A retrospective study of clinico-hematological and cytogenetic profile of erythroleukemia from South India

Objective of the study is the retrospective evaluation of clinico-hematological and cytogenetic profile of patients with erythroleukemia (EL) in a south Indian population. Case records of all patients with acute myeloid leukemia seen in the Department of Medical Oncology at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, between January 1997 and December 2004 were reviewed. Clinical details were noted and slides were reviewed. A total of 326 AML patient were diagnosed of whom 14 patients had AML M6. Contribution of EL to all forms of AML was 4.3%. The mean age was 37.1+13.9 yrs (range: 16-65); most patients were in their 4th decade, with a male: female ratio of 3.67: 1. Mean duration of symptoms in the present series was 10.9+6.9 weeks. Cytogenetics were normal in 71% of cases, and minor abnormalities were observed in 21% of cases. As a conclusion relative low incidence of secondary EL, more frequent normal karyotype, and relatively younger age observed in our series makes the picture of EL in our subcontinent different from that in other series reported thus far.