To the Editor.—Chylothorax was associated with hyperlipidemia in a 13-year-old girl in acute leukemic blastic crisis. Although obstructive chylothorax in adults with malignancies1-3 has been previously noted, no similar cases have been associated with leukemia. The clinical observations and implications form the basis of this case report.
Report of a Case
The diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia in a 13-year-old girl was made on the typical basis of Auer's rod positive peripheral blood and bone marrow myeloblasts. Therapy consisted of mercaptopurine, methotrexate, vincristine sulfate, vinblastine sulfate (Velban), cytarabine, daunomycin, and repeated blood transfusions. The medication during the last six weeks was mercaptopurine (2.5 mg/kg) and prednisone (2.0 mg/kg). The patient never had a prolonged remission from any of these medications during the nine months of the leukemic process. During the last two months her weight was stationary. Multiple draining cutaneous abscesses of the lower extremities, respiratory distress,