Madeline Kirby
American University of The Caribbean School of Medicine, USA
Title: How clinical presentations can delay diagnosis
Biography
Biography: Madeline Kirby
Abstract
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia, representing 5-10% of adult cases of AML. There are an estimated 600-800 newly diagnosed cases in the US every year. It is most commonly taught in medical schools that the presenting symptoms of APML are symptoms of coagulopathy; thrombocytopenia, petechiae, bleeding from the gums. The most severe presentation of APML is of disseminated intravascular coagulation. It is critical to diagnose APML as soon as possible as a delay in diagnosis can lead to severe consequences of bleeding, DIC and mortality. The coagulopathy associated with APML is believed to be due to an activation of protease activity as well as increased fibrinolysis. However, a pro-thrombotic state is also associated with APML although this is exceedingly rare and rarely described in case reports. It is critical to diagnose APML as soon as possible as a delay in diagnosis can lead to severe consequences of bleeding, DIC and mortality. This case report will discuss an acute case of APML diagnosed after presentation with acute ischemic stroke.