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Necrotising dermatitis in refractory acute myeloid leukaemia
Author(s) -
D'Apollo N.,
Saviola A.,
Longo G.,
Luppi M.,
Emilia G.,
Torelli G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1046/j.0902-4441.2003.00129.x
Subject(s) - medicine , refractory (planetary science) , neutropenia , dermatology , myeloid leukaemia , antibiotics , myelodysplastic syndromes , myeloid , antimicrobial , skin biopsy , immunology , chemotherapy , biopsy , bone marrow , astrobiology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
Severe cutaneous infections in leukaemic patients are difficult to treat and can rapidly become fatal. We report on a case of essential thrombocythemia evolved to a myelodysplastic syndrome and finally, to an overt myeloid leukaemia, refractory to chemotherapy. In the presence of a marked neutropenia, the patients developed a wide Staphylococcus epidermidis necrotising dermatitis. The diagnosis was made possible only by a skin biopsy culture and the antibiotic treatment, based on antimicrobial susceptibility tests, rapidly resolved the infection. In neutropenic patients, appropriate laboratory tests and treatment, can lead to recovery of life‐threatening infections.