Multiple cranial nerve palsies revealing blast crisis in patient with chronic myeloid leukemia in the accelerated phase under nilotinib during severe infection with SARS-COV-19 virus: Case report and review of literature

Since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as primary therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the prognosis of these patients has improved significantly, and the number of patients who progress to the blast phase has decreased considerably. We report the case of a 35 year-old CML patient in accelerated phase treated with nilotinib, who presents a severe COVID-19 infection requiring non-invasive ventilation, and who subsequently presents a multiple cranial nerve palsy revealing a blast crisis of his CML. Multiple cranial nerve palsy is a sign of neurological involvement of CML in its blast phase. The blast crisis represents a real challenge for the clinician, especially during COVID-19 infection. The treatment remains the association of a tyrosine kinase inhibitors with a chemotherapy protocol, as well as the administration of methotrexate and cytarabine by intrathecal and intravenous infusion in high doses. Despite the importance of the association of CML with COVID-19 infection, there is not yet enough data to know the true impact of this infection on the evolution of this hemopathy.