Central nervous system relapse after bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia.

ABSTRACT

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse with meningeal leukaemia occurred 6 months after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for acute myeloid leukaemia, without systemic relapse. Despite intrathecal chemotherapy a severe progressive proprioceptive impairment of the lower limbs developed. Autopsy revealed selective ascending tract degeneration of the gracile fasciculi of the posterior columns of the spinal cord and residual endoneurial deposits were found in lumbosacral dorsal nerve roots and ganglia. While CNS relapse may occur in acute leukaemia after chemotherapy, it has rarely been reported following BMT.