Aim: Assessment of high-dose dexamethasone efficacy in combination with standard drugs (adriablastin, vincristin, alpha-asparaginase) in patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Material and methods: A pilot multicenter trial with participation of hematological departments of Hematological Research Center (Moscow), municipal hospital N 1 (Krasnoyarsk), municipal hospital N 8 (Yaroslavl), Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (Kirov) included 34 patients (10 patients with late recurrences, 24--with primary resistant forms, early and secondary recurrences).
Results: In patients with late ALL recurrences a complete remission (CR) was achieved in 70% cases, the median being 10 months. In patients with primary resistant ALL, early and secondary recurrences CR reached 37.5%, the median was 14 months.
Conclusion: The program HiDexa is highly effective: overall complete remission rate reached 47%, median of complete remission duration was 10 months. Dexamethasone in high doses must be used only intravenously.