Pharmaceutical Care for One Patient with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Complicated with Retinoic Acid Syndrome / 中国药师

Objective:To investigate the role of clinical pharmacists in the therapy for a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemi-a. Methods:Clinical pharmacists participated in the treatment process of a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia complicated with retinoic acid syndrome after tretinoin therapy. The rational treatment plan was put forward according to the literatures,the characteristics of drugs and the general situation of the patient. Results: Promising therapeutic effect was obtained,and the patient was discharged from the hospital. Conclusion:Clinical pharmacists play an active role in improving rational drug use and providing better individual-ized treatment for patients.

Retinoic Acid Syndrome and Pseudotumor Cerebri in Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

PURPOSE: To report cases of a retinal, preretinal and vitreous hemorrhage due to retinoic acid syndrome and a papilledema caused by increased intracranial pressure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). CASE SUMMARY: (Case 1) A 48-year-old female visited our clinic with headache, dyspnea, and visual disturbance during ATRA medications for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Her visual acuity of both eyes was hand motion, and fundus examination revealed extensive retinal, preretinal, and vitreous hemorrhage. The laboratory test showed leukocytosis and computed tomography of brain and chest revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage and pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage. She was diagnosed with retinoic acid syndrome and was treated with vitrectomy in both eyes. (Case 2) A 17-year-old male, who had been treated with ATRA for acute promyelocytic leukemia, had headache and visual disturbance. His best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes, but the fundus examination showed papilledema and retinal hemorrhage in both eyes. Goldmann visual field examination revealed an enlarged blind spot in both eyes. He was diagnosed with papilledema caused by ATRA induced increased intracranial pressure, and was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with ATRA may have retinoic acid syndrome and increased intracranial pressure that could result in retinal hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage, and papilledema.

Reversible Symptomatic Myocarditis Induced by All-Trans Retinoic Acid Administration during Induction Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Rare Cardiac Manifestation as a Retinoic Acid Syndrome

Treatment by All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) followed by anthracycline-AraC chemotherapy has improved the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia. ATRA is usually well tolerated, but a few major side effects can be observed. Retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) often occurs during the induction chemotherapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia. A pericardial effusion is a common cardiac manifestation but myocarditis has been rarely documented. Here we reports a very rare case of fully recovered myocarditis as a result of RAS related to ATRA administration during induction treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia which documented by echocardiographic evidence.

A case of retinoic acid syndrome due to tretinoin in the treatment of psoriasis / 中华皮肤科杂志

To report a case of retinoic acid syndrome due to tretinoin in the treatment of psoriasis.A 32-year-old male patient presented with psoriasis vulgaris for more than 10 years.In recent 10 years,he experienced erythema,plaques covered with multi-layered scales on the scalp,trunk,extremities accompanied by pruritus.The patient was diagnosed as psoriasis and given long-term treatment with oral vitamins,traditional Chinese medicine,and topical drugs,which resulted in a status of remission and exacerbation.Half a year prior to the presentation,the patient was given acitretin 10 mg twice daily due to the exacerbation of condition;20 days later,the dose increased to thrice daily;after another 30 days,the lesions were improved,and the frequency decreased to twice daily again;finally,a disappearance of the lesions was achieved after half a year of maintenance treatment with acitretin 10 mg twice daily.One week prior to the presentation,the treatment strategy was altered from acitretin to viaminate 50 mg twice daily;after three days with viaminate,the patient experienced a sudden worsening of psoriatic lesions with an obvious inflammatory reaction;subsequently,the lesions rapidly spread to the whole body surface and fused into large patches,accompanied with the following signs:marked edema,massive desquamating,high fever (＞39℃),hypotension,respiratory distress,pulmonary edema,pleural and pericardial effusions,renal dysfunction,peripheral blood leukocytosis.The patient was diagnosed as retinoic acid syndrome(RAS).After given oral glucocorticoid,symptomatic and supportive treatment,he experienced a relief of symptoms.These findings indicate that RAS is an entity with an abrupt onset and poor prognosis.For patients with RAS,early diagnosis and prompt management with corticosteroids,symptomatic and supportive treatments are essential to avoid potential fatal complications.

Síndrome del ácido transretinoico: Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / All-Trans retinoic acid Syndrome: Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Se describe el caso de una enferma con leucemia aguda promielocítica (LAP) que desarrolló síndrome del ácido transretinoico (SATRA) y se revisa la literatura. El SA TRA se presenta en enfermos con LAP tratados con ácido transretinoico (ATRA). Tiene incidencia de 5% a 27% con mortalidad de hasta 29%. Es secundario al efecto del ATRA sobre la diferenciación de los promielocitos, lo que desencadena respuesta inflamatoria sistémica, daño endotelial con síndrome de fuga capilar y obstrucción de la microcirculación e infiltración tisular. Clínicamente se manifiesta con fiebre, hipotensión, insuficiencia respiratoria, renal y hepática, infiltrados pulmonares, derrame pleural y pericárdico, y edema generalizado. El tratamiento es a base de suspensión del ATRA, medidas de apoyo y esferoides.

We described a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who developed all-trans retinoic acid syndrome (ATRAS) and reviewed the literature. ATRAS presents in patients with APL treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). It has an incidence from 5%-27% with mortality of 29%. It is secondary to ATRA effect on promyelocyte differentiation, which causes systemic inflammatory response syndrome, endothelium damage with increase in capillary permeability, microcirculation obstruction, and tissue infiltration. ATRAS clinical manifestations are fever, hypotension, respiratory, renal and hepatic insufficiency, lung infiltrates, pleural and pericardic efussion, and generalized edema. Treatment is based on ATRA suspension, support measures, and steroids.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia : Experience at a North Indian Tertiary Care Hospital with Review of Literature

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterised by balanced translocation between the long arms of chromoso)ne 15 and 17 resulting in formation of fusion protein PML/RARa. Due to this abnormal fusion protein, myeloid cell differentiation is arrested at the promyelocyte level. This molecular defect and myeloid cell differentiation arrest can be overcome by pharmacologic doses of ali-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). APL most common Iy presents as catastrophic bleeding manifestations which is a major cause of mortality. If diagnosed and treated early, patients can be salvaged and can achieve long term disease free survival. Our experience of seven patients is presented. All patiens presented with bleeding manifestation and two died due to it. Rest of the five patients who underwent chemotherapy in the form of induction with ATRA along with supportive measures (fresh frozen plasma and platelets) followed by consolidation therapy in the form of multi-agent chemotherapy, achieved prolonged disease free remission. Thus with early diagnosis and start of ATRA, APL is a potentially curable malignancy.