Multiple fractures in a 3-month-old infant with severe infantile osteopetrosis

Osteopetrosis: a rare cause of anemia

Normocytic anaemia is caused either by hypoproliferation of haemopoietic tissue or increased destruction of red cells. Osteopetrosis is a rare cause of anaemia. Infantile osteopetrosis (also called malignant osteopetrosis) is diagnosed early in life. But it is the adult osteopetrosis (also called benign osteopetrosis) which is diagnosed in late adolescence or adulthood that present as anaemia which is difficult to diagnose and treat. Approximately one half of patients are asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is made incidentally, often in late adolescence because radiologic abnormalities start appearing only in childhood. In other patients, the diagnosis is based on family history. Still other patients might present with osteomyelitis or fractures. We are presenting here an unusual case of osteopetrosis which was referred to us for the evaluation of anaemia.

Moving forward with new data and approaches: a fresh look at anthracyclines in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Anthracyclines have a central role in the management of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) treatment regimen has been the standard of care for more than 20 years. Further improvements have been made to the efficacy of this chemotherapy by reducing the dosing interval and adding rituximab to the regimen. A major limitation to the use of anthracyclines is the development of cardiotoxicity as a late adverse event. Strategies to reduce cardiac events include changes to the dosing schedule for doxorubicin, use of the chelating agent dexrazoxane and the use of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin. This latter strategy has demonstrated good efficacy and reduced cardiotoxicity in patients with NHL, including those at risk of developing cardiac effects.