Summary
In our hospital within one year two patients with Crohn's disease were seen who developed an acute myelocytic leukemia. A review of the literature reveals eight previously reported patients with both Crohn's disease and leukemia. Six of the reported 10 patients have had acute myelocytic leukemia and, interestingly, three of them, including our two patients, have shown monocytic differentiation (FAB type M4). It has been suggested that the relative risk of leukemia, especially acute myelocytic leukemia, is increased in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. More data of patients with Crohn's disease and acute leukemia are needed to evaluate the possible association between these diseases.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cuttner J: Increased incidence of acute promyelocytic leukemia in patients with ulcerative colitis. Ann Intern Med 97:864–865, 1982
Mir-Madjlessi SH, Farmer RG, Weick K: Inflammatory bowel disease and leukemia. A report of seven cases of leukemia in ulcervative colitis and Crohn's disease and review of literature. Dig Dis Sci 31:1025–1031, 1986
Gutknecht J, Humbert Ph, Dupond JL, Mallet H: Leukemia and Crohn's disease. Dig Dis Sci 31:1391–1392, 1986 (letter)
Giron JA, Yepra M, Solovera JJ, Abreu L, Diego J, Bonilla F, Durantez A: Crohn's disease and leukemia. Dig Dis Sci 30:410–411, 1985
Cohn EM, Pearlstine B: Inflammatory bowel disease and leukemia. J Clin Gastroenterol 6:33–35, 1984
Hanauer SB, Wong KK, Frank PH, Sweet DL, Kirsner JB: Acute leukemia following inflammatory bowel disease. Dig Dis Sci 27:545–548, 1982
Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT, Flandrin G, Galton DAG, Gralnick HR, Sultan C: Proposals for the classification of the myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol 51:189–199, 1982
Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT, Flandrin G, Galton DAG, Gralnick HR, Sultan C: Proposed revised criteria for the classification of acute myeloid leukemia. Ann Intern Med 103:626–629, 1985
Halme L, v. Smitten K, Husa A: The incidence of Crohn's disease in the Helsinki metropolitan area during 1975–1985. Ann Chir Gynecol 78:115–119, 1989
Linos A, Gray JE, Orvis AL, Kyle RA, O'Fallon WM, Kurland LT: Low-dose radiation and leukemia. N Engl J Med 302:1101–1105, 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Halme, L., Knorring, J.v. & Elonen, E. Development of acute myelocytic leukemia in patients with Crohn's disease. Digest Dis Sci 35, 1553–1556 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540575
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540575