[Comparison between acute myeloblastic leukemia in children and adults]

The clinical, hematological and therapeutic aspects of 36 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia in children and 98 cases in adults observed in Algeria are discussed. In Algeria, acute myeloblastic leukemia is more frequent in children than in other populations. In our series there was a very unusual female predominance. Clinically, we observed in children only, 8 cases of chloroma of the orbit. From the hematological point of view, the only difference was a higher incidence of leukopenia and hyperleukocytosis after the age 30 years. The results of VAMP treatment (vincristin, amethopterin, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisone) are better in children than in adults. But analysis of the results is more interesting if one places the patients in age groups of ten years. The percentage of complete remissions is maximum in the age group 0 to 10years and then falls regularly.