Kidney Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Kidney Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Chronic myeloid leukemia following kidney transplantation.

Pelloso LA, Campos MG, Nascimento M, Silva MR, Pestana JO, Chauffaille Mde L

Disciplina de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, UNIFESP-EPM, Rua Botucatu 740, 04023-900 São Paulo, SP Brazil.

Immunosuppressed renal recipients are at an increased risk of developing cancer. Leukemias are less frequent than other hematopoietic tumours and development of CML after immunosuppression is rare. We describe a 37-year-old male who presented with left-shifted leukocytosis, hypercellular bone marrow 32 months after the kidney transplant. G-banding karyotype revealed 46,XY,t(9;22)(q34;q11) and the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia was made. This is the 13th case of CML after kidney transplant reported. Whether this CML appeared as a random phenomenon or chemically induced is a matter of debate. Some individuals might have an increased susceptibility to the effects of azathioprine.

Published 21 January 2005 in Leuk Res, 29(3): 353-5.
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