Cyclic leukocytosis and long survival in chronic myeloid leukemia

A patient with an unusually prolonged course of Ph' positive chronic myeloid leukemia is presented. His disease was marked by cyclic leukocytosis, various chromosomal aberrations and secondary thrombasthenia. In vitro culture studies and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production were consistent with responsiveness of the leukemic clone to GM-CSF. The possible relationship between the long survival and the feedback regulation of leukopoiesis is raised.