title: Near-fatal uterine hemorrhage during induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia: a case report of bilateral uterine artery embolization.
abstract: Severe transfusion-dependent uterine hemorrhage is a relatively uncommon complication of induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Even less common is the failure of systemic conjugated estrogens in this setting. We report a case of life-threatening uterine hemorrhage in a 38-year-old woman in the setting of transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia after completing induction chemotherapy for AML. She experienced dramatic breakthrough uterine hemorrhage despite multiple platelet transfusions, conjugated estrogens, recombinant factor VIIa, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and intracavitary thrombin-soaked gauze tamponade. At the point of near-exsanguination in the setting of hypotension, hematocrit of 14%, and a platelet count of 3,000/microL, she underwent bilateral uterine artery embolization which proved immediately successful. We review the literature and indications for this procedure in the oncologic patient care setting.
authors.affiliation: Lipson Cancer Center and Center for Blood Disorders, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, New York 14625, USA. john.phelan@viahealth.org
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broder
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kouides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*