T. Nosslinger et al., Dysplastic versus proliferative CMML - a retrospective analysis of 91 patients from a single institution, LEUK RES, 25(9), 2001, pp. 741-747
In chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) segregation of two subtypes has b
een suggested depending on WBC countmyelodysplastic (MD-CMML) and myeloprol
iferative (MP-CMML). In a retrospective analysis of 91 (60/31) previously u
ntreated CMML patients, we compared the presenting clinical, haematological
, laboratory and bone marrow features and examined the clinical impact of t
his reclassification. LDH values and bone marrow cellularity were significa
ntly increased in MP-CMML. Median survival was significantly longer for pat
ients with MD-CMML, progression rate was higher for MP-CMML. Patients with
MD-CMML had longer median preleukemic duration; after transition to AML, MP
-CMML patients had longer median survival. In MDS phase anemia was more com
mon in MP-CMML and thrombocytopenia more common in MD-CMML whereas transfus
ion rates showed no difference. Evaluation of prognostic scoring systems fo
r both groups confirmed that patients' characteristics and outcome could be
well compared. Our data suggest that segregation into MD-CMML and MP-CMML
is justified. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.