All-trans retinoic acid and short-time, high-dose cytarabine in two children with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
We report on two girls, 3 and 13 years old, with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who were successfully treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) 45 mg/m2/day. "Retinoic acid syndrome" was prevented with short-time treatment of high dose (4 x 1.5 g/m2) cytarabine. This regimen was well tolerated, although both children were critically ill. They achieved a complete remission confirmed by light microscopy, but reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction remained positive after ATRA, underlining the need of further chemotherapy.
Schmitt
K
K
Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Zoubek
A
A
Schwarz
R
R
Tulzer
G
G
Koller
E
E
Krieger
O
O
Lutz
D
D
Gadner
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D013577:Syndrome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003561:Cytarabine; D014212:Tretinoin