Prednimustine in adult acute myeloid leukaemia

In 23 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and over the age of 64, four remissions (17%) were obtained with Prednimustine as a single drug. The daily dose was 24--60 mg orally. In 14 patients aged between 35 and 64 years who were treated with Prednimustine 60--80 mg daily and vincristine 2.25 mg i.v. every 7--10 days, six remissions were obtained (43%). Upon remission, patients were given ,0--40 mg of Prednimustine daily as maintenance therapy. Drug-induced pancytopenia preceding remission was not recorded in any patient. There were no side effects of major importance during maintenance therapy, and the median duration of remission was 8 months. It is concluded that the low toxicity of Prednimustine in normal bone marrow cells is of value, especially in elderly patients with AML.