Response to chronic leukapheresis procedures and survival of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients

Cytoreduction of leukemic leukocytosis by continuous flow centrifugation was used in an intermittent or intensive schedule as primary therapy for an average of sixteen months for management of fifteen patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The clinical responses and subsequent survival of the patients was studied. Hematologic and chemical changes related to the procedures and the multiple infusions of the sedimenting agent, hydroxyethyl starch, were also studied. This mode of primary therapy offered no survival advantages to patients. There were no adverse effects of the repeated use of the sedimenting agent observed.