title: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Haematological involvement of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - which ranges from the well-described haemolytic anaemia to macrophage activation syndrome - has a large impact on both morbidity and mortality. On the other hand, association between haematological malignities and SLE - in terms of pathophysiology and molecular genetics - is an obscure entity which has not been clarified evidently to date. Herein, we present a six-year-old female with the diagnosis of SLE who developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following a period of myelodysplasia. It could possibly be coincidental; however, persistent cytopenia, prominent dysplasia on bone marrow smears and azathioprine treatment may be considered as possible triggers for the development of leukaemia in the present case.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Haematology Division, Hacettepe Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gokce
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bulus
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bilginer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gumruk
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Besbas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D001379:Azathioprine