[Acute promyelocytic leukemia: experience with trans-retinoic acid in Argentina]

From February 1992 to February 1995, 77 patients with APL were treated with ATRA in induction (59 patients de novo, 6 in first relapse, 1 with APL secondary to a mielodisplastic syndrome). The dose used was 45 mg/k/day-30 mg/k/day until complete remission (CR) was achieved; of the 66 evaluable patients, 50 achieved complete remission (78%). Among the 14 patients who did not attain CR, 13 died, 10 of bleeding episodes and 3 of retinoic syndrome; one was rescued with chemotherapy. We proposed consolidation treatment with high dose Ara-C and Idarubicin to the 49 patients in complete remission; 6 could not receive it and 5 died; the disease free survival period of the other patients was 81% (CI95 90%-66%) at one year and 74% (CI95 91%-52%) at two years. We consider that our results are similar to those of other groups and we are inclined to continue with this treatment protocol.