Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 419-423, May 2008

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by Leukemic Infiltration of the Lung

  • Yao-Kuang Wu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yi-Chih Huang

      Affiliations

    • Division of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shiu-Feng Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chung-Chi Huang

      Affiliations

    • Division of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Chung-Chi Huang, Division of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Shin Street, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ying-Huang Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Division of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Received 28 August 2006; received in revised form 3 May 2007; accepted 7 August 2007.

Article Outline

Respiratory distress syndrome resulting from leukemic pulmonary infiltrates is seldom diagnosed antemortem. Two 60- and 80-year-old women presented with general malaise, progressive shortness of breath, and hyperleukocytosis, which progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after admission. Acute leukemia with pulmonary infection was initially diagnosed, but subsequent examinations including open lung biopsy revealed leukemic pulmonary infiltrates without infection. In one case, the clinical condition and chest radiography improved initially after combination therapy with chemotherapy for leukemia and aggressive pulmonary support. However, new pulmonary infiltration on chest radiography and hypoxemia recurred, which was consistent with acute lysis pneumopathy. Despite aggressive treatment, both patients died due to rapidly deteriorating condition. Leukemic pulmonary involvement should be considered in acute leukemia patients with non-infectious diffusive lung infiltration, especially in acute leukemia with a high blast count.

Key Words:  acute lysis pneumopathy , acute respiratory distress syndrome , leukemia , leukemic infiltration

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60108-4

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60108-4

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 419-423, May 2008

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