Chronic myelocytic leukemia with near-total pulmonary microvascular obstruction by platelets.
We have described a patient with long-standing chronic granulocytic leukemia. Although most patients with this disorder eventually have a picture of acute leukemia (blast crisis), this patient had massive thrombocytosis (platelet count greater than 5.000 x 10(9)/L) without major symptoms, but he died after transfusion of 1 unit of packed red blood cells. At autopsy, he had almost total pulmonary microvascular blockage with platelets.
Blachly
R J
RJ
Department of Medicine, John McClellan Veterans Administration Medical Center, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Herring
G F
GF
Mansouri
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology