Long term follow-up of remission patients in adult acute leukemia.

31 adults suffering from acute leukemia were followed for a period of more than 5 years after achieving complete remission. Maintenance chemotherapy consisted of antimetabolite treatment (mercaptopurine + methotrexate) as well as COAP reinduction every 3 months. Chemotherapy was stopped if the first complete remission lasted for 3 years ("long term remission"). This was the case in 8 out of 31 remission patients (26%). Analysis of hematological parameters at diagnose for long term remission patients revealed that the initial leukocyte count was of prognostic significance.