Malignant myelosclerosis (acute myelofibrosis). Report of two cases following cytotoxic chemotherapy

Abstract

Malignant myelosclerosis or acute myelofibrosis is a rare acute myeloproliferative disorder characterized by pancytopenia, myeloblastosis and marrow fibrosis. We describe two patients who developed malignant myelosclerosis after receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, one for Hodgkin's disease, and the other for membranous nephritis. In view of the known leukemogenic effect of cytotoxic drugs, we presume that chemotherapy played a role in the pathogenesis of malignant myelosclerosis in these two patients.