Presentation
Patient presents with progressive worsening of headache, dizziness and shortness of breath for about one week, and also noticed multiple bruises all over their body.
Patient Data
1st radiographic study obtained in the emergency department.
There is pulmonary congestion, mild-moderate bilateral airspace disease and small bilateral pleural effusion, likely secondary to congestive heart failure.
2nd CXR obtained 6 days later. Patient was found to have acute promyelocytic leukemia APL & started treated with ATRA 2 days before this xray. Despite Rx for patients CHF symptoms progressed.
There is interval worsening of bilateral airspace disease compared to prior study. There is persistent mild pulmonary vascular congestion and likely small bilateral pleural effusions.
Differential considerations include CHF exacerbation, pneumonia, aspiration, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or given recent history of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy, Differentiation syndrome (otherwise known as ATRA syndrome) can not be excluded.
Right arm PICC line, with tip in the right axillary vein.
CT of the chest was performened on the same day as the 2nd CXR 2 days after starting ATRA Rx for APL.
Diffuse mixed consolidated and ground glass infiltrates are present. Minimal cardiomegaly. Small bilateral pleural effusions.
This pattern may be due to pulmonary edema of cardiac origin, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, or other entities such as diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage. Considering this patient's recent ATRA therapy, the pulmonary edema pattern is most likely due to the Differentiation Syndrome (ATRA syndrome).
This CXR was obtaied 2 mth later before patient was discharged home. ATRA Rx was discontinued 1 mth before this x ray.
There is resolution of pulmonary edema compared to prior studies.
Right arm PICC line, with tip in the distal SVC.
Case Discussion
66 year old female presented to the ED complaining of worsening headache, dizziness, and shortness of breath for 1 week, and also new multiple areas of ecchymosis.
Patient was admitted and treated for CHF. While in the hospital, patient was found to have elevated WBC count with blasts on peripheral smear, hemoglobin 6.7, and platelet count of 7,000. Bone biopsy was performed and she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and started on all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy.
Two days after starting ATRA her shortness of breath exacerbated, despite continued treatment for CHF. Radiographically her pulmonary edema pattern also worsened, and it was thought it may be secondary to differentiation syndrome (previously called ATRA syndrome).1
After discontinuing ATRA treatment, patient's symptoms improved and the discharge chest radiograph demonstrated no acute pulmonary disease.
The differential of worsening pulmonary edema pattern included: CHF exacerbation, pneumonia/aspiration, ARDS, and diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage.
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