Myeloblastic Leukemia Preceded by Prolonged Hematologic Disorder

A case with a prolonged period of blood disorder preceding the terminal development of myeloblastic leukemia is reported in some detail. The preleukemic period was characterized by anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. It extended over a period of almost nine years but was punctuated by a period of remission lasting four and one half years. In the initial phase, the marrow was hypoplastic but during the later stages, it was hyperplastic.

Brief reference is made to somewhat similar cases that have been recorded and to the ideas expressed by the authors of these reports.

It is suggested that further investigation is needed to determine whether the initial blood disease occurring in such cases is irrevocably linked to the subsequent leukemia.