title: Pseudorelapse in acute myelomonocytic leukemia after high dose methylprednisolone.
abstract: High dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) has been used in induction treatment and in leukopenia of acute leukemia. We report the case of a 14-year-old girl with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) who developed a pseudorelapse after receiving an oral HDMP trial (30 mg/kg/day PO in the morning for 15 days) to overcome neutropenia. She presented with severe bone pain at the end of treatment. Bone marrow examination revealed 53% young promyelocytes (some with a large nucleolus), 2% myeloblast, 5% monocyte, and increased cellularity. Bone pain and promyelocytes regressed spontaneously while maintenance treatment continues. We advise that a pseudorelapse must be borne in mind after HDMP and probably GM-CSF treatments in acute leukaemias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Medical Faculty of Ondokuzmayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albayrak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015479:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D008775:Methylprednisolone