Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2005 Feb;48(2):467-472.

A case of acute lymphocytic leukemia in pregnancy

• Choi HJ
• Park YW
• Cheong JW
• Min YH
• Kwon JY
• Kwon HS
• Kim YH
• Kim SH

Abstract

The incidence of acute leukemia in pregnancy is estimated to be about 1 per 75000 pregnancies, and the incidence of lymphocytic leukemia is known to be lower than myelocytic leukemia. Pregnancy dose not affect the course of acute leukemia, but thrombocytopenia, anemia and leukopenia resulting from leukemia may lead to hemorrhage, infection, and insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrition to fetus. The most important factor for chemotherapy is gestational age. Since no evidence on adverse effect of chemotherapeutic agents on fetus when given after the first trimester, aggressive chemotherapy is recommended during pregnancy. However, during chemotherapy, caution regarding risk of spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal growth retardation, teratogenicity, intrauterine fetal death, fetal immunosupression and preterm labor should be taken. Acute leukemia in pregnancy is extremely rare, so treatment and management of the pregnant mother bearing viable fetus in her 3rd trimester is not established clearly. We experienced a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who was first diagnosed at 27 gestational weeks and immediately started with chemotherapy. But due to preterm labor and impending fetal distress, emergency cesarean section was performed at 28 gestational weeks. We present this patient along with past experiences of acute leukemia in pregnancy.

Keyword

Acute lymphocytic leukemia

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Spontaneous
Anemia
Cesarean Section
Drug Therapy
Emergencies
Female
Fetal Death
Fetal Distress
Fetal Growth Retardation
Fetus
Gestational Age
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Leukemia
Leukemia, Lymphoid
Leukemia, Myeloid
Leukopenia
Mothers
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Oxygen
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*
Pregnancy Trimester, First
Pregnancy*
Thrombocytopenia
Oxygen