Severe hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in a patient with Wilms tumor and hereditary spherocytosis

A 7-year-old girl with a history of splenectomy for hereditary spherocytosis (HS) was diagnosed with renal hematoma after a blunt abdominal trauma while receiving aspirin. Multiple erythrocyte transfusions and transarterial embolization were performed without success. Eventual nephrectomy revealed severely necrotic and perforated Stage III Wilms tumor (WT). Radiochemotherapy was administered, but by the eighth week, she developed severe hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS). Her ferritin level at the time was 3406 ng/ml. Defibrotide and aggressive supportive measures provided full recovery. The patient was given deferasirox for iron chelation therapy and finished her treatment without incident. To our knowledge, just one patient with HS and WT has been described in the literature. The role of iron excess in HSOS pathogenesis in non-transplant patients has not been addressed before either. Transfusional hyperferritinemia, in addition to chemotherapeutics and radiation, may have contributed to the development of severe HSOS in our patient.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Single Center's Experience

Objectives

The objective of the study is to present the demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory features and outcome of our patients with hereditary spherocytosis (HS).

Methods

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data; complications; and splenectomy results were analyzed retrospectively. The severity of the disease was scaled according to Eber's criteria.

Results

Sixty-nine patients (42 boys, 27 girls, median age: 3 years) were eligible. Sixty-eight percent of the patients had a history of neonatal jaundice. The complaints at admission were jaundice (71%), fatigue (27.5%), fainting (4.3%), and pallor (4.3%). The median follow-up duration was 8.5 years. According to Eber's criteria, three (4.3%), 57 (82.6%), and nine (13.1%) patients had mild, moderate, and severe diseases, respectively. Thirty-six patients (52.1%) had a splenectomy. Following splenectomy, we observed a significant rise in hemoglobin levels and a decline in indirect bilirubin levels. Post-operative thrombocytosis was common, with a tendency to fall and stabilize after 1 month. There were no thromboembolic complications.

Conclusion

In spite of the high rate of consanguinity, familial history of HS, and neonatal jaundice in our study group, the majority of the HS patients were identified relatively late, about 3 years. This finding shows that HS might be insufficiently acknowledged by primary care. Splenectomy, in selected cases, may reduce the need for transfusions. Post-splenectomy transient thrombocytosis is common and has a benign course.

Prolonged Bleeding After Dental Extraction Due to Decreased Serum Level of Von Willebrand Factor Caused by Untreated Profound Hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND

Delayed diagnosis of hypothyroidism may result in atypical presentations. Here, we report a case with decreased serum level and activity of von Willebrand factor due to untreated profound hypothyroidism.

OBSERVATION

A 9-year-old girl, presented with prolonged gingival bleeding after dental extraction. Clinical findings of the case were consistent with hypothyroidism, and the laboratory workup results revealed decreased serum level and activity of von Willebrand factor associated with profound hypothyroidism. Restoration of euthyroidism normalized the coagulation parameters.

CONCLUSION

Delayed diagnosis of hypothyroidism may lead to atypical presentations such as bleeding diathesis. Profound hypothyroidism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand disease to avoid undue treatment.

Renal Ultrasonographic Abnormalities at Initial Presentation of Children Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Long-Term Renal Functions and Prognosis in Survivors

OBJECTIVES

The kidney is a vulnerable organ for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), by the disease, and various associated clinical pictures. This retrospective study aims to document renal ultrasound abnormalities in children with newly diagnosed ALL as well as to investigate the correlation between renal findings and clinical/laboratory/survival data.

METHODS

All children (age <18 years) with ALL were included in the study. An increase in size/nephromegaly (NM) or hyperechogenicity (HE) of the kidneys at first admission was accepted as a pathological renal abnormality. The clinical/laboratory findings, survival, and long-term renal functions were compared between patients with and without NM/HE.

RESULTS

The incidence of NM±HE was 12% in 163 patients. Enlargement of spleen, liver, or both and, hypercreatininemia was independently correlated with the presence of NM/HE. After the induction therapy, ultrasound findings were resolved in all patients, and NM/HE did not influence ALL prognosis. All survivors had normal renal functions in long term.

CONCLUSION

The renal ultrasound abnormalities are not uncommon in children with leukemia at admission, without a negative impact on leukemia prognosis and on long-term renal functions.

Assessment of Serum Spexin Levels in Obese Adolescents with Metabolic Syndrome Antecedents: Preliminary Results

OBJECTIVE

Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide implicated in food intake and satiety. SPX levels are reduced in obese patients.

AIM

This study aimed to compare serum SPX levels in obese adolescents versus healthy controls and to assess the associations of metabolic syndrome (metS) antecedents with serum SPX levels.

METHODS

Eighty consecutive obese adolescents aged 10-18 years and 80 healthy peers were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements, pubertal examinations, and clinical blood pressure measurements were performed. Fasting blood samples were drawn for glucose, insulin, lipids, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and SPX. metS was diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation criteria. Associations of serum SPX with clinical and laboratory variables were assessed.

RESULTS

Obese adolescents had lower serum SPX levels than healthy peers (50 pg/mL [25-75% IQR: 25-98 pg/mL] and 67.0 pg/mL [25-75% IQR: 32.5-126.0 pg/mL]; respectively, p = 0.035). Twenty (25%) obese adolescents were diagnosed as having metS. Obese adolescents with metS had lower SPX than those without metS (24.5 pg/mL [25-75% IQR: 15.3-49.5 pg/mL] and 69.0 pg/mL [25-75% IQR: 42.0-142.0 pg/mL]; respectively, p < 0.0001). The frequencies of hyperuricemia, IR, and elevated ALT were similar in obese adolescents with metS and those without metS (p > 0.05 for all). Serum uric acid levels were correlated significantly with serum SPX after correcting for BMI and HOMA-IR (r = -0.41, p < 0.05). A serum SPX level at a cutoff level of 49.5 pg/mL predicted the presence of metS in obese adolescents with 75% sensitivity and 71% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

Obese adolescents have reduced SPX levels, and this reduction is more pronounced in those with metS. Further research is needed to verify the utility of SPX as a biomarker in the diagnosis of metS in obese adolescents.

Associations of Size at Birth and Metabolic Syndrome Antecedents With Serum Spexin Levels in Prepubertal Children

Background: Spexin is a novel peptide implicated in food intake and obesity. The primary aim of this study was to analyze whether serum spexin levels, along with total leptin and active ghrelin levels were different in prepubertal children born small for gestational age(SGA) and appropriate for gestational(AGA). Secondary aims were to analyze whether serum spexin, leptin and active ghrelin levels correlated with metabolic syndrome(MS)antecedents according to the Dietary and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants (IDEFICS)study. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on prepubertal37SGA- (median:5.6yr)and50prepubertalAGA-born children(median:5.9yr). Anthropometric data, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMAIR),plasma lipids, serum spexin, total leptin and active ghrelin levels were analyzed. Associations of serum spexin levels with MS antecedents according to the IDEFICS study were investigated. Results: Children bornSGA had higher body mass index and waist circumference than AGA-born peers(p <0.05). Serum total leptin levels were higher in SGA-born children than in AGA-born peers (p<0.05). Plasma active ghrelin and spexin levels were not different between the subgroups(p>0.05). Children bornSGA had higher MS risk scores than AGA-born peers(p <0.05). Small for gestational age- born children had higher plasma glucose,insulin and HOMA-IR than AGA-born peers(p<0.05). In children born SGA, the number of subjects with excess adiposity (N_SGA=18(43.9%)andN_AGA=7(14%),p=0.016)and insulin resistance(N_SGA=14(34%) andN_AGA=6(12%),p=0.035)was higher than in AGA-born peers. There was no significant difference in frequency of dyslipidemia between the subgroups(p=0.19). The frequency of children with more than one MS antecedent was higher in SGA-born children than in AGA-born peers(Chi-Square p <0.01). Metabolic syndrome risk score according to IDEFICS was higher in SGA born children than in AGA-born peers(2.2±1.8vs1.1±1.8;p=0.008). Serum spexin levels were lower in children with MS antecedents than those without MS antecedents in both AGA -and SGA-born children[Serum spexin levels in AGA-born children with and without MS antecedents: 48,5pg/mL(25-75%IQR:19.8-93.8pg/mL)and143pg/mL(25-75%IQR:104-211pg/mL),p<0.001;respectively, serum spexin levels inSGAborn children with and without MS antecedents: 31,0pg/mL(25-75%IQR:16.5-47.0 pg/mL) and79.5pg/mL(25-75% IQR:49.5-274.8pg/mL),p=0,0016;respectively]. In the whole study group, the most important factor associated with excess adiposity was history of being born SGA(OddsRatio=91.3[95%CI:2.2-374;p=0.017]

Conclusions: Serum spexin levels were not different inSGA- and AGA-born children. Serum spexin levels were reduced in children with MS antecedents independent of size at birth.

Prognostic gene alterations and clonal changes in childhood B-ALL

Genomic profiles of leukemia patients lead to characterization of variations that provide the molecular classification of risk groups, prediction of clinical outcome and therapeutic decisions. In this study, we examined the diagnostic (n = 77) and relapsed (n = 31) pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) samples for the most common leukemia-associated gene variations CRLF2, JAK2, PAX5 and IL7R using deep sequencing and copy number alterations (CNAs) (CDKN2A/2B, PAX5, RB1, BTG1, ETV6, CSF2RA, IL3RA and CRLF2) by multiplex ligation proximity assay (MLPA), and evaluated for the clonal changes through relapse. Single nucleotide variations SNVs were detected in 19% of diagnostic 15.3% of relapse samples. The CNAs were detected in 55% of diagnosed patients; most common affected genes were CDKN2A/2B, PAX5, and CRLF2. Relapse samples did not accumulate a greater number of CNAs or SNVs than the cohort of diagnostic samples, but the clonal dynamics showed the accumulation/disappearance of specific gene variations explained the course of relapse. The CDKN2A/2B were most frequently altered in relapse samples and 32% of relapse samples carried at least one CNA. Moreover, CDKN2A/2B alterations and/or JAK2 variations were associated with decreased relapse-free survival. On the other hand, CRLF2 copy number alterations predicted a better survival rate in B-ALL. These findings contribute to the knowledge of CDKN2A/2B and CRLF2 alterations and their prognostic value in B-ALL. The integration of genomic data in clinical practice will enable better stratification of ALL patients and allow deeper understanding of the nature of relapse.