TREATMENT OF 34 PATIENTS WITH MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES WITH 13-CIS RETINOIC ACID

Thirty-four patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, 23 men and 11 wom en, aged between 47 and 80 years, with all types of myelodysplastic sy ndromes were treated with 13-cis-retinoic acid. The dose of retinoic a cid ranged between 10 and 60 mg/m(2)/daily and was administered in com bination with vitamin E to diminish side effects. The duration of trea tment was 3 months to 5 years. Partial remission was achieved in 4 pat ients, 1 with RA type, 2 with RAEB and 1 with CMML. Survival ranged fr om 1 to 5 years. Patients who received retinoic acid developed mild si de effects. In conclusion, the administration of 13-cis-retinoic acid improves the hematological picture in a small number of MDS patients ( 11.7%).