A clinical study of adult leukaemias.
The incidence of adult leukaemias, their response to therapy and the complications of therapy were studied in 121 cases over seven years (1981-1987). All cases were followed up till recovery or death for periods ranging from seven days to seven years. Adult leukaemias accounted for 2.56% of all admissions due to malignancies. There were 21 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, 61 of acute myelogenous leukaemia, 36 of chronic myelocytic leukaemia and 3 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. All received aggressive combination chemotherapy. Remission could be achieved in 57% to 60% of cases. Infection (34%), bleeding (34%), and central nervous system involvement (25%) were the complications during therapy. The cause of death was ascertained in 87 of 90 deaths by a detailed postmortem. Haemorrhage (34.5%), infection (31%) and uncontrolled leukaemia (22%) were the leading causes, either singly or in combination. Some of the uncommon causes of death were fulminant hepatic failure, coronary artery disease, gangrene of the colon and disseminated tuberculosis.
Kasthuri
A S
AS
Department of Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.
Jaiprakash
M P
MP
Panicker
N K
NK
Gupta
M M
MM
Rajoor
G S
GS
Basu
S K
SK
Sambandam
S
S
Bhalla
I P
IP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods