[Clinical investigation on acute respiratory failure in patients with severe hematologic malignancy]

Ten patients with severe hematologic malignancies (four with acute leukemia, three with multiple myeloma, one with prolymphocytic leukemia, one with malignant lymphoma and one with blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia) developed respiratory failure during the period between April 1986 and May 1990. Clinically, the patients manifested high-fever, dyspnea refractory to oxygen therapy, diffuse pulmonary rales and severe hypoxemia without evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Chest roentgenograms displayed diffuse alveolar infiltrates. Respiratory failure occurred as early as 48 hours and as late as 66 days after the administration of intensive anti-neoplastic chemotherapy. At that time leukocyte count was between 100/microliters and 54,900/microliters. Marked leukocytosis was observed in two patients with AML and PLL. Respiratory failure was preceded by sepsis in one patient with AML and by pneumonia in nine patients. DIC was diagnosed in four patients. All patients treated with high dose methyl prednisolone (mPSL) within 12 hours after the onset of respiratory failure. Only one patient required assisted ventilation. High dose mPSL had significant effect on seven of ten patients. But three patients died from progressive respiratory failure, sepsis, pneumonia and multi-organ failure.