Anneliese L. Sitarz

A syndrome of thrombosis and hemorrhage complicating l-asparaginase therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia**

L-Asparaginase therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia causes deficiencies of plasma hemostatic proteins, especially antithrombin, plasminogen, and fibrinogen. Severe thromboses and hemorrhages occurred in 18 children receiving vincristine, prednisone, and asparaginase therapy for ALL. Thirteen children had intracranial thrombosis or hemorrhage, four had extremity thrombosis, and one had both an intracranial hemorrhage and an extremity thrombosis. These events occur characteristically in the third and fourth weeks of therapy during or just after a three-week course of L-asparaginase. Symptoms of headache, obtundation, hemiparesis, and seizure were common for the intracranial events: local pain, swelling, and discoloration were common for the extremity thromboses. These complications have been recognized in 1 to 2% of children undergoing induction therapy which includes asparaginase.

The CCSG prospective study of venous access devices: An analysis of insertions and causes for removal

This is an interval analysis of the 2-year prospective multicenter Childrens Cancer Study Group study of 1,141 chronic venous access devices in 1,019 children with cancer. Device type was external catheter (EC) 72%, totally implantable (TID) 28%, and did not differ for diagnosis or age except more double-lumen devices in bone marrow transplant protocols (77%) and more TIDs in children less than 1 year old (17.7%). Insertion characteristics evaluated in 1,078 (95%) were: operating room placement 99%; general anesthesia 98%; cutdown 67%; percutaneous 33%; atrial position 50%, caval position 50%; and perioperative antibiotics 48%. Vein entry was the external jugular 33%, internal jugular 22%, subclavian 35%, cephalic 7%, and saphenous 3%. Insertion was difficult or very difficult in only 10% and operative complications occurred in only 0.7%. Degree of difficulty bore no relationship to device type or patient age. The reasons for removal in 736 devices (67%) were due to complications in 39%, of which infections were the most frequent. There was some variance between centers ranging from 8.5% to 31% for infection; 2.8% to 24% for dislodgment; and 0% to 13% for occlusion. ECs had a higher risk of dislodgment; elective removals were more frequent in TIDs; there was no difference in infection as a cause for removal between ECs and TIDs. Dislodgment was associated with the shortest distance of the cuff to the skin exit (mean, 4 cm): less than or equal to 2 cm, 49%; greater than 2 cm, 28% (P = .009) and occurred most frequently in the younger patient (18.9%, 0 to 1 years; 0.5%, greater than 8 years.

The spectrum of apoptotic defects and clinical manifestations, including systemic lupus erythematosus, in humans with CD95 (Fas/APO‐1) mutations

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical spectrum of disease in humans with mutations in the CD95 (Fas/ APO-1) receptor and to obtain mechanistic insight into the different clinical phenotypes observed. METHODS Clinical information for each of the index cases, first-degree relatives, and any family members reported to have Canale-Smith syndrome (or another autoimmune disease) was gathered by direct interview, chart review, and verification of data by the physician or pathologist concerned. Apoptosis of activated T or B lymphocytes was induced by agonistic anti-CD95 antibodies and quantified by a cell death assay (propidium iodide staining in the subdiploid peak) or cell viability assay (alamar blue or 3H-thymidine incorporation). RESULTS Evaluation of an additional 8 probands with novel heterozygous CD95 mutations revealed hypergammaglobulinemia and immune-mediated cytopenias in all patients, as well as urticarial rash, oral ulceration, lymphopenia, and peripheral neuropathy in some individuals. One patient (P4) had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by a World Health Organization class V lupus nephropathy, a recurrent, reversible multifocal central nervous system disorder, high-titer antiphospholipid autoantibodies, and autoimmune cytopenias. In the P4 pedigree, the father had reduced T and B cell apoptosis associated with a CD95 mutation, whereas an independent B cell apoptotic defect was demonstrated in maternal family members who did not have a CD95 mutation. Three cases of B cell lymphoma occurred in carriers of the CD95 mutation. CONCLUSIONS CD95 mutations are associated with loss of regulation of B lymphocytes, which predisposes to systemic autoimmunity including SLE. The P4 family provides a model of the complex genetic and functional interactions that are required for the development of a lupus-like syndrome.

Management of isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia

Two infants, who presented at birth with isoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, are the basis for this report. The problems confronting the physician in treating an affected infant, as well as in the management of subsequent pregnancies after an infant with isoimmunization has been delivered, are discussed. In view of the small but serious risk of intracranial hemorrhage during the birth process in these infants, delivery by cesarean section is advocated for all pregnancies known to be at risk i.e., after a previous infant has been shown to be affected.

Complete maturation of neuroblastoma with bone metastases in documented stages

Abstract Spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma, one of the most common tumors of childhood, is rare, occurring in 1–2% of cases. However, this lesion does have the highest rate of spontaneous regression of any human cancer. 1 This regression can occur as complete disappearance of the tumor or as maturation to a benign tumor. Partial or complete maturation has been reported, 2,3 most often in young infants, who had nonadrenal primary tumors and no osseous metastases. Everson and Cole reported that five of their 29 cases of spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma showed maturation to ganglioneuroma. 1 Among 170 patients with neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma seen at the Babies Hospital, we know of five patients whose tumor has matured to ganglioneuroma. One of these patients is reported here. She is unusual insofar as she showed documented maturation from neuroblastoma via ganglioneuroblastoma to benign ganglioneuroma in spite of initial exacerbation of the neoplastic disease and widespread bony metastases.

Acquired coarctation of the aorta.

SummaryCoarctation of the aorta is usually caused by a congenital narrowing of the aorta. This report describes two children who developed hypertension secondary to an acquired coarctation of the aorta. In one patient the coarctation was temporally related to umbilical artery catheterization and was associated with thrombosis and aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta. In the second patient, the coarctation occurred after surgical aortotomy during the removal of an intrathoracic neuroblastoma. Patients who have interventional damage to the aorta should be periodically examined for the appearance of a coarctation. Although an acquired coarctation of the aorta is an infrequent complication of invasive or surgical procedures, it should be identified since it represents a remediable cause of hypertension in children.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia masquerading as acute osteomyelitis. A report of two cases.

Two children each developed a focal destructive bone lesion accompanied by intermittent fever, swelling, tenderness and elevated ESR. Blood counts were normal; bone marrow aspiration showed acute leukemia. The bone lesions healed in both patients after anti-leukemic therapy. We suggest that the similar roentgenographic appearance of osteomyelitis, bone infarction and focal destructive lesions in leukemia probably reflects a common, basically ischemic process of bone.