ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA IN THE ALL-TRANS-RETINOIC ACID ERA

Bleeding diathesis is a common complication of acute promyelocyctic le ukaemia (APL). Multiple haemostatic defects are found in most patients with APL, which often worsen following cytoreductive chemotherapy. Be sides thrombocytopenia, most patients develop disseminated intravascul ar coagulation, systemic fibrinolysis or both. A major aim in treating haemostatic defects of APL is to prevent death or disability from ble eding until chemotherapy clears the malignant promyelocytes from the b lood and bone marrow. The therapeutic options are discussed in this re view and practical guidelines for treatment are outlined.