Clinical and Cytogenetic Studies in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia

Abstract

SUMMARY. Monocytosis persisting for more than 12 mth is reported in six male patients, all of whom showed anaemia and mild neutrophil leucocytosis at some stage. Autopsy on one patient showed infiltration of organs with mononuclear cells. Investigations included cytogenetic studies, which in three patients revealed a karyotype of 45 XO in their marrow cells, but 46 XY in peripheral blood lymphocytes; the remaining three had a normal bone marrow chromosome constitution. Four patients had a low NAP score and four an elevated serum muramidase level. It is concluded that these male patients suffer from chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia and that bone marrow chromosome studies may be of help in confirming this diagnosis.