Near-fatal uterine hemorrhage during induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia: a case report of bilateral uterine artery embolization

Severe transfusion-dependent uterine hemorrhage is a relatively uncommon complication of induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Even less common is the failure of systemic conjugated estrogens in this setting. We report a case of life-threatening uterine hemorrhage in a 38-year-old woman in the setting of transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia after completing induction chemotherapy for AML. She experienced dramatic breakthrough uterine hemorrhage despite multiple platelet transfusions, conjugated estrogens, recombinant factor VIIa, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and intracavitary thrombin-soaked gauze tamponade. At the point of near-exsanguination in the setting of hypotension, hematocrit of 14%, and a platelet count of 3,000/microL, she underwent bilateral uterine artery embolization which proved immediately successful. We review the literature and indications for this procedure in the oncologic patient care setting.