Acute Granulocytic Leukemia in Elderly Patients

We reviewed 134 cases of acute granulocytic leukemia in adult patients in three age groups. There were no differences among groups in the nature of onset, initial physical findings, morphologic characteristics, hematologic indices, complications, causes of death, or survival. While patients under 40 years responded more frequently to vigorous chemotherapy, responders over 60 years had equally long remissions and survivals. Patients aged 41 to 60 and 61 to 86 responded equally well. Prospective studies of vigorous chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute leukemia are warranted.