Significance of chromosomal changes in patients of different age groups with acute leukemia

Chromosome abnormalities have been observed in about 50% of patients with acute leukemia. There have been several published reports which emphasized the chromosomal changes in relation to the age of the patient and the morphologic type of acute leukemia. All observations suggest that there are both age related similarities and differences. The karyotype is an important independent prognostic factor in acute leukemia; however, age alone (especially above age 70) is the single most important factor for a poor prognosis.