ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) with ATRA on newly-diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods 35 patients of newly-diagnosed APL received As2O3 with ATRA treatment. The therapeutic effects were compared with As2O3 treatment on 33 patients. The dose were adjusted according with As2O3 0.16 mg·kg-2·d-1 and ATRA 25 mg·m-2·d-1 until complete remission (CR). The CR rate, period to CR, the incidence of early death and side effects were observed in two groups. Results There was no significant difference in CR rate, in which 94.3 % for As2O3 with ATRA group and 90.9 % for As2O3 group (P >0.05). Significant difference was observed in the period to CR, in which the medium time to CR was 26.1 days for As2O3 with ATRA group and 30.5 days for As2O3 group (P 0.05). Conclusion The treatment combined with As2O3 and ATRA could lessen the time of reaching CR. The WBC count > 10×l09/L was one of the main causes of therapy associated death and the APL differentiation syndrome should be detected and given attention immediately.