Sudden unexpected death caused by infantile acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

ABSTRACT A 7-week-old girl with a normal birth history suddenly developed respiratory distress while feeding. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated at home after she had a cardiac arrest and was continued in the emergency room but all efforts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful and she died 2...

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Published inOxford Medical Case Reports Vol. 2021; no. 8
Main Authors Morota, Kei, Shimizu, Mariko, Sugitate, Ryo, Ide, Munenori, Yamato, Genki, Tomizawa, Daisuke, Muramatsu, Kazuhiro, Matsui, Atsushi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford University Press 01.08.2021
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Case Report
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Summary:ABSTRACT A 7-week-old girl with a normal birth history suddenly developed respiratory distress while feeding. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated at home after she had a cardiac arrest and was continued in the emergency room but all efforts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful and she died 2 h after presentation. Investigations performed in the emergency room revealed that she had a significantly high white blood cell count and severe anaemia. The cause of death was identified as KMT2A-rearranged infantile acute lymphoblastic leukaemia based on cytogenetic tests. She had no abnormalities at the 4-week check-up; however, she developed a skin nodule on her abdomen thereafter, and the family did not consult a doctor for fear of contracting COVID-19. Early detection and diagnosis could have changed the prognosis of the patient. The present case highlights the negative impact of the reduction of outpatient consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ISSN:2053-8855
2053-8855
DOI:10.1093/omcr/omab073