Chronic myelocytic leukemia in pregnancy: report of a case treated with leukapheresis

CML was diagnosed by chance in a 24-year-old woman at the 15th week of pregnancy which, on being informed of her disease she decided to continue. No treatment was given until the 24th week, when WBC reached 140,000/mm3 and it was believed necessary to begin treatment. A program of leukapheresis was started, with the sole aim of reducing the expanding leukemic pool. With 8 leukapheresis, performed at intervals of 2-8 days, WBC were reduced and kept at about 100,000/mm3; after the 8th procedure there was a progressive reduction of WBC to 40,000/mm3, which level was maintained without further treatment for about 4 weeks. Pregnancy and fetal development continued normally. Labor was induced at the 37th week of gestation, and a normal male infant was delivered whose development to date (20 months of age) is normal.