Clinical impact of dysplastic changes in acquired aplastic anemia: A systematic study of bone marrow biopsies in children and adults.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare disorder characterized by suppression of bone marrow function, which can progress to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To determine if there are characteristics in bone marrow biopsies in children and adults previously diagnosed with acquired AA, which could predict progression to MDS, we evaluated 118 hypocellular bone marrow biopsies from adults (76 patients) and children (42) diagnosed initially with acquired AA previously to any treatment. Histology was reviewed according to a detailed protocol including Bennett and Orazi criteria for hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome (h-MDS) and Bauman et al.

Bone marrow involvement in a patient with paracoccidioidomycosis: a rare presentation of juvenile form.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis rarely shows bone marrow involvement and its response to treatment with itraconazole in children needs further assessment. We describe here a child with a juvenile disseminated form of paracoccidioidomycosis, which showed reticuloendothelial system involvement and the presence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in the bone marrow. The patient showed an effective and rapid response to itraconazole therapy.