T-immunophenotype is associated with an increased prevalence of thrombosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A retrospective study.

haematologica/journal of hematology vol. 88(09):september 2003 1079 Five patients relapsed at different points (from 8 to 27 months) of CR. In three of them (n. 4, 8 and 9) consistent PCRpositivity was observed during 10, 20 and 15 months before relapse. One patient (n. 11) was not studied during the 4 months before relapse. Thus, no patient relapsed after durable PCR-negativity. We believe that durable PCR-negativity for the AML1-ETO transcript in CR is a good prognostic sign. Perhaps patients with durable PCR-negativity do not need frequent quantitative testing but conversion from durable PCR–negativity to positivity in at least two assays needs to be checked by quantitative assay. Combination qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR might be reasonable for monitoring MRD in the t(8;21) AML. To confirm this conclusion and our suggestion for frequent monitoring a larger series of patient must be studied. Studies of PB, as an alternative to BM, for frequent testing is of current interest. This strategy also needs further investigation.