The significance of splenomegaly in 101 adults with acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (ALL) at presentation and during remission
A Friedman, P Schauer, R Mertelsmann, C Cirrincione, H Thaler, P Dufour, SB Ellis, H Teitelbaum, S Kempin, TS Gee, Z Arlin and B Clarkson
One-hundred-one adult patients with ALL were analyzed to determine the
prognostic implications of splenomegaly occurring at any time during the
course of their illness. The clinical status of the spleen at presentation
was not found to be of major prognostic significance. Complete response
rates, remission durations, and survivals did not differ between patients
with and without splenomegaly at presentation. An enlarged spleen
accompanied relapse in four patients. In six additional patients,
splenomegaly was present during complete remission, and splenectomies
performed in five of these patients revealed no evidence of leukemia to
account for the splenomegaly. Splenectomy does not appear to be
detrimental, as all five patients are currently in complete remission from
20 to 63 mo after splenectomy. Evidence implicating the spleen as a source
of an antibody directed against autologous leukemia cells in one patient is
reviewed.
Volume 57,
Issue 4,
pp. 798-801,
04/01/1981
Copyright © 1981 by The American Society of Hematology
