Abstract： Objective To study the efficacy and safety of different doses of cytarabine maintenance therapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods Thirty-two cases achieved remission after induction chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)from January 2005 to January 2010in General Hospital of Beijing Military Region.They were randomly divided into treatment group A(n =12),the treatment group B(n =10) and the treatment group C (n =10).After achieving complete remission,the patients in three groups were treated with different doses of a single drug (0.5 g/Ara-C,0.5 g/m2 and 1 g/m2,intravenous injection) to maintain the consolidation therapy.The courses were 6 to 8 courses,maintaining for 1-2 years.Results Treatment-related mortality rate was 16.7％ (2/12),10.0％ (1/10) and 20.0％ (2/10) in treatment group A,B and C.Relapse-related mortality was 41.7％ (5/12),50.0％ (5/10) and 40.0％ (4/10) ; median survival was 15.8 (5-60) months,16.2 (6-60) months and 15.7 (6-60) months ; the 2-year overall survival rate was 41.7％,40.0％ and 40.0％.Conclusions Maintenance therapy of different doses cytarabine in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia shows no significant survival differences.It increases dose treatment-related complications and does not increase the overall long-term survival rate.