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Pseudotumor cerebri after treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia with arsenic trioxide

Leukemia volume 14, pages 343–344 (2000)Cite this article

Recently, arsenic trioxide (As2O3) was found to be very effective in refractory or relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).12 It acts by triggering apoptosis with only minor effects on differentiation of APL blasts.23 Remission can be achieved in a large portion of patients without significant bone marrow suppression. Acute side-effects of As2O3 include fluid retention, gastrointestinal and dermatologic symptoms as well as cardiac and hepatic toxicity. After prolonged administration of the drug, chronic side-effects such as polyneuropathy and muscular atrophy have been observed.14

Because of limited experience with As2O3 treatment the spectrum of acute and chronic side-effects still remains to be completely defined.4 The most frequent acute adverse effects of treatment of APL with As2O3 reported so far seem to be fluid retention, cardiac and hepatic toxicity as well as gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms. Polyneuropathy and muscular atrophy were noted as chronic side-effects.14

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  1. Medizinische Klinik IV, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische, Hochschule Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen, 52057, Germany

    O Galm, U Fabry & R Osieka

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  2. U Fabry
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Galm, O., Fabry, U. & Osieka, R. Pseudotumor cerebri after treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia with arsenic trioxide. Leukemia 14, 343–344 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2401671

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