[Monocytic leukemia. Analysis of clinical and hematological data in 21 patients (author's transl)]

A clinical hematological survey is given of 21 patients with monocytic leukemia. About 1/3 of all immature cell leukoses are monocytic leukemias; a classification of the acute leucoses by enzyme histochemical methods should be attempted. Since more than half of the patients exhibited subleukemic to aleukemic peripheral leukocyte levels, the histological findings of a sternal puncture are diagnostic pointers. The bone marrow picture of monocytic leukemia is characterized by a great preponderance of atypical cell elements of the monocyte series which give a distinctly positive reaction in the non-specific esterase test. The combined use of cytostatics producing remission brought marked improvement in half the patients. Remission lasted from 2 to 8 weeks.