Erythroleukemia: a comparison between the previous FAB approach and the WHO classification

Leuk Res. 2002 May;26(5):423-9. doi: 10.1016/s0145-2126(01)00146-1.

Abstract

Erythroleukemia is, within FAB classification, a proliferation of erythroblasts superior to 50% and of myeloblasts superior to 30%. The new WHO classification abolishes the frontier between RAEB-t with 20% and leukemia with 30% of blasts. AML6 variant is a new entity characterized by the proliferation of immature erythroblasts and the absence of non-erythroid blast cells. We analyzed 16 erythroleukemia, 5 RAEB-t and 2 AML6 variants to clarify their relationship. We suggest on survival, karyotype and cytologic characteristics that secondary erythroleukemia are the same entity as RAEB-t, confirming the WHO classification and that amongst de novo erythroleukemia, there is 'AML6 variant' with pure erythroid lineage proliferation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / classification*
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Survival Rate
  • World Health Organization