Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and HIV: Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

Intern Med. 2019 Aug 15;58(16):2387-2391. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1662-18. Epub 2019 May 22.

Abstract

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is very rare. There is currently no consensus regarding the use of anti-cancer drugs with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in these patients due to their small number. We herein report two cases of APL with HIV-infected patients. Both cases received all-trans-retinoic acid-containing chemotherapies and achieved complete remission. ART was continued throughout the treatment course. The clinical course of these cases suggests that it is preferable to perform standard chemotherapy for APL with ART if patients have an adequate performance status.

Keywords: acute promyelocytic leukemia; human immunodeficiency virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / methods*
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / complications*
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Remission Induction
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tretinoin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Tretinoin