title: [Superhigh doses of dexamethasone in treatment of refractory forms of acute lymphoblast leukemia of adults].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of high-dose dexamethasone efficacy in combination with standard drugs (adriablastin, vincristin, alpha-asparaginase) in patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot multicenter trial with participation of hematological departments of Hematological Research Center (Moscow), municipal hospital N 1 (Krasnoyarsk), municipal hospital N 8 (Yaroslavl), Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (Kirov) included 34 patients (10 patients with late recurrences, 24--with primary resistant forms, early and secondary recurrences).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with late ALL recurrences a complete remission (CR) was achieved in 70% cases, the median being 10 months. In patients with primary resistant ALL, early and secondary recurrences CR reached 37.5%, the median was 14 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program HiDexa is highly effective: overall complete remission rate reached 47%, median of complete remission duration was 10 months. Dexamethasone in high doses must be used only intravenously.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Parovichnikova
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Savchenko
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Isaev
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Sokolov
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Moskov
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kliasova
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Gal'tseva
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Ustinova
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Gribanova
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lapin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003907:Dexamethasone