title: Low dose melphalan is a treatment option in elderly patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome or secondary acute myeloblastic leukaemia.
abstract: We present the case of a 71 year-old man with secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia, who was successfully treated with low dose melphalan plus Epo plus G-CSF. We treated the patient with 2 mg of melphalan once a day orally, G-CSF 5 mg/kg 3 times a week and Epo 10.000 ui subcutaneously 3 times a week until the maximum response was obtained. Complete remission was achieved after 16 weeks of continuous treatment. Treatment-related toxicity was not significant. We recommend the use of low dose melphalan in elderly patients with high risk MDS as a treatment option.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anargyrou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaiopoulos
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terpos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsironi
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samarkos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meletis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000754:Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D008558:Melphalan