Related Experiment Videos
[Acute leukemia in the elderly--a death sentence?]
A Zeidman1, A Yarmolowski, M Mittelman
1Dept. of Medicine B, Hasharon Hospital, Petah Tikva, Tel Aviv University.
Harefuah
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Elderly patients with acute leukemia are not hopeless. Low-dose cytosine-arabinoside (LDAC) offers a beneficial, less toxic treatment option, achieving complete remission in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Oncology
Background:
- Elderly patients with acute leukemia are often excluded from aggressive chemotherapy due to poor candidacy.
- This exclusion leads to a perception of hopelessness for these patients.
- Low-dose cytosine-arabinoside (LDAC) is a recognized, yet underutilized, mild chemotherapy option.
Observation:
- Two elderly male patients, aged 71 and 84, with leukemia following myeloblastic syndrome were treated.
- Both patients received a course of LDAC therapy.
- The treatment was relatively non-toxic for both individuals.
Findings:
- Both patients achieved complete remission.
- Remission durations were substantial: 18 months for the 71-year-old and 13 months for the 84-year-old.
- These outcomes suggest LDAC's efficacy in elderly leukemia patients.
Implications:
- LDAC therapy should be considered more frequently for elderly acute leukemia patients.
- This approach offers a viable, less toxic alternative to aggressive chemotherapy.
- Challenging the notion of hopelessness in geriatric leukemia patients is warranted.