[Clinical observation and following up of two administration methods of arsenic trioxide in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and security of two arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) administration methods in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).


METHODS
Forty-eight APL cases were treated with As(2)O(3) with the total daily dosage of 0.16 mg/kg that was divided into two equal doses diluted in 250 ml of 5% glucose given twice in the morning and evening respectively by intravenous infusion' at a speed of 8 drops/min with an interval of 2-3 hours. Forty-eight sex- and age-matched APL cases were treated with As(2)O(3) with the same total daily dosage of 0.16 mg/kg given according to the routine method: infused intravenously once a day with a duration of at most 2 hours. Serum was collected at different time points to examine the arsenic concentration. The remission rate and side effects were observed.


RESULTS
The remission rate was 93.8% in the patients treated by the new method, and was 83.3% in the patients treated by the routine method 28 days after the treatment. The lasting duration of effective arsenic level was at least 18.4 +/- 3.3 hours in the new method group, and was 9.4 +/- 1.6 hours in the routine method group. The average time from the initiation of treatment to complete remission (CR) in the new method group was 26.4 +/- 2.4 days, and was 35.7 +/- 4.8 days in the routine method group. No late liver functional lesion and bone marrow depression was found in the two groups during the 6 months followed up.


CONCLUSIONS
The 'multi-times and slowing intravenous infusion' method relieves the side effects of As(2)O(3) treatment, increases the CR rate in treatment of APL.
Zhou
Jin
J
First Clinical Medical College of Ha'rbin Medical University, Ha'rbin 150001, China.
Meng
Ran
R
Wang
Yan
Y
Yang
Bao-feng
BF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide