Platelet Regeneration During Therapy of Acute Leukemia with Folic Acid Antagonists. ∗

Abstract

Conclusions

In 48 human subjects with acute leukemia treated with folic acid antagonists, there were 9 of the 25 subjects who responded to therapy who had an initial thrombocytopenia. In 8 cases of acute leukemia there was a return of the blood platelets to normal levels and the megakaryocytes became more numerous in the bone marrow. In one other patient the platelets became elevated to slightly less than normal. The rise in platelets was usually followed by an increase in neutrophilic leukocytes. The regeneration of the red cells and hemoglobin then gradually responded. The periods of remission varied from 21 to 240 days.