SYSTEMIC MASTOCYTOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC MYELOMONOCYTIC LEUKEMIA- CLINICAL-FEATURES AND RESPONSE TO INTERFERON-ALFA THERAPY

Systemic mastocytosis is a rare disease that shows marked heterogeneit y in clinical manifestations and prognosis. It may be associated with hematologic disorders. We describe a patient with systemic mastocytosi s associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia accompanied by ascit es, pleural effusion, and development of skin lesions along a surgical scar. The disease responded well to interferon alfa therapy. This is the second report of successful treatment of mastocytosis with interfe ron alfa and the first associated with a hematologic malignancy.