1α(OH)D3 (ETALPHA)® treatment and receptor studies in 16 patients with chronic and myeloproliferative disorders

Abstract
10 patients with CLL and 2 with CML were treated with gradually increasing doses of 1.alpha.(OH)D3, up to 4 .mu.g daily during 6 wk. 3 patients with preleukemia and 1 with myelofibrosis were treated with 2 .mu.g daily of 1.alpha.(OH)D3 for a prolonged period up to 17 wk. The treatment with 1.alpha.(OH)D3 did not result in changes of disease parameters in any of the patients under study. Receptor studies for 1,25(OH)2D3 were performed in 8 CLL patients and revealed only 1 patients with increased specific receptor binding capacity. The maximum tolerable dose of 1.alpha.(OH)D3 varied individually, but was in the range of 2-4 .mu.g daily.