Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome in a splenectomized adult patient.

A 62-year-old splenectomized woman was admitted because of upper respiratory tract symptoms, general fatigue, and purpura. Laboratory data demonstrated microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, and a positive Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) urinary antigen test. A renal biopsy showed thrombotic microangiopathic changes.

Successful treatment of post-MRSA infection glomerulonephritis with steroid therapy.

A 48-year-old man without underlying disease developed mediastinitis and was treated by mediastinal drainage. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in a culture of the abscess material. He was treated with anti-MRSA antibiotics and the MRSA infection improved.

A PML/RARA chimeric gene on chromosome 2 in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3) associated with a new variant translocation: t(2;15;17)(q21;q22;q21).

We describe a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) carrying a new complex variant translocation of t(2;15;17)(q21;q22;q21). The karyotypic interpretation was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the use of painting probes of chromosomes 2, 15, and 17 and a PML/RARA dual color DNA probe. FISH showed a PML/RARA fusion gene on the der(2) instead of the der(15).

[Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for CHOP-resistant mediastinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

We report two cases of CHOP-resistant mediastinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (MDLCL) treated by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT). The patients were 17 and 28 year old female, and they had anterior mediastinal bulky masses at presentation. The clinical stage was IV in both patients.

Autoantibodies against 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70) in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients.

We report that autoantibodies against the 70-kDa heat shock protein family (HSP70) were detected in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients. Antibodies to HSP70 family proteins were detected in three out of 14 recipients of an allogeneic marrow graft but in none of the seven patients receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT). Immunoblotting analysis combined with two-dimensional SDS-PAGE revealed that these patients had antibodies to a constitutive 73-kDa/pI 5.

Extramedullary megakaryoblastic tumors following an indolent phase of myelofibrosis.

A 59-year-old man developed multiple subcutaneous and bone tumors after 2 years' duration of indolent myelofibrosis. These tumors exhibited a diffuse proliferation of pleomorphic blast cells. The skeletal x-rays showed disseminated osteolysis and osteosclerosis.

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in patients with lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome.

We report three lymphoma patients in whom the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was observed during the course of lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS). The clinical course was devoid of any known mechanism for SIADH which could be attributable to lymphoma or antineoplastic treatment. Alternatively, high serum levels of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which stimulate the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, may have contributed to the development of SIADH in our patients, who were receiving glucocorticoids.

Risk factors for hepatosplenic abscesses in patients with acute leukemia receiving empiric azole treatment.

The authors retrospectively evaluated 63 febrile neutropenic episodes in 33 consecutive patients with leukemia who received empiric azole treatment for refractory or relapsing fever that occurred despite broad-spectrum antibiotics. In 8 patients (24%), hepatosplenic abscesses (HSA) developed. To identify the risk factors for the development of HSA, the authors compared various characteristics of febrile episodes in those with and without HSA.

Successful vidarabine therapy for adenovirus type 11-associated acute hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

A 36-year-old man underwent an allogeneic BMT for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Eighteen days later the patient developed sudden onset of painful, gross hematuria due to adenovirus type 11 infection that did not respond to conservative therapy. There was an increase in serum creatinine levels and delayed recovery of the platelet count, associated with hemophagocytosis.

Translocation (8;17)(p21;q21), a possible variant of t(15;17), in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

We report a 64-year old man with typical features of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) [M3, French-American-British (FAB) classification] in whom a variant, t(8;17)(p21;q21), was detected. This is the second case of the same variant translocation to be reported. The breakpoint on 17q was similar to those described in cases with a standard translocation 15;17.

[Long term follow-up of three cases of acute myeloid leukemia associated with inv(16)(p13q22)].

Three cases of acute myeloid leukemia associated with inv(16(p13q22) were followed up for over 5 years. This chromosome aberration is generally thought to be a good prognostic factor. However, it is also reported that these patients are apt to relapse and have relatively high frequency of central nervous system (CNS) involvement.

[Proliferation of micromegakaryocytes in acute myelocytic leukemia associated with 5 q- as the sole karyotypic abnormality].

The authors report a de novo AML (M2) patient associated with 5q- as the sole karyotypic abnormality. A 76-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of anemia and leukocytosis. On examination a neck lymph node was enlarged, but neither the liver nor the spleen could be palpated.

Ph+ acute myelogenous leukemia with t(7;11)(p15;p15) and clonal evolution in relapse after bone marrow transplantation.

A 20-year-old female with Ph+ acute myelogenous leukemia (M2) associated with t(7;11)(p15;p15) is reported. Bone marrow aspirates were hypercellular with leukemic cells including Auer rods. Chromosome analysis showed t(7;11) and the Ph chromosome.

[Isolated cerebellar tumor formation in a patient with blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia].

A 42-year-old male was diagnosed as having Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in 1988. He had been treated with ranimustine and interferon alpha. In April 1990, he was admitted to our hospital because of hemorrhagic diathesis.

[B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia complicated by autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura].

A 74-year-old Japanese male was admitted because of anemia. Hepatosplenomegaly, lymphoadenopathy, and purpura were not found. The laboratory data on admission revealed that the white-cell count was 9,400/microliters, the hemoglobin 11.

Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency.

A 62-year-old man was admitted because of nausea and vomiting. Severe hyponatremia with renal sodium loss was found. Endocrinological studies revealed that the patient had isolated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) deficiency and secondary adrenocortical insufficiency.

Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients with acute leukemia.

We determined the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients in order to evaluate the relationship between TNF and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Eight patients with acute leukemia receiving an HLA-identical marrow graft were studied. Samples from healthy subjects and pretransplant recipients were all negative for TNF.

[Intracerebral myeloblastoma developed in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia associated with inv (16) (p13q22)].

A 26 year-old man was diagnosed as having acute monocytic leukemia (M5b: FAB classification) associated with inv (16) (p13q22). Remission induction therapy showed good results, but two years later, he complained visual blurring and revealed right papilledema. Lumbar puncture showed leukemic cell infiltration.

Masked Ph chromosome due to a new type of translocation in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

A chronic myelogenous leukemia patient with a masked Ph chromosome due to a new type of translocation, t(9;11;22)(q34;p11;q11), is reported.