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Low dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of myeloid leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes

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Summary

TWELVE patients were treated with low-dose cytosine arabinoside (15 mg/m2). Eight patients had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), two had myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and two patients had myelofibrosis. Three patients with AML achieved a complete remission (CR), and one patient achieved CR following the addition of COAP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside, prednisone). Two patients with MDS achieved a CR, one patient requiring the addition of COAP. One of two patients with myelofibrosis showed a partial response to treatment. All patients required intensive platelet support but infections were few. Low-dose cytosine arabinoside should be considered as initial therapy in elderly patients with AML and MDS. Its role in myelofibrosis remains to be established.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Haematology / Oncology, St. James’s Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

    M. Murray, P. Sarsfield, E. Lawlor & S. R. McCann

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  1. M. Murray
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  2. P. Sarsfield
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  3. E. Lawlor
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  4. S. R. McCann
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Murray, M., Sarsfield, P., Lawlor, E. et al. Low dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of myeloid leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. I.J.M.S. 157, 238–241 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02949309

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