title: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting in fulminant hepatic failure.
abstract: A previously healthy 4-year-old boy was admitted because of acute liver failure. He was icteric, lethargic, had elevated ammonia and abnormal liver function tests. Serology was negative for viral hepatitis. There was no history of hepatotoxic drugs. Family history was unremarkable. The child was taken to the operating room for a living-related hepatic transplant. Frozen section showed massive hepatic leukemic infiltration and hepatocellular necrosis. Bone marrow aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Transplant was withheld and chemotherapy was attempted. He died the following day due to systemic leukemic infiltration, cerebral edema, and severe anoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Litten
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maniaci
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000209:etiology; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy