Thirty adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia who had been treated at
Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 1978 through March 1985, were
studied with regard to the clinicohematologic findings and therapeutic effectiveness.
The ratio of male to female was 2 : 3, and the peak age incidence was noted in their
40's. The most common chief complaint was bleeding.
The hemorrhagic manifestations in order of frequency were gingival bleeding, purpura,
retinal bleeding, epistaxis, cerebral hemorrhage, GI bleeding, hematuria, and menorrhagia.
Anemia and thrombocytopenia were noted in all of them. The leukocyte count was
variable, and leakopersia was present in 53.4% of the cases.
Promyelocytes constituted more than 51% of marrow cells in 27 cases, and Auer rods
were identified in 20 cases.
DIC was observed in 46.7% on the first admission, and in 40% during chemotherapy.
Complete remission was achieved in 9 (45.0%) out of 20 cases being treated with
induction chemotherapy. The median duration of remission in complete responders was
10 months.
Of 10 cases who died before chemotherapy, 7 cases (70.0%) expired due to cerebral
hemorrhage. All cases were dead within 4 days after their admission. On the other
hand, among 18 cases who died following chemotherapy, 11 cases (61.1%) expired as a
result of infection.
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