Acute myeloid leukemia in elderly adults

One hundred and fifteen previously untreated adults aged over 60 years were referred to St Bartholomew's Hospital between 1978 and 1986 for management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Twenty‐seven patients received symptomatic or palliative treatment only because combination chemotherapy was considered inappropriate. Eighty‐eight patients received intensive chemotherapy with curative intent. There was a 48 per cent ‘early death’ rate and a 24 per cent incidence of resistant disease; complete remission (CR) was achieved in 25 88 patients (28 per cent). By multivariate analysis, a blast count < 50 × 109/1 at presentation was the only factor predictive for achievement of CR whilst the latter and a presentation blast count