Treatment with arsenic trioxide in patients with acute promyelocitic leukemia

An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 adults with acute promyelocitic leukemia, attended in the "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" General Teaching Hospital of Santiago de Cuba during a five-year period to evaluate the effectiveness of induction therapy with arsenic trioxide. In the case series the complete hematologic remission was obtained in 82.4% of patients at 42.2 days on average. Hepatotoxicity and bone pain prevailed as the most common adverse reactions, as well as severe bleeding as main cause of death. With this treatment the return to work of those who improved completely was achieved and overall survival to date is 76.4%.