[Long-term survival and fatal late relapse in acute leukaemia in adults]

This study comprises 187 patients aged over 15 years with acute leukaemia, diagnosed and treated between the years 1969 and 1978. Fourteen (7.5%) survived for more than 5 years after diagnosis. In this group of survivors there were 7 patients with AML and 6 with ALL--corresponding to 8.9 and 21.4% of each collective, respectively--and 1 patient with PML. Four patients (28.6%) died after a survival time exceeding 5 years, 1 patient with AML as a result of a gastric carcinoma and the 3 other patients (1 AML, 2 ALL) of the original disease. Hence, survival times over several years do not necessarily mean real cures. From an analysis of our data, no factor correlating with long-term survival was identifiable. In terms of clinical-diagnostic parameters the group of late relapses was also heterogeneous.