Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia in Late Pregnancy. Successful Treatment with All-Trans-Retinoic Acid (ATRA) and Chemotherapy

Abstract

The use of all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) in APL is a great advance in the treatment of acute leukemia, driving the maturation steps until adult form.

The effect of this medication in pregnant women with APL is being a safe and effective treatment only after the first trimester of pregnancy. If used in the first three months, it can cause fetus malformations due to its potent teratogenicity.

The two patients we reported here, gave birth to normal children, yet they received ATRA. After a week with ATRA treatment, fibrinogen level improved and “D” dimers decreased, so as observed slowly maturation of leukemic leucocytes. ATRA used at the same time with chemotherapy; such as Cytarabine and Idarrubicine seems highly useful for induction and long term control of disease.

One short discussion about the findings and compare with those found in the literature are presented.

Keywords:

• ATRA
• pregnancy
• acute promyelocytic leukemia