A 62-year-old woman with acute promyelocytic leukaemia was treated with all-trans retinoic acid. On day 2 she suffered with dyspnoea and general fatigue. Marked hypoxia suggested the occurrence of retinoic acid syndrome. She underwent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation with the administration of dexamethasone. Her symptoms promptly abated. She was subsequently treated with conventional chemotherapy and achieved complete remission.
al BaharS., PanditaR., HoffbrandA.V.Bilateral osteonecrosis of the head of the femur complicating acute promyelocytic leukaemia: a sequel to treatment of retinoic acid syndrome with dexamethasone.Acta Haematol1996; 96: 88–91.
2.
ChouW.C., TangJ.L., YaoM.. Clinical and biological characteristics of acute promyelocytic leukaemia in Taiwan: a high relapse rate in patients with high initial and peak white blood cell counts during all-trans retinoic acid treatment.Leukaemia1997; 11: 921–928.
3.
TallmanM.S.Differentiating therapy in acute promyelocytic leukaemia.Leukaemia1996; 10: 1262–1268.
4.
LarreaL., de la RubiaJ., JimenezC., MartinG., SanzM.A.Cardiac tamponade and cardiogenic shock as a manifestation of all-trans retinoic acid syndrome.Haematologica1997; 82: 463–464.
5.
TanakaT., AkifujiY., MoriM., UekiJ., NakamotoS.Intracranial hypertension in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid.Rinsho Ketsueki1997; 38: 47–51.
LarsonR.S., BrownD.C., SklarL.A.Retinoic acid induces aggregation of the acute promyelocytic leukaemia cell line NB-4 by utilization of LFA-1 and ICAM-2.Blood1997; 90: 2747–2756.
8.
NakamakiT., HinoK., YokoyamaA.. Effect of cytokines on the proliferation and differentation of acute promyelocytic leukaemia cells: possible relationship to the development of “retinoic acid syndrome”.Anticancer Res1994; 14: 817–823.
9.
FrankelS.R., EardleyA., LauwersG., WeissM., WarrellR.P.Jr.. The “retinoic acid syndrome” in acute promyelocytic leukaemia.Ann Intern Med1992; 117: 292–296.
10.
BernardG.R., LuceJ.M., SprungC.L.. High dose corti-costeroids in patients with the ARDS.N Engl J Med1987; 317: 1565.
11.
HooperR.G., KearlR.A.Established ARDS treated with a sustained course of adrenocortical steroids.Chest1990; 97: 138.
12.
MeduriG.U., HeadleyS.A., GoldenE.. Effect of prolonged methylprednisolone therapy in unresolving acute respiratory distress syndrome.JAMA1998; 280: 159–165.
13.
MatthayK.K., VillablancaJ.G., SeegerR.C.. Treatment of high risk neuroblastoma with intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, autologous blood marrow transplant and 13-cis-retinoic acid. Children's Cancer Group.N Engl J Med1999; 341: 1165–1173.
