Hi All,
Remission has nothing to do with the kind of treatment the patient is receiving - only with the response.
Here is a report from IWG (International Working Group) with the criteria:
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrar.../3671.full.pdf
At page 3 you will find the criteria for Complete Remission:
Complete remission (CR)
Bone marrow evaluation: Repeat bone marrow showing less than 5% myeloblasts with normal maturation of all cell lines, with no evidence for dysplasia.* When erythroid precursors constitute less than 50% of bone marrow nucleated cells, the percentage of blasts is based on all nucleated cells; when there are 50% or more erythroid cells, the percentage blasts should be based on the nonerythroid cells.
Peripheral blood evaluation (absolute values must last at least 2 months)â€*: Hemoglobin greater than 11 g/dL (untransfused, patient not on erythropoietin) Neutrophils 1500/mm3 or more (not on a myeloid growth factor) Platelets 100 000/mm3 or more (not on a thrombopoetic agent)
Blasts, 0%
No dysplasia*
Dean's doctor can tell you that Dean is in remission but without a BMB and observation during at least 2 months the response is not evaluated according to the Interational Working Group criteria.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A