title: Retinoic acid syndrome in acute promyelocytic leukemia.
abstract: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been used successfully in inducing remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Its overall toxicity is considerably less compared to standard induction chemotherapy; however, it is associated with a high incidence of a potentially fatal symptom complex referred to as "retinoic acid syndrome." This report describes a patient with APL who developed the syndrome a few weeks after initiating induction therapy with ATRA despite being treated for hyperleukocytosis. The case illustrates the classic features of the syndrome and its dramatic response to corticosteroid treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sentero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hosenpud
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013577:Syndrome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014212:Tretinoin; D003907:Dexamethasone