Severe Laryngeal Edema in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia under All-Trans Retinoic Acid

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has become a valuable agent in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, administration is complicated by the frequently observed“Retinoic Acid Syndrome”(RAS), which occurs in approximately 20-25% of the patients. It is characterized by fever, dyspnea, weight gain, pleural or pericardial effusions, pulmonary infiltrates and hypotension. Given the potentially lethal nature of this syndrome, an early intervention with corticosteroids is imperative.