Abstract
Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the poor prognostic diseases. It relapses in more than half of young and 85% of old patients. AML patients with good prognosis are candidates for transplantation in the second remission and patients with poor or intermediate prognosis are candidates in the first remission.
Objectives: In this study, the survival of patients with AML, and the effect of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were evaluated.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 30 patients with relapsed and refractory AML who were admitted to Taleghani Hospital. The overall survival (OS) rate and effective factors (WBC count, platelet count, cytogenesis) were determined. Collected data were analyzed by using version 24 of SPSS and via appropriate statistical tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Thirty patients—56% with refractory AML and 43% with relapsed AML—were enrolled in the study. Complete remission was achieved in 23% of patients, the others did not achieve remission despite salvage chemotherapy. Relapse-free survival (RFS) in these patients was 12±1weeks. Only 3% of patients received BMT. There was a statistically significant association between WBC count, platelet count, cytogenesis study, and OS.
Conclusion: Relapsed or refractory AML is a disease with a very poor prognosis, despite salvage therapy. So, we recommend that all patients with AML should receive BMT in their first remission.