tretinoin and Splenic-Rupture

Pathological rupture of the spleen is a rare but well recognized complication in hematological malignancies. Early clinical recognition of this life-threatening complication is necessary for rapid intervention. Here, we report on the case of a 26-year-old woman with acute promyelocytic leukemia who presented rupture of the spleen on day +2 of treatment with ATRA plus idarrubicin. In patients with acute leukemia, the presence of a painful abdomen and a sudden drop in hemoglobin levels, should alert of a possible splenic rupture, even without additional symptoms. This would facilitate an early treatment intervention with no modification to the chemotherapy schedule.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Female; Humans; Idarubicin; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Rupture, Spontaneous; Splenic Rupture; Tretinoin