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Congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a two-case report and a review of the literature

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Abstract

Congenital leukemia is a rare disease with particular biological and clinical characteristics which differs from those of older children and adults. Here, we describe two cases of congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia in two newborns with different clinical presentations (leukemia cutis vs. splenomegaly and respiratory distress) and fatal outcome. Both cases shared the expression of myeloid antigens (CD65) and cytogenetic disorders involving the MLL gene (location 11q23) which are associated to extremely poor prognosis.

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Abbreviations

AML:

Acute myeloblastic leukemia

ALL:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

BMA:

Bone marrow aspiration

INTERFANT:

International collaborative treatment protocol for infants under 1 year with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

TMS:

Transient myeloproliferative syndrome

MRD:

Minimal residual disease

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Correspondence to Ma Pilar Bas Suárez.

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Bas Suárez, M.P., López Brito, J., Santana Reyes, C. et al. Congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a two-case report and a review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr 170, 531–534 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1339-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1339-8

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