Unexpected medical coincidences require systematic and careful strategies: An example

Abstract

In a cohort of 14 children with identical cardiac xenografts, two boys developed acute myeloid leukaemia 11 and 16 months respectively after the operation. A dedicated working group designed a scheme intending to take care of all aspects of the situation. This article focuses on preferred strategies towards patients, relatives, government, and the media. We did not find any substantial evidence supporting the association between bovine xenografts and two cases of acute myeloid leukaemia.