title: Pleural effusion in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bourantas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panteli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milionis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015477:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone