title: Pulmonary leucostasis in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
abstract: A 71-year-old woman with no chronic medical problems presented to the emergency room with a 24-month history of chronic non-productive cough, malaise, increasing fatigue and weight loss. On physical examination, she had significant cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy with no organomegaly. She was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) due to her lymphocyte count of 1789.4×10(9)/L on admission. A few days after hospitalisation, she developed respiratory failure requiring intubation. A chest X-ray showed interstitial markings. The abnormally high number of mature lymphocytes could have caused leucostasis in the lungs of this patient with CLL.
authors: William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Awad
authors: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA.
authors: Rajul
authors: R
authors: Parikh
authors: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA.
authors: Yara
authors: Y
authors: Fardous
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology