[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient with congenital hemolytic anemia: case report]

The authors present a case of a 13-year-old girl with a history of congenital hemolytic anemia (spherocytosis) who developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. She received treatment according to the ALL-BFM 91 protocol standard risk group. During maintenance therapy an aplastic crisis caused by Parvovirus B 19 infection had developed. Chemotherapy was stopped in September 1999, and the patient remained in complete remission. In January, 2000 the patient presented with jaundice, caused by a stone in the ductus choledochus. Cholecystectomy and splenectomy were performed, and the the girl became symptomfree. The authors review the most frequent complications of congenital hemolytic anemias (aplastic crisis, haemolytic crisis and cholelithiasis). The occurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in a patient with congenital hemolytic anemia has not been previously reported.