Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) Presenting As Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) With Legionella pneumophila: Coincidence or Causation?

Kayln D Holloway; Fnu Amisha; Ginell Post; Harmeen Goraya

doi:10.7759/cureus.48317

Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) Presenting As Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) With Legionella pneumophila: Coincidence or Causation?

Cureus. 2023 Nov 5;15(11):e48317. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48317. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Kayln D Holloway¹, Fnu Amisha¹, Ginell Post², Harmeen Goraya³

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.
² Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.
³ Internal Medicine - Pulmonology/Critical Care, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.

Abstract

Due to a low index of suspicion coupled with specific growth conditions and non-specific clinical manifestations, Legionella (L.) pneumophila is a frequently misdiagnosed cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, especially those with hematological malignancies. We present a case of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to Legionnaire's disease in a patient with newly diagnosed hairy cell leukemia (HCL) to highlight the importance of early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of Legionnaire's disease to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: acute respiratory distress syndrome [ards]; hairy cell leukemia; immunocompromised patient; legionella pneumophila; pneumonia.

Publication types

Case Reports