First Case of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Associated Microfilariasis at the Brazzaville University Hospital

Abstract

The association between Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)-Filariasis is rare. Moreover, finding microfilariae in the bone marrow is uncommon. We reported the case of 47-year-old patient living in a rural area who was admitted in the haematology ward in order to further examine a splenomegaly he had which was associated with a leucocytosis. Physical examination revealed oedematous lower limbs and peripheral blood film comment showed the presence of myelocytosis and eosinophilia. The myelogram showed hyperplasia of immature granulocytes and presence of Loa loa, Wuchereria bancrofti and Mansonella perstans microfilariae. The diagnosis of CML was then confirmed by the presence of the gene translocation t (9; 22) and the MBCR-ABL transcription type b3a2 on cytogenetic examination. This case represents a semiotic interest because oedema of both upper and lower limbs associated with a leucocytosis in filarial endemic zone must first of all indicate a haematological malignancy associated with filariasis.

Keywords

• blood smear
• bone marrow smear
• malignant homeopathy
• polyparasitism