Summary:
We report the case of a newborn with Down's syndrome
associated with transient acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The
leukemic presentation resolved spontaneously without treatment
just 4 weeks after birth. A 2 days old newborn presented with
respiratory distress, lethargy, poor suck and mild
hepatosplenomegaly with features of Down's syndrome. Total
white cell count was 144,000/cmm with blasts 92%. Other Septic
work up was negative. Peripheral blood smear revealed hyper
leukocytosis and presence of blast cells. Flow cytometric analysis
revealed acute myeloid leukemia. The peripheral blast cells
persisted for 4 weeks, after which the hemogram and the
differential WBC count returned to normal and a final
diagnosis of transient acute myeloid leukemia was made. Only
few cases of congenital leukemia with Down's syndrome have
been reported in the literature. In Down's syndrome, AML
whether transient or not, generally shows cytogenetic and
molecular aspects that differ from those of adult acute leukemias.
Key words: Down's syndrome, Transient myeloproliferative
disease, Transient leukemia.
(J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2016; 34: 213-217)