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Transient leukemia in a newborn without Down syndrome: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Transient neonatal leukemia occurs almost exclusively in Down syndrome babies. We report here the unusual case of a newborn without Down syndrome who presented neonatal transient leukemia and who achieved spontaneously complete remission. Trisomy 21 and GATA1 mutation were both present in leukemic cells. While close follow-up is advised since true leukemia may develop later, the patient is still in remission for 2.5 years. We performed a literature review of 15 other similar cases. Conclusion: Our case of transient leukemia without Down syndrome and the literature review highlight the important role of trisomy 21 and GATA1 mutation in the development of transient neonatal leukemia.

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Abbreviations

TL:

Transient leukemia

DS:

Down syndrome

AMKL:

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia

AML:

Acute myeloid leukemia

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Conflict of interest

The authors state that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Hematology and Haemostasis, CHU-Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Place Van Gehuchten 4, 1020, Brussels, Belgium

    Laurence Rozen, Denis F. Noubouossie & Anne Demulder

  2. Department of Hematology and Oncology, Queen Fabiola Children’s Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue J. J. Crocq 15, 1020, Brussels, Belgium

    Sophie Huybrechts, Laurence Dedeken, Catherine Heijmans & Alina Ferster

  3. Laboratory of Genetics, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Barbara Dessars & Pierre Heimann

  4. Laboratory of Cytogenetics, Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard de Waterloo 121, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Pierre Heimann

  5. Department of Human Genetics, CHU-Liège, University of Liège (ULG), 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Frédéric Lambert

Authors
  1. Laurence Rozen
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  2. Sophie Huybrechts
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  3. Laurence Dedeken
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  4. Catherine Heijmans
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  8. Denis F. Noubouossie
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  9. Alina Ferster
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Correspondence to Laurence Rozen.

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Rozen, L., Huybrechts, S., Dedeken, L. et al. Transient leukemia in a newborn without Down syndrome: case report and review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr 173, 1643–1647 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-2163-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-2163-8

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