Incidental association: Acute myeloid leukemia and filariasis - A case report

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Case Report

Author Details : Arvind Govind Valand, Nakul Y Sampat*, Rakshak Dinesh Prajapati, Pervaiz Ahmed Khan, Pradeep Wagh

Volume : 8, Issue : 4, Year : 2023

Article Page : 222-224

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jdpo.2023.052

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Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the abnormal proliferation of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. Symptoms include fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and shortness of breath. Filariasis is a parasitic infection caused by filarial worms (a nematode) transmitted through mosquito bites from infected individuals, leading to chronic lymphatic dysfunction, lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis. Here, we present the case of a 38-year-old male who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia without maturation (M1) and an incidental finding of microfilariae in a peripheral blood smear. Interestingly, there was no accompanying eosinophilia in this case. This coexistence of filariasis and AML poses diagnostic challenges, as eosinophilia may not be a reliable indicator. Treatment options include Diethylcarbamazine, Ivermectin, Albendazole and Doxycycline for filarial and chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation for AML (M1). The prognosis for the patient is poor.
 

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia, Microfilariae, Eosinophilia, Myeloperoxidase

How to cite : Valand A G, Sampat N Y, Prajapati R D, Khan P A, Wagh P, Incidental association: Acute myeloid leukemia and filariasis - A case report. IP J Diagn Pathol Oncol 2023;8(4):222-224

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