A 13-year-old Hispanic girl is found to have a WBC count of 6,500/mm3 with 40% Auer rod–containing granular blasts that, by flow cytometry, express very bright CD33 but are negative for human leukocyte antigen–DR isotype (HLA-DR). She is oozing blood around her peripheral IV site. Coagulation studies reveal an international normalized ratio (INR) of 3.4, a fibrinogen of 170, and a markedly elevated D-dimer. Marrow aspirate shows nearly 90% blasts with a similar morphology. You send the marrow to the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) lab and request STAT testing for the most likely recurrent genetic abnormality based on the clinical presentation. How do you plan to initiate therapy?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the clinical presentation suggests acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). APL is characterized by Auer rod-containing granular blasts, which are positive for CD33 and negative for HLA-DR. The presence of coagulopathy with elevated D-dimer and oozing blood indicates a high risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a common complication of APL. Immediate treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is crucial in APL to induce differentiation of the leukemic cells and prevent further coagulopathy. Aggressively managing the coagulopathy with blood product support is also important to stabilize the patient.
Choice A is incorrect because a lumbar puncture is not necessary for APL diagnosis, and immediate induction chemotherapy with ATRA is the standard of care. Choice C is incorrect because dexamethasone and hydroxyurea are not the first-line therapies for APL.