Acute leukemia and preleukemia in eight males in a family: an X-linked disorder?

Eight males in a family died of acute leukemia or a potentially preleukemic blood disease. Three patients were descendants of a man through his first wife, and the other five through his second wife. The pattern of disease in the family suggests X-linked inheritance through the two wives, although other mechanisms cannot be excluded. No detectable action of environmental leukemogens was observed in this family disorder.