A case of the “juvenile” type of chronic myelogenous leukemia seen in a 6 months old male has been described. A review of 21 cases of this condition including the present case in the Japanese literature has been made together with analyses of the clinical features, therapeutic effects and the changes in basophils in peripheral blood, serum vitamin B12, and immunoglobulins in chronic myelogenous leukemia with negative Ph1. The following summary may be made:
The ages of the reported cases range from 2 months to 9 years, and the survival time is longer in patients with earlier onset. The effect of therapy on the survival time is less conspicuous compared with the adult type. The chronic myelogenous leukemia with negative Ph1 lacks the characteristic features of that with positive Ph1 such as basophila and high serum B12, and exhibits a different immunoglobulin pattern. In this respect, the “juvenile” type of chronic myelogenous leukemia is in a position closer to acute myelogenous leukemia. Whether or not juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia is a separate disease entity, depends on the extent of increase in HbF and on whether or not it is of congenital metabolic derangement.
