Early fulminant leukaemia post autologous bone marrow transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

Although autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) is a curative option for about 50% of the patients with progressive or relapsing lymphomas, con siderable concern has been raised recently over the emerging rates of secon dary malignancies following ABMT. A 15% cumulative incidence of myelodyspla sia 5 years after BMI is of major concern. We hereby describe a unique form of leukaemia occuring 4-6 weeks post ABMT for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patie nts. The possible etiology for this phenomenon as well as its relation to t he classical MDS post ABMT is discussed.