title: Successful pregnancy and delivery in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and management of CML with leukapheresis during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Although infrequently seen, the management of cancer during pregnancy can be difficult for patients, their families and physicians. The concomitant occurrence of pregnancy and chronic myelogenous leukemia is uncommon. We describe the successful management of a 26-year-old woman in the first trimester of her pregnancy with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase by using only leukapheresis. She was treated with leukapheresis until her delivery at 36 weeks of gestation. The procedure was without significant adverse effects on the patient or fetus. We applied a total of 15 leukapheresis treatments throughout the pregnancy. The patient gave birth vaginally to a healthy 2800 g boy at 36 weeks of gestation. We conclude that leukapheresis may provide an alternative treatment to chemotherapy, alpha-interferon or imatinib in pregnant patients with CML, particularly with concern over their potential teratogenic and other adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uludağ University School of Medicine, Uludağ University Hospital, 16059 Görükle, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ridvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Fahir
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozkalemkaş
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ozkocaman
authors.forename: Tülay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozçelik
authors.forename: Ulkü
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozan
authors.forename: Yalçin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimya
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tunali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000628:therapy*