 3. Remission consolidation was risk-oriented, the risk being defined through a mixed clinico-cytogenetic model. Thus all patients entering CR after onetwo cycles were stratified as HR or SR according to what is reported below. Once defined the risk class, therapy consisted of an alloSCT for HR patients, and of 3 consecutive monthly cytarabine-based cycles 2 gm2bd on days 1-5; idarubicin on days 1,2 in SR patients, each cycle being followed by the reinfusion of a limited amount of autologous blood stem cells 1-2x10e6kg CD34 cells and G-CSF. Blood stem cells were collected following an early consolidation cycle with intermediate-dose cytarabine plus G-CSF. HR patients unableunfit to proceed to alloSCT were offered instead the SR-type multicycle cytarabine consolidation, whereas all patients unable to mobilize autologous stem cells were treated with onetwo intermediate-dose cytarabine courses. 