Comparison of busulphan, hydroxyurea and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in chronic myeloid leukaemia: BMT prolongs survival.

Introduction: Whether busulphan-treated patients develop blastic transformation earlier than hydroxyurea treated has been a controversial issue. In a randomised prospective study, we examined the busulphan versus hydroxyurea influence on time to blast crisis and on survival. When we opened our study in 1984, the clinical benefit of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was not well known; to follow up the long-time outcome of this treatment was therefore of great interest.

Cost analysis of different phases of acute myeloid leukaemia.

Priority lists have been formulated in several countries and cut-backs can be a threat to leukaemia treatment. We analysed the costs in different phases of disease for 54 conventionally treated patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Thirty-two patients reached CR 1, seven patients are still alive as of May 1994.