[The treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia in the elderly patients (author's transl)].

Thirty eight patients over 60 years with acute myeloblastic leukemia are studied. 16 p. cent (3 out 19) of the patients 60--69 year-old and 42 p. cent (8 out 19) over 70 died before any treatment or effective chemotherapy. Among the patients who received and effective chemotherapy, 48 p. cent responded and 7 complete remissions were obtained. The rate of responders is lower in oldest patients; nevertheless when a response whether complete or partial is observed, the survival of responders is dramatically improved. This invites to treat with effective chemotherapies every patients suffering from acute myeloblastic leukemia in the elderly. However, the comfort and the quality of survival must not be omitted.