title: Megakaryocytic blast crisis as first presentation of chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: We describe an extremely rare case of megakaryocytic blast crisis as first presentation of chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient had a very high platelet count and developed an ischemic stroke with seizures. She was treated with hydroxyurea, platelet apheresis, ARA-C, and idarubicin in order to obtain a prompt reduction of thrombocytosis and then with imatinib 600 mg/die PO. The therapy induced a complete hematological remission with a resolution of neurological signs within 4 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica Università dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy. leonardo.campiotti@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campiotti
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Biotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ultori
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Solbiati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Codari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venco
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents