Favorable subset of acute myeloid leukemia with translocation 8;21: An elusive experience

Background: Risk stratification is critical in the management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and among the favorable subset translocations known, 8;21 seems elusive in our clinical practice as regards the response remission status. This led us to review our patients retrospectively to highlight this ambiguity. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on a total of 20 patients positive for translocation (8;21) and negative for FLT3 and NPM gene mutation. These patients were treated with standard AML treatment protocols. Post induction day 14 and day 28 assessments were done. Four patients died during induction chemotherapy and all the remaining patients were in remission. Subsequently, these patients were subjected to consolidation chemotherapy. Results: Out of total of 16 (80%) survivors, 10 (50%) could not maintain the remission status on a mean follow-up of 6 months and were treated with a different induction protocol. After the second induction, all patients were in remission at day 28, but this remission again was short lasting (<3 months). Conclusion: One needs to be careful in treatment of AML with translocation (8;21) and this should not be taken as a single criterion for treatment of these patients. These patients should be subjected to additional somatic mutation analysis before final risk stratification

Dapsone as a cheap and safe second-line drug for chronic immune thrombocytopenia in developing countries: A prospective cohort study

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of dapsone as a cheap second-line treatment for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in developing countries. Materials and Methods: A prospective study on 100 chronic ITP patients. These patients were put on dapsone after ruling out glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and secondary causes of ITP. Results: The basic work up for secondary causes of ITP was negative. All these patients had been treated with steroids in the past. Anti-D had been given acutely in 20 patients, and intravenous immunoglobulin G had been given in 10 patients. Vincristine had been given to 20 of these patients. Dapsone was started in these patients, and 44% patients showed a response to treatment. The mean time to onset of response was 21 days. Out of these 44 patients, 21 (47.7%) went into remission and had platelet count >100,000/μl at 2 years post tapering of the treatment. Remaining 23 patients were kept on low dose dapsone and maintained their platelet counts. Adverse drug reactions included mild skin eruptions in 5% of patients, pruritus in 10% of patients, dose-related hemolysis in 1% of patients, methemoglobinemia in 1% of patients and Stevens Johnson syndrome in 1% of patients. 56 patients were nonresponders to the available, affordable conventional medical treatment and were referred to the surgical department for splenectomy, with a cure rate of 86% postsurgery. Conclusions: Dapsone is a safe, cheap and effective treatment option for patients with chronic ITP, who cannot afford the usual costlier second-line drugs