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Etanercept-induced leukemia: could increased mean corpuscular volume be a predictor of hematologic malignancy?

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Abstract

In rheumatology practice, anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha agents are frequently used medications, more so in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). There are case reports, besides their adverse effects, such as infection and injection site reaction, suggesting these agents may cause solid or hematologic malignancies. Acute leukemia secondary to anti-TNF alpha agents has been rarely reported in patients with AS. In this case report, based on a patient who developed acute leukemia while on the treatment with etanercept, we will discuss whether it is possible to predict acute leukemia by monitoring the mean corpuscular volume in light of the literature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Döndü Üsküdar Cansu & Cengiz Korkmaz

  2. Division of Hematology, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Hava Üsküdar Teke

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  1. Döndü Üsküdar Cansu
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  2. Hava Üsküdar Teke
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  3. Cengiz Korkmaz
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Correspondence to Döndü Üsküdar Cansu.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from our patient.

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Cansu, D.Ü., Teke, H.Ü. & Korkmaz, C. Etanercept-induced leukemia: could increased mean corpuscular volume be a predictor of hematologic malignancy?. Rheumatol Int 37, 1381–1385 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3687-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3687-4

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