Different induction therapies in the treatment of childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of combining all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic triox-ide with or without anthracyclines on the treatment of childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients. Methods The retrospective study included 46 children as newly diagnosed APL from January 1st, 2001 to December 31st , 2012. Efficacy and adverse effects for different induction therapies and in high and low white blood cell (WBC) count subgroups were studied. Results In the non antharcycline containing group, 2 patients died during remission induction, and in the antharcycline containing group none of the patients died. No statistical difference was observed between the antharcycline containing group and the non antharcycline containing group in complete remission, the length of time to achieve molecular complete remission and minimal residual disease quantitative analysis at the end of the induction. The mean duration of high WBC count subgroup in the anthar-cycline containing group was shortened than that of the non antharcycline containing group (P<0.05). The recovery time of the abnormal coagulation was found similar between these two groups. Conclusions The use of antharcycline in induction therapy could shorten the duration of high WBC count and reduced the WBC count peak , thus reduces the risk of early death.