Prognostic value of in vitro bone marrow culture in refractory anaemia with excess of myeloblasts.

Bone marrow from 17 patients with refractory anaemia with excess of myeloblasts (RAEM) was cultured in methylcellulose semi-solid medium. Compared with normal bone marrow, 3 patterns of growth occurred corresponding with different clinical stages of the condition. Patients whose bone marrow grew normal colonies and those who produced a predominance of microclusters had the longest life expectance, while those who produced a predominance of macroclusters had the shortest life expectancy with a high rate of acute leukaemic transformation. Colony culture appears to be a useful prognostic tool in the condition.