Temporary Remissions in Acute Leukemia in Children Produced by Folic Acid Antagonist, 4-Aminopteroyl-Glutamic Acid (Aminopterin)

Abstract

IT IS the purpose of this paper to record the results of clinical and hematologic studies on 5 children with acute leukemia treated by the intramuscular injection of a synthetic compound, 4-aminopteroylglutamic acid (aminopterin). This substance is an antagonist to folic acid regarding the growth of Streptococcus faecalis R. The occurrence of what he interpreted as an "acceleration phenomenon" in the leukemic process as seen in the marrow and viscera of children with acute leukemia treated by the injection of folic acid conjugates1 — pteroyltriglutamic acid (teropterin) and pteroyldiglutamic acid (diopterin) — and an experience gained from studies on folic . . .