|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RV Smalley, SA Anderson, RL Tuttle, J Connors, LM Thurmond, A Huang, K Castle, C Magers and JK Whisnant
University of Wisconsin, Madison.
One hundred thirty-eight patients with hairy cell leukemia were randomized
to receive either a dose of 2.0 megaunits (MU)/m2 or a 10- fold lower dose
of 0.2 MU/m2 of a highly purified natural alpha- interferon, administered
daily for 28 days followed by a three times a week schedule. Ninety-seven
of these patients had previously undergone splenectomy, but otherwise none
of the patients had received prior therapy for their leukemia. The two
doses were comparable in their effect on improving the neutrophil and
platelet count, whereas the higher dose had a greater beneficial effect on
the hemoglobin level and a greater antileukemic effect on the marrow. Acute
toxicity in the form of a flu-like syndrome, neurologic side effects,
neutropenia, and the need for platelet transfusions was observed less
frequently in the low- dose group, as was the chronic fatigue syndrome. No
neutralizing antibody activity was seen in the sera from 61 patients
examined. Because of its beneficial effect on the neutrophil and platelet
count and a lower degree of toxicity (ie, a superior therapeutic/toxicity
ratio), the low dose is recommended as initial therapy in patients with
hairy cell leukemia. This therapy may be followed by dose escalation once
clinical improvement is observed.
This article has been cited by other articles:
| |||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
| Copyright © 1991 by American Society of Hematology Online ISSN: 1528-0020 | |||||||||
