title: Primary plasma cell leukemia occuring in the young.
abstract: Plasma Cell Leukemia (PCL) is a rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia. Plasma cell leukemia has two variants: the primary form presents de novo in patients with no previous history of multiple myeloma (MM); the secondary form consists of a leukemic transformation in a previously recognized MM. In contrast to myeloma, PCL has an aggressive course. Median age at presentation is usually above 50 years. Here we report a case of primary PCL presenting at age of 21 years, which is extremely rare. She was treated with combination chemotherapy (VAD). Although she had a good response initially, later the disease progressed and she died 6 months after the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 011, India.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najeeb
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aruna
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavithran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin