[Successful treatment of secondary erythroleukemia with androgen]

Rinsho Ketsueki. 1989 Jul;30(7):1079-83.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A case of secondary erythroleukemia treated with apparent success with androgen is reported. The patient is 63-year-old Japanese female. She had a history of multiple myeloma and had been treated with melphalan, vincristine and prednisolone. She developed erythroleukemia 88 months after the initiation of chemotherapy, while her myeloma was a complete remission. She was treated first with vitamin D3 with no beneficial effect and subsequently with 0.5 mg/kg of mepitiostane. A hematologic improvement began two months from the initiation of androgen therapy, and a complete remission of erythroleukemia was attained thereafter. A chromosomal abnormality of bone marrow cells, which was observed at the time of developing erythroleukemia, also disappeared after the treatment. She remained in good condition and hematologic remission under the androgen therapy at the latest follow-up, 1-year after the development of erythroleukemia. Androgen therapy may be considered as a useful treatment for secondary erythroleukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Androstanols / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / chemically induced
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Melphalan / administration & dosage
  • Melphalan / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / adverse effects
  • Remission Induction
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage
  • Vincristine / adverse effects

Substances

  • Androstanols
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Vincristine
  • Prednisolone
  • mepitiostane
  • Melphalan