South African Medical Journal
Journal / South African Medical Journal / Vol. 48 No. 5 (1974) / Articles

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Published:

Aug 17, 2019

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 5 (1974)

Section

Articles

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Author Biographies

W.R. Bezwoda

Haematology Clinic, Johannesburg Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of tbe Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

S.R. Lynch

Haematology Clinic, Johannesburg Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of tbe Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

P. Sacks

Haematology Clinic, Johannesburg Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of tbe Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Diana Gale

Haematology Clinic, Johannesburg Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of tbe Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

T.H. Bothwell

Haematology Clinic, Johannesburg Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of tbe Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

K. Stevens

Department of Haematology, School of Pathology, South African Institute for Medical Research and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

W.R. Bezwoda

S.R. Lynch

P. Sacks

Diana Gale

T.H. Bothwell

K. Stevens

Abstract

Seventy-six patients suffering from various forms of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia were seen at the Johannesburg Hospital over an 8-year period. During this time various forms of therapy were used. Results with 6-mercaptopurine and prednisone were very poor, with less than 10% of patients achieving complete remission. Daunorubicin, when used alone, proved too toxic, but when given in a smaller dose with other agents, was more effective. The best results were obtained in 22 patients in whom a combination of daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside was used. Complete remissions occurred in 9 patients and partial remissions in 2. The median survival of these 11 patients was 42 weeks. It is noteworthy that 3 of these patients were still alive one-and-a-half years from the time of diagnosis, and 1 of them is still in complete remission, two years after she was first treated.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 963 (1974).

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574