[Sequential treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF) and human recombinant erythropoietin (rH-EPO) in anemia of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome and high blood transfusion requirements)]. / Tratamiento secuencial con factor estimulante de colonias de granulocitos (FEC-G) y eritropoyetina recombinante humana (EPO-rHu) en la anemia de un paciente con síndrome mielodisplásico y altos requerimientos transfusionales.

We describe the case of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) classified as Refractory Anemia with our Excess blasts, who suffered from high transfusional requirements and who did not respond to the administrations of B12 vitamin, folates, danazol, low dose cytarabine or recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). The patient was administered two cytokines: granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) followed by rHuEPO. The patient remained transfusion free for more than 4 months until his death from causes not related to MDS or the therapy he received. It is the opinion of the authors that the initial G-CSF administration stimulated the early erythroid precursors, making them capable of finishing their maturation when rHuEPO was administered. We believe that this could be a useful therapeutic measure in the treatment of patients with MDS and high transfusional requirements.

[Busulfan versus busulfan-interferon as maintenance therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia]. / Busulfán versus busulfán-interterón como terapia de mantenimiento en leucemia mieloide crónica.

We studied 30 patients in order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of alfa interferon associated with busulfan as maintenance treatment in de novo chronic granulocytic leukemia. Patients received 0.2 mg/kg of busulfan and reached complete hematological remission (CHR). Patients were then randomized in two groups: one to receive busulfan to be administered when the leukocyte count was above 15 x 10(9)/L, and another to receive subcutaneously 5 million IU of alpha-interferon three times per week (plus busulfan if the leukocyte count went above 15 x 10(9)/L). The duration of CHR was longer in the alfa-interferon group: 31 vs 16 months (p = 0.03) but no cytogenetic remissions were observed. Alfa interferon was well tolerated: no patient was excluded from the study due to toxicity.