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.

Laboratory and clinical features of tumor lysis syndrome in children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and evaluation of long-term renal functions in survivors

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study is to investigate the laboratory and clinical features of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and acute kidney injury (AKI) in childhood non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and to reveal their impact on long term kidney function in survivors.

METHODS

Our single-center retrospective study included 107 patients (0-18 years old) with NHL who were admitted and treated at our hospital between 1998 and 2020. The relationship between TLS and age, gender, histopathological subgroup, tumor stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level at presentation, bone marrow and kidney involvement were assessed. The long-term renal functions of the patients were investigated.

RESULTS

80.3% of the patients were male with a median age of 9.8 years. The most common detected histopathological subgroup was Burkitt lymphoma. Hyperhydration with or without alkalinisation, and allopurinol were used in first-line treatment and prophylaxis of TLS. Laboratory TLS and clinical TLS was observed in 30.8% and 12.1% of patients, respectively. A significant correlation was found between young age, advanced stage, high LDH level at presentation, and TLS. AKI was observed in 12.1% of the patients. When the glomerular filtration rate values of the patients at the first and last admissions were compared after an average of 6.9 years, a mean decrease of 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 was found. It was not, however, found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Lower age, advanced stage, and high LDH level at presentation were found to be risk factors for TLS in our study. Long-term renal function loss was not observed in the survivors who received early and careful prophylaxis/treatment for TLS. The survivors are still being followed up.

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.

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.

Parameters indicative of persistence of valvular pathology at initial diagnosis in acute rheumatic carditis: the role of albumin and CD19 expression

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to define the predictors of chronic carditis in patients with acute rheumatic carditis (ARC).

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with ARC between May 2010 and May 2011 were included in the study. Echocardiography, electrocardiography, lymphocyte subset analysis, acute phase reactants, plasma albumin levels, and antistreptolysin-O (ASO) tests were performed at initial presentation. The echocardiographic assessments were repeated at the sixth month of follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups according to persistence of valvular pathology at 6th month as Group 1 and Group 2, and all clinical and laboratory parameters at admission were compared between two groups of valvular involvement.

RESULTS

During the one-year study period, 22 patients had valvular disease. Seventeen (77.2%) patients showed regression in valvular pathology. An initial mild regurgitation disappeared in eight patients (36.3%). Among seven (31.8%) patients with moderate regurgitation initially, the regurgitation disappeared in three, and four patients improved to mild regurgitation. Two patients with a severe regurgitation initially improved to moderate regurgitation (9.1%). In five (22.8%) patients, the grade of regurgitation [moderate regurgitation in one (4.6%), and severe regurgitation in 4 (18.2%)] remained unchanged. The albumin level was significantly lower at diagnosis in Group 2 (2.6±0.48g/dL). Lymphocyte subset analysis showed a significant decrease in the CD8 percentage and a significant increase in CD19 percentage at diagnosis in Group 2 compared to Group 1.

CONCLUSION

The blood albumin level and the percentage of CD8 and CD19 (+) lymphocytes at diagnosis may help to predict chronic valvular disease risk in patients with acute rheumatic carditis.

The Incidence of and Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Newly Diagnosed Children with Cancer

This retrospective chart review study aimed to assess vitamin D status and identify risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency and bone parameters in children with cancer at admission. The data of 86 (50 males and 36 females) patients between April 2013 and June 2015 were analyzed. Calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25(OH)D, age, gender, diagnostic category, body mass index, duration of complaints, and season of blood sampling were recorded. Median age was 7.17 years (range 0.31-17.40) in 29 hematological malignancy and 57 solid tumor patients. According to cut-off level of 20 ng/ml, 63% of children with cancer had vitamin D deficiency at diagnosis with a median 25(OH)D of 16.75 ng/ml. The mean vitamin D value of children >10 years was significantly low in comparison to that observed in younger children [11.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) = = 8.85-14.81 ng/ml vs. 19.81, 95% CI = = 17.02-22.60 ng/ml]. Vitamin D measurement between November and May was a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency (P < 0.05). The frequency of hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia was not different between two groups of vitamin D. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether monitoring vitamin D status and supplementation in children with cancer might prevent future complications related to vitamin D deficiency.

Colorectal Cancer due to Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Mimicking Neurofibromatosis I

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is an extremely rare tumor of childhood that can be associated with cancer predisposition syndromes. A patient with CRC related to constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) syndrome with features of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is presented here. A 13-year-old boy was admitted for a 4-month history of diarrhea and rectal bleeding. The patient had extensive café au lait spots, freckling, and Lisch nodules. He fulfilled the NF-1 diagnostic criteria. Colonoscopy showed numerous polyps and a colorectal mass lesion, of which a biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma, an uncommon pathology associated with NF-1. High microsatellite instability and homozygous mutation of PMS2 gene in tumor tissue and blood lymphocytes, respectively, confirmed the diagnosis of CMMRD. Unfortunately, because family history related to CMMRD was negative, the parents denied the diagnosis and refused the therapy, and the patient was lost to follow-up. CMMRD is a rare cancer predisposition syndrome with phenotypical features resembling NF-1. The disease may be suspected in the setting of NF-1 features and CRC, high-grade brain tumors, or hematologic malignancies. Lack of family history related to CMMRD may be a major obstacle to convincing parents of the presence of an inherited disease in their progeny.

Accuracy of imaging-guided biopsy in diagnosis of malignancy versus infection

AIMS

Imaging-guided biopsies obtain samples for pathologic testing in addition to therapeutic interventions in patients with cancer. Our aim was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous biopsies of pediatric solid tumors and infectious complications of cancer treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was performed by gathering pediatric oncology patients between 1998 and 2008. A total of 41 percutaneous biopsies were performed in order to establish a diagnosis for a suspected malignancy or an infectious complication of cancer treatment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

An accurate diagnosis was achieved in 21 of 26 (87.6%) percutaneous biopsies for suspected malignancy cases or recurrence. The remaining 15 percutaneous biopsies were done for the diagnosis of infectious complications of cancer treatment with an accurate diagnosis of 60%. Imaging-guided percutaneous biopsy technique is highly accurate and safe, particularly in diagnosis of a suspected tumor.