ABSTRACT
We studied 130 consecutive cases of acute leukemia over a 2-year period and identified 9 cases (6.9%) with active tuberculosis (TB). Eight patients with TB had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients with AML were more likely to develop TB as compared to patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) despite the wider use of steroids and radiotherapy in ALL protocols {OR 4.41 (CI 0.53-36.44)}. Only 1 patient died of disseminated TB during post induction neutropenia. All other patients were successfully managed using current anti-tuberculous therapy (ATT). On the whole, TB did not cause any undue delay in chemotherapy and did not flare up during subsequent chemotherapy cycles. However it is not a commonly described infection in acute leukemia and a high index of suspicion is warranted especially in areas endemic for TB.
Subject(s)
Leukemia/complications , Tuberculosis/etiology , Acute Disease , Adult , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Incidence , Leukemia/therapy , Leukemia, Myeloid , Male , Neutropenia , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Tuberculosis/drug therapy , Tuberculosis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Philadelphia-chromosome positive thrombocythemia without features of chronic myeloid leukemia in peripheral blood has been described in adults. It is rare in children. We present a case of Philadelphia positive thrombocythemia in a child who was managed with a combination of imatinib and hydroxyurea. Although a reduction in the BCR-ABL transcript was documented, the thrombocytosis was refractory to imatinib alone and required the addition of hydroxyurea.
