RESUMO
Objective To determine the results of treatment combining all-trans-retinoic acid(ATRA)in childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL).Methods 22 children with newly diagnosed APL received induction therapy with ATRA followed by 3 courses of consolidation chemotherapy:daunorubicin,idarubicin,homoharringtonine or aclacinomycin plus cytosine arabinoside.A maintenance therapy was then administered with ATRA and these reigems for 36 months.Results Early deaths from diffuse intravazcular clotting and intracranial hemorrhage occurred in two patients.The other children achieved a complete remission(CR).By June 2007,the estimated disease-free survival rates at 1,3 and 5 years were 100%,93.3% and 84.7%;respectively.The side effects of ATRA were xerosis eutis and xerocheilia,headaches,nausea and vomiting,hepatic function lesion and ATRA syndrome.Conclusion Remission induction therapy with ATRA is effective and safe for newly diagnosed childhood APL.The maintenance therapy combined chemotherapy with ATRA can improve the long-term effects of APL patients.The main causes of death in APL children is diffuse intravascular clotting and intracranial hemorrhage.The side effects of ATRA can be tolerated.