Disseminated intravascular DNA thromboemboli. A complication of chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia

S. B. Smith and E. B. Blum

Seven and one-half hours after receiving antileukemic therapy, an 11 year-old boy developed massive intravascular lysis of leukemic cells with subsequent pooling of DNA to form disseminated intravascular thromboemboli. The DNA thromboemboli produced neurologic symptoms and an alveolar capillary block with resultant dyspnea and death.