Pleural effusion in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Acta Haematol. 1998;99(1):34-7. doi: 10.1159/000040713.

Abstract

Pleural effusion in 4 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is described in this report. According to the literature, pleural effusion in CMML is a poorly understood and rare occurrence. Two of our patients presented with pleural effusion as an initial symptom while the other 2 developed it during the course of the disease. In only 1 patient was the pleural effusion due to leukemic infiltration while in the other 3 it was a reactive phenomenon. Peripheral lymphadenopathy was observed only in the former patient who died of acute leukemia. After prednisolone therapy the pleural effusions resolved in the other 3 patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / complications*
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Effusion / drug therapy
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Prednisolone