Acute myeloid leukaemia induced by mitoxantrone: case report

Mitoxantrone (MX) is an immunosupressant drug used in secondarily progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). It has a leukemogenesis potential induced by cytogenetic abnormalities, though with a low incidence. Promyelocitic leukaemia (type M3) and other forms of acute myeloblastic leukaemias (M4 and M5) have been described in a few MS patients who received MX during their treatment. We describe a white female patient, 47 year-old, with SPMS (EDSS = 4) with 14 years of disease. She received MX during her disease and developed acute promyelocytic leukaemia (M3), with severe thrombocytopenia 30 months later. She ultimately died due to intracerebral hemorrhage. Other cases of treatment related to AML are reviewed and discussed.