Central Nervous System Fungal Infections in Children With Leukemia and Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

Central nervous system fungal infections (CNSFI) are seen in patients with hematologic malignancies and have high morbidity and mortality. Because of their rarity, there is limited data on CNSFI in children with no established treatment protocols or guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this multicenter retrospective study, 51 pediatric patients with leukemia, 6 of whom had undergone bone marrow transplantation, with proven or probable CNSFI were evaluated. Fungal infections were defined as proven or probable based on European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria. Proven CNSFI was diagnosed by appropriate central nervous system (CNS) imaging or tissue sample findings in combination with positive microbiological results of cerebrospinal fluid. A positive culture, microscopic evidence of hyphae, a positive result of the galactomannan assays are defined as positive microbiological evidence. Probable CNSFI was defined as appropriate CNS imaging findings together with proven or probable invasive fungal infections at another focus without CNS when there is no other explanatory condition. Data was collected by using the questionnaire form (Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JPHO/A541 ).

RESULTS

Seventeen patients had proven, 34 patients had probable CNSFI. Headaches and seizures were the most common clinical findings. The median time between the onset of fever and diagnosis was 5 days. The most common fungal agent identified was Aspergillus . Sixteen patients received single-agent, 35 received combination antifungal therapy. Surgery was performed in 23 patients. Twenty-two patients (43%) died, 29 of the CNSFI episodes recovered with a 20% neurological sequelae.

CONCLUSION

CNSFIs should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with leukemia and refractory/recurrent fever, headache, neurologicalocular symptoms, and a radiologic-serological evaluation should be performed immediately. Early diagnosis and prompt management, both medical and surgical, are essential for improving clinical outcomes.

Hepatitis-Associated Aplastic Anemia: Etiology, Clinical Characteristics and Outcome

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAA) is a form of acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in which bone marrow failure develops after an acute attack of hepatitis. Bone marrow failure leading to AA is generally severe in cases of HAA and fatal if left untreated. This retrospective multicenter study investigated clinical and laboratory characteristics, possible causes, treatment, and outcome of HAA in children. Twenty patients from 8 centers were included in the study. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were <3 to 5×upper limit of normal (ULN) in 2 patients, <5 to 10×ULN in 2 patients, and >10×ULN in 16 patients. Acute liver failure developed in 5 (29%) patients. Pancytopenia was simultaneously present in 6 of 20 (30%) patients. Eleven of the 20 patients (55%) were alive, in remission and transfusion free. Those who were alive either had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and/or immunosuppressive treatment, except 1 patient who had received no treatment. Patients with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis should be evaluated and followed up carefully for presence of cytopenia, so that definitive treatment of AA can be initiated in a timely and appropriate manner when needed.

Is Monitoring of Cytomegalovirus Disease Required in Nontransplant Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?

INTRODUCTION

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in developing countries are experienced at an early age. This study was performed to investigate the frequency of reactivation and risk factors of infection acquired at an early age of nontransplant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy with weekly monitoring of CMV levels in Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective, single-center study of 172 pediatric patients (102 boys and 70 girls) with ALL. All patients were monitored routinely for CMV-DNA at the initial presentation of leukemia and twice a week during chemotherapy. The CMV immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG titers were measured at admission.

RESULTS

CMV seropositivity at baseline was 90,11%. The overall prevalence of CMV infection (viremia) was 70.34%, 116 of whom were seropositive for CMV IgG and 5 of whom were negative for CMV at the time of ALL diagnosis. Reactivation was more common than de novo CMV infections (P=0.000). CMV seropositivity at the beginning of the leukemia diagnosis was found to be an independent predictor for developing CMV infection (P=0.001). A total of 60 CMV infection episodes were treated with antivirals. Four of these included organ involvement. The duration of CMV-DNA viremia episodes was longer in patients with CMV-DNA ≥1000 copies/mL (n=45) than in those with lower CMV-DNA levels (P=0.002). Infection was shown not to be associated with chemotherapy phase.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests the importance of monitoring for CMV infections in developing countries because of frequent reactivations in seropositive ALL patients. It should be kept in mind that low CMV-DNA levels may also lead to organ involvement.

Feasibility of using thrombin generation assay (TGA) for monitoring of haemostasis during supplementation therapy in haemophilic patients without inhibitors

Monitoring factor replacement treatment and observing concordance with clinical haemostasis is crucial in vital haemorrhages and major surgeries in haemophilic patients. We aimed to investigate the value of the thrombin generation assay (TGA) and thromboelastography (TEG) for monitoring haemostasis in haemophilic patients during factor replacement treatment. The study group consisted of 29 patients (21 haemophilia A, 8 haemophilia B). All the patients FVIII-inhibitor were negative. A total of 35 bleeding episodes and/or surgical interventions were evaluated. aPTT, FVIII/FIX activity, TEG and TGA tests were conducted before and after factor therapy during the bleeding episode or surgical prophylaxis of haemophilic patients. Correlations among these tests were evaluated and compared with clinical responses. No correlation was found among aPTT, factor activities and clinical outcome. There were also no correlation found between TEG parameters and clinical outcome. The only significant correlation found between TGA parameters and clinical outcome was the correlation between peak thrombin. In conclusion, we found superiority of TGA-peak thrombin over other traditional tests for monitoring haemostasis in haemophilic patients in this study.

The use of recombinant activated factor VII in the treatment of massive pulmonary hemorrhage in a preterm infant

Pulmonary hemorrhage is a rare but well-known complication in preterm infants. We present a case of massive pulmonary hemorrhage in a 9-day-old male infant, successfully treated with intravenous recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) (NovoSeven; Novo Nordisk). The infant was diagnosed with sepsis-related disseminated intravascular coagulation and required ventilator support for respiratory distress syndrome and blood transfusions due to active bleeding from endotracheal tube. After administration of the second dose of rFVIIa (120 microg/kg per dose, every 2 h), the active bleeding subsided dramatically and a significant improvement in the oxygenation index was seen 8 h after the third dose of rFVIIa treatment. There were also significant improvements in the prothrombin time, International Normalized Ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time and plasma fibrinogen levels after the third dose of rFVIIa treatment. The infant was discharged on day 82 of life and there was no finding of thrombosis during the hospitalization period. At month 18 of follow-up, there was no morbidity related to the pulmonary and central nervous systems. This case suggests that rFVIIa is effective as an alternative therapy in controlling massive pulmonary hemorrhage of preterm infants.