Daunorubicin induces complete remissions in about 50% of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The median duration of these remission is 26 mo. Failures are mainly due to hemorrhages as a result of disseminated intravascular coagulation during the first 5 days (25%) or due to sepsis during the second and third week (25%). Long-term survivals are more frequent than in the other acute granulocytic leukemias.