[Parameters significant for the prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase]

A total of 46 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia and their clinical and laboratory findings as parameters which might have an influence on survival were investigated. There was 28 (61%) males and 18 (39%) females. The mean age was 52 years. The patients were treated by busulfan with daily doses of 6 to 10 mg during one to two months, following the treatment by the lower doses of busulfan. A complete remission was achieved in 40 (87%) patients, in 4 (9%) there was a partial remission, and in 2 (4%) no remission at all. The median duration of chronic phase was 36 months, and the median survival for all patients was 43 months. The females survived longer than the males, but there was no significant difference in the survival time (median 46:38 months). The patient's age did not appear to influence prognosis. No differences in survival was noted between the patients with the haemoglobin level higher or lower than 110 g/L (chi 2 = 1.64). The size of the spleen was not a factor of statistical significance for the patients analysed. In patients with leukocytosis higher than 100 x 10(9)/L and those with more than 6% basophils in the bone-marrow smears, the survival was worse than in patients with the finding below this value (chi 2 = 3.55; 3.87). In the group of patients with platelet count higher than 350 x 10(9)/L, the survival was significantly worse than in patients with the finding below this value (chi 2 = 4.67; p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)