Acute myeloid leukemia amongst adults

ABSTRACT

Acute myeloid leukemia is characterized by infiltration of bone marrow and other tissues by abnormal myeloid precursors, often with appearance of these abnormal cells in the peripheral blood. AML comprises about 80% of acute leukemias in adults. Clinical features are generally ascribed to marrow failure as well as infiltration by blast cells. To look into various FAB types of AML and clinically correlate them. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at the department of pathology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from July 2007 to July 2009. A total of 56 consecutive freshly diagnosed adult patients of AML were included in the study. Clinical data and Complete blood counts were studied. Bone marrow aspiration, and when required trephine biopsy were performed. Blood and bone marrow slides were stained by Wright stain; cytochemical stains were performed whenever required. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 14. Mean and +/- SD were calculated for numerical values and frequencies for string values. In total of 56 adult cases of AML 33 [59%] were males and 23 [41%] were females. The age ranged from 16 to 79 years with mean +/- SD age of 37 + 17.19 years. The most common subtype was AML-M1 [32%] followed by M3, M4 [19.6% each], M2 [14%] and AML-M5 [9%], respectively. AML-M6, M7 and M0 were observed in one patient [1.8%] each. Hepatomegaly was observed in 48% patients, splenomegaly in 45% patients and lymphadenopathy was noted in 38% patients. Tissue infiltration was most common with AML-M4 and AML-M5 subtypes and least frequent with AML-M3 subtype. Majority of patients of AML were found to be anaemic. Leukocyte count more than 1 lack was seen in 13 [16%] patients. Majority of patients [94%] had thrombocytopenia. Pancytopenia was noticed in 13 [15.8%] patients and these included cases of M1, M2, M3 and M0. None of the Patients of AML-M4, M5, M6 and M7 presented with pancytopenia