All-trans Retinoic Acid induced Myositis in a Patient with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia / 대한혈액학회지

ABSTRACT

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a specific chromosome translocation t(15;17), which fuses the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene to the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) gene, and by a unique response to the differentiating agent all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Although ATRA does not exhibit the conventional side effects of anticancer agents, it has its own unique side effects including retinoic acid syndrome, Sweet's syndrome, and myositis. Muscular involvement associated with ATRA therapy in APL has been rarely reported. We report a case of isolated myositis induced by ATRA in the induction treatment of APL. ATRA- induced myositis has distinctive clinical features and radiologic findings that should allow its recognition in order to treat promptly with steroid therapy.