Abstract
Arsenic trioxide has recently been introduced as a promising new agent to treat refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In the present study, arsenic trioxide was given intravenously for 42 days to a 56-year-old female patient suffering from chemotherapy/ATRA-resistant APL, with 43% APL blasts in the bone marrow and elevated D-dimers. During the first days of arsenic trioxide treatment a rapid decrease in the D-dimers was seen (normal values reached until day 7), together with a slight decrease in peripheral blood leukocytes. This initial coagulation response was followed by a second phase of hematological response (starting on days 15–20) characterized by leukocytosis, occurrence of myeloid progenitor cells in the peripheral blood, and a decrease in bone marrow blasts (<1% on days 28 and 36). Finally, the patient entered complete hematological and cytogenetic remission, although the PML-RARα fusion product was still detectable by PCR. These data confirm the therapeutic value of arsenic trioxide in relapsed/resistant APL.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: February 10, 1999 / Accepted: March 29, 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Agis, H., Weltermann, A., Mitterbauer, G. et al. Successful treatment with arsenic trioxide of a patient with ATRA-resistant relapse of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Ann Hematol 78, 329–332 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002770050523
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002770050523