Clinical Observation of Arsenic Trioxide on Newly-diagnosed Patients of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of arsenic trioxide(As2O3)on newly-diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL).Methods 26 patients of newly-diagnosed APL,underwent As2O3 therapy.The therapeutic effects was compared with ATRA treatment on 31 patients.The two groups were treated respectively with As2O3 0.16 mg/(kg·d)and ATRA 25 mg/(m·d)until complete remission(CR).The dose were adjusted according to white blood cell(WBC)counts and side effects.CR rate,period to CR,incidence of early death and side effects were observed in two groups.Results There was no significantly difference in CR rate(84.6% for As2O3 group and 83.9% for ATRA group,P0.05),the period to CR(the medium time to CR was 41 days for As2O3 group and 47 days for ATRA group,P0.05)and the incidence of early death(11.5% for As2O3 group and 12.9% for ATRA group P0.05).As2O3 had less toxic side effect as compared to ATRA.Conclusion As compared to ATRA,As2O3 has therapeutic equivalence and less toxic side effect.It is an efficient therapeutic approach to newly-diagnosed APL patients.