[Long-term survival in an elderly patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia]

A 79-year-old patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia (M2 type in FAB), who has survived more than 5 years, is reported. She was admitted because of fever and anemia. Her white blood cell count was 6200/mm3 with 58% blasts. Bone marrow aspiration showed a nucleated cell count of 26 X 10(4)/mm with 84% blasts, Complete remission was achieved within one month by DCMP two-step method therapy. She relapsed in the third and fifth years after initial therapy. Because leukemic change is atypical, she was treated with a low dose of Ara-C therapy, resulting in complete remission. In cases of acute myelobastic leukemia in elderly patients, long-term survival is rare. However in this case, follow-up has succeeded for 5 years. This patient is the oldest case of acute myeloblastic leukemia ever reported in Japan.