Small-dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of elderly patients with acute leukemia and refractory anemia with excess of blast.
Five elderly patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and four patients with refractory anemia with excess of blast (RAEB) were treated with small doses of Ara-C (5-30 mg/day, subcutaneous injection) for 10-28 days. Three patients achieved complete remission and four patients partial remission. Side effects were severe bone marrow suppression in eight patients and gastrointestinal symptoms in three patients. From these results it was indicated that a small-dose Ara-C regimen provides alternative therapy in selected elderly patients with ANLL and RAEB.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000754:Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced
D003561:Cytarabine