Studies on Hemopoietic Dysplasia (the Preleukemic Syndrome)

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Abstract
The clinical course of 42 patients with hemopoietic dysplasia diagnosed during 1974–77 has been studied. The clinical, laboratory and morphological findings at presentation were investigated for prognostic significance. At the time of completion of the study (Aug. 1979), 38% had developed acute leukemia (median survival after diagnosis 5 months) and 45 % had died of complications (bleeding and infections) due to severe cytopenia (median survival 6 months). An overall malignant course was observed in patients with low platelet count (9/l), bleedings and a severe myeloid maturation defect in the bone marrow (≥30% myeloblasts and promyelo‐cytes). Increased serum vitamin B12 and presence of myeloblasts, promyelocytes and abnormal 'mono‐cytoid' cells in the peripheral blood indicated a leu‐kemic termination.