[Management of polycythaemia with pipobroman]

From 1971 to 1980, 86 patients with polycythaemia (vera 69, undetermined 15 and respiratory 2) were treated with pipobroman (N,N' bis bromopropionyl piperazine). The initial treatment in doses of 75 mg/day resulted, within 45 days, in complete remission in 46/49 new patients (93.9%), and in 17/20 previously treated patients with polycythaemia vera (85%) and in 14/15 patients with apparently primary polycythaemia. The main duration of the first remission was 17.5 months. Relapses occurred in 30% of the cases but responded to pipobroman at the initial high dosage level. Low-dose maintenance treatment appears to be necessary. Adverse effects on the blood were rare; they included leucopenia (8%) and moderate thrombocytopenia (7%); macrocytosis was noted in 20% of the patients. Acute leukaemia (3 cases) and osteomyelofibrosis (3 cases) were only observed in patients previously treated with 32 P or busulfan. Pipobroman therefore appears to be much less toxic than other alkylating agents. Its is as effective as 32 P but acts more rapidly. It seems to have little oncogenic power, but a more prolonged study is required to ascertain this point.