[Problems in the treatment of stem cell leukemias in aged patients]

Stem-cell leukemias will reveal a second peak of frequency at old age. The cytochemical differentiation in 26 patients of old age revealed a preponderance of myeloblastic forms. Moreover, a slight accumulation of monocytic and myelo-monocytic types could also be observed. In spite of this apparently unfavourable cytochemical differentiation the relatively good capability of myeloblastic leukemias of responding to cytostatic treatment was surprising. However, no cytostatic maximum programmes should be chosen in view of the low regenerating ability of the bone marrow in old patients.