ALL-TRANS-RETINOIC ACID AND SHOUT-TIME, HIGH-DOSE CYTARABINE IN 2 CHILDREN WITH ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

We report on two girls, 3 and 13 years old, with acute promyelocytic l eukemia (APL) who were successfully treated with all-trans retinoic ac id (ATRA) 45 mg/m(2)/day. ''Retinoic acid syndrome'' was prevented wit h short-time treatment of high dose (4 x 1.5 g/m(2)) cytarabine. This regimen was well tolerated, although both children were critically ill . They achieved a complete remission confirmed by light microscopy, bu t reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction remained positive af ter ATRA, underlining the need of further chemotherapy. (C) 1996 Wiley -Liss, Inc.