title: Acute leukaemia in Jehovah's Witnesses.
abstract: The refusal of Jehovah's Witnesses with leukaemia to accept transfusion provides a major clinical challenge because of the myelosuppressive effects of chemotherapy. Experience in treating five such patients is described. Two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) achieved remission following chemotherapy, the first without transfusion support, the second, a minor, receiving transfusion under a court order: the first patient remains in remission 5 years later, whereas the second subsequently relapsed and died. Of three patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), two received chemotherapy: one died of anaemia during induction chemotherapy whereas the second eventually consented to transfusion but died of refractory leukaemia. The third patient died of anaemia despite erythropoietin. We feel Jehovah's Witnesses should not be denied antileukaemic therapy if they fully understand the risks involved. Minimizing phlebotomy, use of antifibrinolytic agents and growth factors may make chemotherapy feasible, especially in ALL where remission may be induced with less myelosuppressive agents. The outlook for those with AML treated with conventional chemotherapy appears poor; alternative approaches to treatment should be considered in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust, London.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Cullis
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Duncombe
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lumley
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Apperley
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002835:Christianity; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015479:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D016312:Treatment Refusal