Causes of Death in Acute Leukemia

Abstract

Major causes of death in acute leukemia were infection in 70% of patients and hemorrhage in 52%. In 38% of the patients there was more than one cause of death. Striking changes took place during the ten-year-study period. Fatal hemorrhage declined to nearly half the early rate, and fatal staphylococcal infection from 23.5% to 3.1%. At the same time fatal infections due to fungi increased from 8.2% to 23.2%.