title: Monocytosis as a sign of subsequent leukemia in patients with cytopenias (preleukemia).
abstract: In a prospective 11 year-study 53 patients with cytopenias have been followed from the first appearance of haematological abnormalities to death. In 39 patients (group A) the diagnosis of hypoplastic anaemia has been confirmed on autopsy, in 24 (group B) the diagnosis of acute leukemia has been made clinically and/or on autopsy. In 13 patients of group B a monocytosis exceeding 300 cells/microliters could be found at various times before death (4 to 108 months). Patients affected with monocytosis has a survival time being 4 times longer than that of others. Thus, a long term survey and monocyte counting in patients with cytopenias of unknown origin may be of diagnostic and prognostic value.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000401:mortality; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes; D011289:Preleukemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies