[Comparison of 2 chemotherapy protocols in adult acute myeloblastic leukemia. Results of the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán cooperative group].

Up to now, the best treatment for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is the induction of bone marrow hypoplasia by ablative combined chemotherapy; the prototype of these schedules is the so-called 7 + 3 (seven days of continuous infusion of cytarabine and three days of one-hour infusion of any anthracycline); these schedules require the support of both platelet transfusions and antibiotics. Other non-ablative schedules have also been tried in the treatment of such patients. Here we analyze the results of the treatment of 76 adult patients with AML; 43 were treated with the classical 7 + 3 schedule, whereas 33 were treated with a combination of chemotherapy used in non-ablative doses (TADOP: thioguanine, arabinosyl-citosine, doxorrubicin, vincristine and prednisone).

[Long-term treatment and prognostic factors in adult acute myeloblastic leukemia. Experience of the INNSZ group Puebla-Monterrey-Mexico)].

The results of the treatment in a group of 43 adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are analyzed. All patients were induced to remission with a 7/3 schedule: cytarabine in continuous infusion during seven days and an anthracycline in push during three days; consolidation was done with the same regimen and no maintenance therapy was used. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 60%, median survival of those achieving CR was 21 months.

[Acute leukemia in Jehovah's Witnesses: difficulties in its management].

The Witnesses of Jehovah is a religious community posing special problems because of their religions conviction which objects to transfusions of blood or blood products. Six patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (one adult and 5 children) are presented. We obtained permission for blood transfusion in four children without resorting to legal pressures which, on the hand, are non-existent in Mexico.