[Results of treatment of acute luekemia in adults according to our records]

Abstract

The authors analysed 58 consecutive cases of acute leukaemia treated during 3.5 years. The material included 35 patients with myeloblastic leukaemia, 2 with pyomyelocytic leukaemia, 3 with monocytic leukaemia, 2 with erythroleukaemia, 7 with lymphoblastic leukaemia, and 8 with myeloblastic exacerbations of chronic myelocytic leukaemia. Most patients were treated by the VAMP schedule, in some cases L asparaginase, in other rubidomycin and cytosine arabinoside were used for obtaining remissions. Fourteen patients died within 14 days after admission to hospital. In 15 cases partial remissions, rather short-lasting, were achieved. In 4 cases the remissions were complete and in 3 of them the survival exceeds now 3 years. All patients in whom long-lasting remissions were obtained belonged to the youngest age group and 3 had lymphoblastic leukaemia. The authors suggest the need of rapid institution of treatment and systematic continuation.