NITROGEN MUSTARD AND TRIETHYLENE MELAMINE

Abstract

To the Editor:— In the Sept. 17, 1955, issue ofThe Journal, page 160, appeared the interesting article Hematopoietic Depression from Nitrogen Mustard and Triethylene Melamine by Drs. R. G. Mrazek Jr. and T. J. Wachowski. They pointed out the dangerous potentialities of both drugs, particularly in the case of patients who had received some form of treatment prior to nitrogen mustard or triethylene melamine. They recommended periodic blood cell counts, and, for the patients with hematopoietic depression, discontinuation of therapy and repeated blood transfusions. In August, 1954, while performing my internship at the 800-bed Hospital Obrero in Lima, Peru, I had the opportunity to try Nitromin [methyl-bis(β-chloroethyl) amine N-oxide] and nitrogen mustard (Mustargen) in 25 patients with lymphoma (six cases) and advanced carcinoma. In one patient with lymphocytic lymphoma cortisone was added because of the theoretical lysis of developing cells in lymph tissue. After this, the usual gastrointestinal side-effects