Effect of all trans retinoic acid combined with arsenic trioxide in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia

Objective:To observe the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid(ATRA) combined arsenic trioxide(As2O3) in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL) patients.Methods:The combined application of ATRA and As2O3 for 39 newly diagnosed APL patients.ATRA 40mg/d,orally 2 times;0.1%As2O3 10ml injection in 0.9% sodium chloride solution 250ml.Intravenous infusion,continued for 4-6h,1/d.According to white blood cell count,liver function and retinoic acid syndrome,adjust the dose of ATRA and As2O3.Consolidation therapy after remission:DA(daunorubicin + Ara-C) program,or HA(homoharringtonine base + cytarabine) program,alternate treatment for 4 to 6 cycles,then turn ATRA and As2O3 treatment.Results:Of 39 patients,only 2 cases of severe headache(excluding cerebral hemorrhage) exited,and the remain patients reached CR,CR rate was 94.87%(37/39),the average time to achieve CR was(26.9±4.3)d,there was no early recurrence and sustained complete remission,and the combined therapy adverse reactions were well tolerated,side effects did not increase.Conclusion:APL double induction therapy has good efficacy,CR time is short,with less side effects,long disease-free survival.