment results. Clinical features at presentation did not differ significantly between the elderly and the rest of patients. Attenuated chemotherapy with dose reduction was given to the elderly patients. Remission (CR) rate, first CR duration for the elderly were 58%, eight months and three months respectively, whereas in the younger patients these were 81%, fifteen months and fourteen months respectively. The difference was significant for the CR rate and survival duration, but not for CR duration.