Low dose melphalan is a treatment option in elderly patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome or secondary acute myeloblastic leukaemia.

Abstract

We present the case of a 71 year-old man with secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia, who was successfully treated with low dose melphalan plus Epo plus G-CSF. We treated the patient with 2 mg of melphalan once a day orally, G-CSF 5 mg/kg 3 times a week and Epo 10.000 ui subcutaneously 3 times a week until the maximum response was obtained. Complete remission was achieved after 16 weeks of continuous treatment. Treatment-related toxicity was not significant. We recommend the use of low dose melphalan in elderly patients with high risk MDS as a treatment option.

• Authors: Konstantinos Anargyrou, George Vaiopoulos, Evangelos Terpos, Maria Tsironi, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Michael Samarkos, John Meletis
• Journal: Haematologia (Haematologia (Budap)) Vol. 32 Issue 2 Pg. 169-73 ( 2002) ISSN: 0017-6559 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12412738 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Erythropoietin
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
• Melphalan

Topics

• Aged
• Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts (drug therapy)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Erythropoietin (administration & dosage)
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (complications, drug therapy)
• Male
• Melphalan (administration & dosage)
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (complications, drug therapy)
• Remission Induction
• Risk Assessment