Work

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Associated With Catastrophic Arterial and Venous Thrombi

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are at increased risk of vascular thrombi due to coagulopathy, however multifocal arterial thrombi are a rare complication. CASE SUMMARY: A 64-year-old man recently diagnosed with AML presented with multifocal arterial and venous thromboses, including aortic thrombi, bilateral pulmonary emboli, and right atrial thrombus, in the absence of overt disseminated intravascular coagulation. He developed acute bilateral limb ischemia requiring above-knee amputation and iliac thrombectomy. Histopathology confirmed leukemic thrombi. Management was complicated by persistent cytopenias, and the patient died during hospitalization. DISCUSSION: Catastrophic thromboembolism manifesting as arterial thrombi without overt disseminated intravascular coagulation is a rare complication of AML, and together with critical limb ischemia carries a poor prognosis. TAKE-HOME MESSAGES: Early management and coordinated multidisciplinary care for arterial and venous thrombi in AML are essential to navigate complex management challenges due to coagulopathy and cytopenias. Optimal treatment strategies remain poorly defined given the limited data.

Source: JACC Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.105374

Authors: Nicholas King, Meera Kapadia, Xena Moore, Sophia Khan-Makoid, Elie Mouhayar

Institutions: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research

Subfield: Hematology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $850