Neonatal acute myeloid leukemia in an infant whose mother was exposed to diethylstilboestrol in utero

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2009 Aug;53(2):220-2. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22040.

Abstract

We report on an acute myeloid leukemia in a neonate whose mother was exposed to diethylstilboestrol in utero. The newborn presented with leukemia cutis, hemorrhagic skin lesions, hyperleucocytosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation. A bone marrow examination confirmed the diagnosis of acute monocytic leukemia with a t(11;19) MLL-ELL fusion transcript. Chemotherapy was initiated but the child developed a bilateral pulmonary infection that led to fatal respiratory distress. This case shows acute myeloid leukemia and the third pediatric leukemia reported after maternal diethylstilboestrol exposure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Diethylstilbestrol / adverse effects*
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infertility, Female / chemically induced
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / chemically induced*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Pedigree
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / chemically induced*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal
  • MLL-ELL fusion protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Diethylstilbestrol