Prognostic factors and survival in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)

Ninety-seven cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) were examined retrospectively for survival and possible prognostic factors including age, total white cell count, peripheral blood and bone marrow monocyte counts, % double esterase (DE) positive cells in bone marrow and serum lysozyme. Age, absolute monocyte counts and serum lysozyme proved to be significant independent prognostic indicators but Cox model analyses showed serum lysozyme to be the most important factor whether taken as a continuous or discrete (two groups) variable. Twelve cases of second malignancy were found, including 2 cases of multiple myeloma, but this was not significantly greater than expected when compared with an age and sex matched group.