Intestinal Perforation in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Acute leukaemias are a group of rare diseases characterised by the invasion of the bone marrow by a clone of abnormal and immature cells known as blasts. Spontaneous perforation of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of systemic chemotherapy for haemopathies. We present the case of two patients; a 21-year-old man and a 40 years old women diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukaemia by myelogram and immunophenotyping, who presented with peritonitis due to intestinal perforation, 8 and 14 days after induction of cytarabine-based chemotherapy. These 2 patients were treated in our department with urgent surgery and had a good clinical outcome.