Premium
All‐ trans ‐retinoic acid‐induced myositis: A description of two patients
Author(s) -
van der Vliet Hans J.J.,
Roberson Arthur E.,
Hogan Marie C.,
Morales Carlos E.,
Crader Scott C.,
Letendre Louis,
Pruthi Rajiv K.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-8652(200002)63:2<94::aid-ajh7>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - retinoic acid , myositis , tretinoin , medicine , dermatology , chemistry , biochemistry , gene
All‐ trans ‐retinoic acid (ATRA) induces complete clinical remissions in a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and has become the standard induction therapy. Its use as a single agent results in short‐lived remissions; thus, cytotoxic drugs are used for “consolidation” therapy. Side effects reported during treatment with ATRA include retinoic acid syndrome and Sweet's syndrome. Sweet's syndrome has been associated with acute myelogenous leukemia at presentation, but only two cases of Sweet's syndrome involving the musculoskeletal system in patients treated with ATRA have been described. We describe two additional patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia who had unexplained fever and myalgias (cutaneous lesions in one patient) during induction therapy with ATRA. Radiologic findings were similar to those in previously reported ATRA‐associated Sweet's syndrome of the musculoskeletal system. The clinical course was characterized by a rapid resolution of the symptoms during treatment with dexamethasone. Recognition of the syndrome is important, especially considering the rapid resolution of symptoms after early institution of therapy with corticosteroids. Am. J. Hematol. 63:94–98, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.