[Treatment of Hodgkin's disease. National Protocol of Antineoplastic Drugs: preliminary report].

We report preliminary results of treatment of Hodgkin disease according to the National Protocol on Antineoplastic Drugs. 37 males and 22 females with a median age of 34 years (range 16 to 76) were treated. Patients with stages I or II received radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy (C-MOPP) followed by radiotherapy. Patients with stages III or IV received radiotherapy and chemotherapy or alternating courses of C-MOPP and ABVD. Complete remission was observed in 74% of 39 patients completing full therapy. Complete remission was more common in patients with nodular sclerosis without B symptoms and under 45 years of age. Actuarial survival at 22 months was 79%, significantly higher for patients with nodular sclerosis compared to patients with lymphocytic depletion. Different treatments in patients at stages I and II or III and IV gave comparable results. Complications included infection with the Chickenpox-Zoster virus, pneumonia and fever of unknown origin. Mortality was associated to older age, complications of treatment or failure to comply with therapy.