title: Therapeutic leukapheresis in hyperleucocytic leukaemias: lack of correlation between degree of cytoreduction and early mortality rate.
abstract: The clinical and laboratory data of 48 leukapheresis-treated patients with hyperleucocytic leukaemia (HL) was reviewed to assess the correlation between the degree of leucoreduction and early mortality. Leukapheresis resulted in > 50% leucoreductions and postapheresis WBC counts < 100 x 10(9)/l in most patients (64.5%). Patients presenting with neurological, respiratory or renal complications had higher early mortality rates than patients without such complications, despite similar initial WBC counts and comparable leucoreductions. Thus, in these patients, more efficient leucoreduction was not associated with improved early survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202-5283, U.S.A.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Porcu
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Danielson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orazi
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Heerema
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Gabig
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000628:therapy*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome