[Characteristics of elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia]

The average life span of our country is the longest in the world, and rapid aging is taking place, besides. Therefore the elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (EAML) is increasing. The biological characteristic of EAML is deteriorating internal organs function, and high ratios having the complication of the patient. Leukemic cells in the elderly has the biologic characteristic that non-usual case, for example hypoplastic leukemia, is many, and a case having abnormal chromosomal aberration is also. A social characteristic of EAML is that they are treated at a general hospital such as the municipal hospital not a university hospital, and in many cases the only family is the elderly spouse. Enough understanding of the nation is necessary to overcome such a disadvantageous point and to improve treatment results of EAML.