Asymptomatic pericardial effusion in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), pericardial effusions are rarely seen. Pericardial tamponade may occur in many of the patients with pericardial effusion. Here in a 45-year-old male with newly diagnosed chronic phase of Philadelphia chromosome (the Ph)-positive CML, asymptomatic pericardial effusion was detected by echocardiography. The pericardial effusion disappeared after chemotherapy without pericardiocentesis, within six months. Pericardial effusion should always be suspected in patients with chronic phase of CML, even though they are asymptomatic. In our case the pericardial effusion was probably due to extramedullary haematopoiesis because it improved with chemotherapy. Follow-up with echocardiography was sufficient in this case.
Kadikoylu
Gurhan
G
Department of Haematology, Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty, Aydin, Turkey. gurhan@medscape.com
Onbasili
Alper
A
Barutca
Sabri
S
Tekten
Tarkan
T
Bolaman
Zahit
Z
D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors