title: A case of chronic neutrophilic leukemia successfully treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a.
abstract: Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) that represents a diagnostic dilemma for both clinicians and pathologists. Because this disease entity is very rare, and because its diagnosis is by exclusion, it is important for clinical hematologists and hematopathologists to be familiar with CNL when approaching patients with MPNs and persistent neutrophilia. A woman in her 40s who was incidentally found to have leukocytosis was referred to the hematology service at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research for evaluation. Complete blood count revealed hyperleukocytosis with predominant neutrophilia. Peripheral blood and flow cytometry did not show any evidence of lymphoproliferative disorder or myeloblasts. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy revealed a hypercellular marrow with myeloid hyperplasia. Cytogenetics revealed normal karyotype. Tests for both Janus kinase mutation JAK2 V617F and rearrangement of the genes BCR-ABL1, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRα), PDGFRβ, and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) were negative. Thereafter, the diagnosis of CNL was reached. She was treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a, with very good hematological response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of CNL reported among the Arab population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yassin
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Samah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohla
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Sabbagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ashraf T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yousif
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Afraa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Afaf Al
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Battah
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Abdulqadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nashwan
authors.affiliation: Qatar Medical Genetic Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Dewik
keywords: chronic neutrophilic leukemia; interferon alpha; myeloproliferative neoplasm; pegylated