Detection of BCR-ABL-positive cells in the colostrum of a pregnant patient with chronic myeloid leukemia.

A 31-year-old pregnant woman was diagnosed with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia at gestational week 16. To avoid exposure of the fetus to teratogenic agents, the patient opted for a course of careful observation only for the duration of her pregnancy. We detected 9.1% of BCR-ABL-positive cells in the patient's colostrum with fluorescence in situ hybridization.