Rapid cytoreduction in acute leukemia. Management of cerebral leukostasis by cell pheresis.
A patient with acute myelogenous leukemia and symptoms of cerebral leukostasis failed to respond to initial chemotherapy. Reduction in blast count from 220,000/microliter to 40,000/microliter was accomplished over a five hour period by leukapheresis using an intermittent flow cell separator, and symptomatic improvement was dramatic. The technique is simple and rapidly effective and may prove a useful adjunct in the treatment of patients with acute leukemia and high blast counts.
D000368:Aged; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis