Acute lymphocytic leukemia presenting as lupus-like syndrome

Abstract

Lupus-like syndrome has been described in association with various malignancies. Acute lymphocytic leukemia presenting as lupus-like syndrome has been reported in children. We report a 22-year-old male patient who developed joint and muscle ache, pleurisy, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, fever, weight loss and was found to have positive antinuclear antibodies. Repeated peripheral smear twice did not show any abnormal cells. Six months later, bone marrow biopsy showed acute lymphocytic leukemia.