APL - Slide 1
An acute promyelocytic leukemia is a very aggressive form of an acute myeloid leukemia. Often, a chromosomal translocation t(15;17), leads to the production of aberrant promyelocytes. The granules present in these cells are highly thrombogenic, leading to a pronounced activation and consumption of the coagulation system and ultimately, a risk of internal bleeding. APL is treated with vitamin A, which promotes maturation.
Blasts
Promyelocytes
Myelocytes
Metamyelocytes
Bands
Segments
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Immunophenotype
CD34-
CD117+
CD13/CD33++
There are nog extensive flowcytometry results available for this case. Combined with morphology, these results are however highly suggestive of an APL. Especially the heterogeneous population in the CD13/CD33 plot fits, considering that a classical APL shows heterogeneous expression of CD13 and a strong homogenous expression of CD33.
Peripheral blood
Promyelocytes
