1994 Volume 35 Issue 6 Pages 598-602
A 44-year-old woman was dianosed as having acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in April 1988. On her first admission, chromosomal translocation (15;17), +8, and +12 was detected. When she was readmitted to our hospital with the second relapse in May 1990, t(3;13) and +8 was detected, instead of t(15;17). Complete remission was reachieved with VP-16, MIT, and BHAC, but the third relapse occured in September 1990. After obtaining informed consent, she was given etretinate 40mg per day orally for 17 days, without any effect on leukemia. She was then given all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) 60mg per day orally for 29 days. Although a mild granulocytic recovery was observed, no sufficient hematological recovery was obtained (minor response). Besides common side effects of ATRA, such as dry skin and hypertriglycedemia, she had a myeloblastoma in the oral cavity, but it is unknown whether the symptom was a complication of ATRA therapy or not.
