Blood, 1955, Vol. 10, No. 5, pp. 502-509.
© 1955 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Myeloblastic Leukemia Preceded by Prolonged Hematologic
Disorder
MARJORIE J. WILLIAMS 1
1 Laboratory Service, Veterans Administration Center, Temple, Texas.
A case with a prolonged period of blood disorder preceding the terminal development of myeloblastic leukemia is reported in some detail. The preleukemic
period was characterized by anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. It extended over a period of almost nine years but was punctuated by a period of
remission lasting four and one half years. In the initial phase, the marrow was
hypoplastic but during the later stages, it was hyperplastic.
Brief reference is made to somewhat similar cases that have been recorded
and to the ideas expressed by the authors of these reports.
It is suggested that further investigation is needed to determine whether the
initial blood disease occurring in such cases is irrevocably linked to the subsequent leukemia.
Submitted on October 5, 1954
Accepted on December 5, 1954
