RATIONALE: Gathering information about how often methemoglobinemia occurs in young patients receiving dapsone for hematologic cancer or aplastic anemia may help doctors learn more about the disease and plan the best treatment.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at methemoglobinemia in young patients with hematologic cancer or aplastic anemia treated with dapsone.

OBJECTIVES:

• Define the incidence of methemoglobinemia in patients with hematologic malignancy or aplastic anemia who received dapsone prophylaxis through a retrospective chart review encompassing the last 15 years.
• Identify major risk factors for developing methemoglobinemia.

OUTLINE: Medical charts are reviewed. Of particular interest is demographic information, reasons for beginning dapsone prophylaxis, duration of dapsone prophylaxis, dapsone dosing, methemoglobin level, and treatment with methylene blue.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of hematologic malignancy or aplastic anemia

  • Treated within the past 15 years with dapsone prophylaxis during treatment of primary disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics