Early fulminant leukaemia post autologous bone marrow transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

Although autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) is a curative option for about 50% of the patients with progressive or relapsing lymphomas, considerable concern has been raised recently over the emerging rates of secondary malignancies following ABMT. A 15% cumulative incidence of myelodysplasia 5 years after BMT is of major concern. We hereby describe a unique form of leukaemia occurring 4-6 weeks post ABMT for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. The possible etiology for this phenomenon as well as its relation to the classical MDS post ABMT is discussed.