Erythroleukaemia in the north of England: a population based study

Aims-To evaluate the incidence and outcome of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) , FAB M6 (erythroleukaemia). Methods-A demographic study in the Northern Health Region of England betwee n 1983 and 1999. Results-Thirty three cases were diagnosed and registered prospectively. The overall incidence was 0.077 cases/100 000/ year. There was a pronounced ri se in incidence in patients aged 56 years or more: 6.6 times higher than th at in younger patients. Overall survival was poor; median survival was I I months for those aged less than 56 years, and three months for patients age d 56 years and above (p = 0.045). Acquired karyotypic abnormalities were fo und in 17 of 27 patients where analysis was attempted. When classified acco rding to the criteria of the Medical Research Council AML trials, karyotype predicted survival, with a median overall survival of 14 months for those with "standard risk" cytogenetic results and two months for "poor risk" res ults (p = 0.005). Conclusion-This study demonstrates a worse survival for patients with eryth roleukaemia than that reported in some published trials of selected patient s.