Long-term outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia in adults in Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the long-term outcomes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and to study clinicopathological features at presentation, morphological subtypes and remission rates.


METHODS
Demographic information, response to therapy and survival of patients (>14 years of age) admitted between January 1988 to August 1996 with acute myeloid leukaemia was retrieved and analysed.


RESULTS
Seventy-four patients were admitted with a diagnosis of AML during the study period. There were 43 males and 31 females. Age ranged between 15 and 70 years with a mean age of 38 years. The most common presenting feature was fever (67.5%) and the morphological subtype according to French-American-British Group (FAB) criteria was M4. Fifty-five patients received treatment and were evaluable for response and outcomes. Thirty-six (65.4%) patients had complete remission. Sixteen (29.1%) died during the first 28 days after starting induction chemotherapy. The median survival was 11 months. Six (11%) patients (4 females, 2 males) are surviving beyond 4 years (long-term survivors).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the long-term outcomes of adults with AML are comparable to what has been reported in the literature for patients who do not receive bone marrow transplants.
Kakepoto
G N
GN
Department of Pathology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Burney
I A
IA
Zaki
S
S
Adil
S N
SN
Khurshid
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003561:Cytarabine; D005047:Etoposide; D003630:Daunorubicin