Secondary leukemia after severe aplastic anemia

Blut. 1988 Feb;56(2):79-81. doi: 10.1007/BF00633468.

Abstract

We describe a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurring 5 years after successful treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). Four years after ALG, SAA had relapsed. A second remission of SAA was achieved, but was followed by transformation of the myelodysplastic syndrome into overt AML. After 2 courses of high-dose cytosine arabinoside and VP-16 complete remission occurred. This case shows that chemotherapy of secondary leukemia after SAA is feasible, and that ex-aplastic bone marrow is capable of complete recovery from chemotherapy-induced aplasia. Morphological anomalies of bone marrow noticed early during remission of SAA might predict a late transformation in leukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anemia, Aplastic / complications*
  • Anemia, Aplastic / therapy
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / therapeutic use
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / etiology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Antilymphocyte Serum