Melphalan-related leukemia in multiple myeloma.
Five patients with multiple myeloma ending in acute leukemia are described. The preleukemic phase was characterized by anemia, leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia. The incidence of acute leukemia in myeloma was calculated to be 6%. Melphalan therapy for more than two years increased the incidence to 14%. All patients who developed leukemia had received a total melphalan dose of at least 1 100 mg.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000209:etiology*
D008558:Melphalan