Microfilariae with acute myeloid leukemia: a common parasite with uncommon association

Presence of microfilariae in bone marrow aspirate is an uncommon finding and its association with leukaemia has rarely been described. We present a case of young female from north India in which bancroftian microfilariae was seen in peripheral blood and bone marrow smears as an incidental finding along with 88 % myeloid blast that were positive on myeloperoxidase stain. There was no associated eosinophilia. She was started on diethylcarbazine for microfilariae, before the start of induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia. Presently she is post induction and is doing fine.