Paraneoplastic orthostatic hypotension associated with acute myeloid leukemia

S. Lee, M. Chary, B. Petersen, J.O. Mascarenhas

Department of Medicine, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Elmhurst, New York, USA. john.mascarenhas@mssm.edu

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• Neurology

Paraneoplastic neuropathies associated with leukemia are rare, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial due to the potential for irreversible neurological deficits and delay in treatment of the leukemia. This is the first report to describe severe paraneoplastic orthostatic hypotension which resolved after treatment of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The patient is a 76 year-old woman who presented with progressive dizziness, anorexia, and fatigue. She had severe orthostatic hypotension (supine systolic blood pressure 186 mmHg and standing 79 mmHg). She was found to have AML, for which azacitidine was initiated, and orthostatic hypotension resolved after initiation of treatment.

This case demonstrates a unique example of paraneoplastic sequelae remitting with treatment of the underlying hematologic neoplasm. Physicians should be aware of this unusual occurrence of autonomic neuropathy with AML as delay in treatment of the hematologic malignancy can lead to irreversible neurologic deficit and increased morbidity and mortality.

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