[Retrospective analysis of 417 cases of acute leukemias in the elderly in Shanghai. Shanghai Leukemia Cooperative Group (SLCG)].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of acute leukemia (AL) in the elderly in Shanghai.

METHODS

Four hundred and seventeen elderly ALs registered in SLCG between 1984 and 1994 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSION

Elderly AL accounted for 14.5% of all AL, AML was the major type, and M5 and L3 were the commonest subtypes. Complete remission rate of elderly AL was 23.9%, which was lower than that of young adults'(53.7%). Routine dose induction chemotherapy was more effective than low dose chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for early death were age > or = 70, hemoglobin < 40 g/L, bone marrow blast cell > 80%, DIC presentation, secondary to MDS, or other conditions such as heart or pulmonary diseases.