Lupus 2012 Jul;21(8):910-3

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Gokce M, Bulus D, Bilginer Y, Gumruk F, Besbas N, Cetin M.
Pediatric Haematology Division, Hacettepe Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.

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.