title: Tretinoin toxicity in children with acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
abstract: Tretinoin is effective in acute promyelocytic leukaemia in adults. Data about its efficacy and safety in children are limited. We have treated 9 children with tretinoin at 45 mg/m2 per day. Pseudotumour cerebri or hyperleucocytosis occurred in 5 patients. Retinoic acid syndrome was seen in 3 cases. 1 of 2 children who developed hyperleucocytosis, pseudotumour cerebri, and retinoic acid syndrome died despite steroids and mechanical ventilation. Complete remissions with tretinoin alone were achieved in 15 patients. All 8 surviving children received consolidation chemotherapy. Our experience with tretinoin therapy suggests that toxicity is frequent in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, St Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hurwitz
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Krance
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013577:Syndrome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin