Acute pleural and pericardial effusion induced by chemotherapy in treating chronic myelocytic leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Report of a rare and serious complication of chemotherapy with daunorubicin and cytarabine (DA regimen).


METHODS
We report a special case of a patient diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with accelerated phase, who simultaneously suffered from acute pleural and pericardial effusion while receiving chemotherapeutic treatment with DA regimen.


RESULTS
Following treatment with DA regimen, the patient had the symptoms of chest distress and shortness of breath, followed by respiratory failure and pericardial tamponade. The patient's condition was improved when treated with the puncturation through the pericardium and pleural cavity, coupled with glucocorticosteroid treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should be made aware of the potential for emergency pleural and pericardial effusion caused by daunorubicin and cytarabine in order to accurately diagnose and treat these conditions and thereby decrease mortality related to chemotherapy.
Yi
Y
He
Xu-Dong
XD
Li
Dong-Ning
DN
Wang
Yuan
Y
Hu
Ruo-Zhi
RZ
Xiao
Wen-Wen
WW
Wang
Dong-Jun
DJ
Lin
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003561:Cytarabine; D003630:Daunorubicin