Fatal Shigella dysentery complicated by toxic megacolon and bone marrow aplasia in a patient with chronic granulocytic leukemia in remission.

A patient with Philadelphia positive chronic granulocytic leukemia in clinical remission is described, who developed Shigella dysentery complicated by fatal toxic megacolon, pancytopenia and bone marrow aplasia. The difficulties of differential diagnosis between active ulcerative colitis and Shigella dysentery and problems relating to the management of these two disorders are discussed. Leukocyte function in chronic granulocytic leukemia and its role in infection in these patients is also briefly reviewed. The rare association of bone marrow aplasia and Shigellosis is stressed.