Tuba Hilkay Karapınar

A Case with Unexplained Bleeding from Multiple Sites: Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP) is an extreme form of child abuse where children were unnecessarily treated or investigated for medical conditions that were falsified by their caregivers. Here the authors report a 16-year-old female with the complaints of bleeding from multiple and unusual sites, including hemoptysis, hematuria, bloody tears, and bloody nipple discharge, all of which are only witnessed by her mother. Extensive investigation revealed no organic etiologies for bleeding. The diagnosis of MBP was put by a multidisciplinary team. The diagnosis of MBP must be kept in mind in conditions where there is no underlying organic pathology in a bleeding patient.

CANDLE syndrome: a recently described autoinflammatory syndrome.

CANDLE syndrome (chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperature) is a recently described autoinflammatory syndrome characterized by early onset, recurrent fever, skin lesions, and multisystemic inflammatory manifestations. Most of the patients have been shown to have mutation in PSMB8 gene. Herein, we report a 2-year-old patient with young onset recurrent fever, atypical facies, widespread skin lesions, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, joint contractures, hypertrglyceridemia, lipodystrophy, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Clinical features together with the skin biopsy findings were consistent with the CANDLE syndrome. The pathogenesis and treatment of this syndrome have not been fully understood. Increased awareness of this recently described syndrome may lead to recognition of new cases and better understanding of its pathogenesis which in turn may help for development of an effective treatment.

A Rare Complication of Intrathecal Methotrexate in a Child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Methotrexate (MTX) is an essential component of chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Both intravenous and most commonly intrathecal routes of MTX have been implicated in acute, subacute, and chronic neurotoxicity syndromes. Subacute MTX neurotoxicity occurs within days to weeks after the intravenous or intrathecal therapy and characterized by a distinct presentation with remarkable clinical resemblance to stroke, including hemiparesis, hemisensory deficits, aphasia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and diplopia. Herein the authors describe the clinical and typical neuroimaging features of a female patient with ALL who presented with subacute MTX neurotoxicity that rapidly progressed to a severe clinical condition in a few hours but eventually resolved completely with dexamethasone and folinic acid. Subacute MTX neurotoxicity is a transient neurological dysfunction that should be considered in patients presenting with stroke-like and various neurological symptoms 10 to 14 days after intrathecal therapy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging should be undertaken for the correct diagnosis and exclusion of possible ischemic infarct. Discontinuation of subsequent intrathecal MTX therapies should be considered in severe cases and treatment with dexamethasone and folinic acid may help to resolve the symptoms.

Retrospective analysis of rituximab therapy and splenectomy in childhood chronic and refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) results from accelerated platelet destruction mediated by autoantibodies to platelet glycoproteins. Some patients with chronic ITP are refractory to all therapies [steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), anti-D and immunosuppresive drugs] and have chronic low platelet counts and episodic bleeding. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of rituximab treatment and splenectomy in paediatric patients diagnosed with chronic and refractory ITP who were unresponsive to steroids, IVIG, cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil. Records of patients with chronic and refractory ITP in 459 patients with primary ITP who were followed up in our hospital from January 2005 to December 2014 were reviewed. Fifteen of patients received rituximab and/or applied splenectomy. Fifteen chronic ITP patients (10 boys, five girls) with a mean age of 10 years were enrolled in the study. Two of these patients were suffering from Evans syndrome. The median time since diagnosis of ITP was 10 years. The median follow-up duration after starting Rituximab and splenectomy were 13 and 9.5 months, respectively. None of the seven patients who were treated with rituximab achieved a response. A splenectomy was performed in six of the seven patients who had been treated with rituximab. Complete and partial responses were achieved in 67 and 33% of the patients, respectively. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and responses of chronic ITP patients who did not receive rituximab therapy and underwent a splenectomy. The success rate was 100% in the eight patients with chronic and refractory ITP. Rituximab therapy might not be beneficial for some children with severe chronic ITP who are refractory to standard agents. A splenectomy might be useful and preferable to rituximab.

Multicentric plasma cell type of castleman disease in a child: difficulty in diagnosis and treatment.

Multicentric plasma cell variant of Castleman disease (CD) has rarely been reported and the optimal therapeutic approach is unknown, especially in childhood. In this case report, we discuss the case of a 7-year-old boy with multicentric plasma cell variant of CD, who presented with cervical lymphadenopathies, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, bone marrow insufficiency, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, and gastrointestinal involvement, emphasizing the difficulty in diagnosis and treatment approach.

Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections in Pediatric Malignancy Patients: A Seven-Year Analysis

Primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is a benign self-limited disease. In this study, we review our experience in focusing on the outcome and treatment of VZV infection in pediatric malignancy patients. During the study period, a total of 41 patients with pediatric malignancy had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of VZV infection. All the patients were treated with intravenous acyclovir for a median of 7 days (ranging from 5 to 21 days). The calculated attributable delay of chemotherapy due to VZV infections was 8 days (ranging from 2 to 60 days). VZV-related complications were observed in 3 of 41 patients (7%) who suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome, and one of them with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis died due to respiratory failure despite acyclovir and broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment plus supportive treatment. VZV infections are still important contagious diseases in pediatric cancer patients, because they cause not only significant mortality but also a delay in chemotherapy.

Thrombotic Microangiopathy with Complement Factor H Gene Mutations Unassociated with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

To the Editor, Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare multigenic disorder characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Among the genes that are associated with aHUS, mutations in the complement factor H (CFH) gene are the most common genetic cause of the disease. Several specific gene mutations have been identified in patients with aHUS [1,2,3]. A 5-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with fatigue. Physical examination revealed pallor and hepatomegaly. His blood pressure was within the normal range. A blood smear showed hemolysis with 10% schistocytes and polychromasia. He had anemia with 5.5 g/ dL hemoglobin level and 14.6% reticulocyte level. He had also thrombocytopenia (48,000/mm3) and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as 1066 U/L. A direct Coombs test was negative. The other blood parameters of the patient were as follows: haptoglobin 5 mg/dL (reference range: 41-165 mg/dL), C3 122 mg/dL (reference range: 79-152 mg/dL), creatinine level 0.5 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen 12 mg/dL, and indirect bilirubin 7 mg/dL. Urine analysis was normal. On the second day of admission, the patient’s thrombocyte count dropped to 38,000/mm3, his LDH level remained elevated, and schistocytes were still present on his peripheral blood smear. As for the blood smear and other TMA symptoms, first plasmapheresis was started, which lasted 20 weeks. Then treatment was continued with 600 mg of eculizumab weekly for the first three weeks and followed by once every 2 weeks (total 11 doses). Although the patient had TMA symptoms he didn’t have renal insufficiency. Also ADAMTS-13 activity was 48% (reference range: 40%-130%) and ADAMTS-13 antibody was negative. Four months after stopping eculizumab, the patient’s levels of hemoglobin, thrombocytes, reticulocytes, haptoglobin and LDH were 11 g/dL, 150,000/mm3, 0.87%, 46.4 mg/dL (reference range: 41-165 mg/dL) and 385 U/L, respectively. Informed consent was obtained for genetic testing and publishing the patient’s data from his parents. DNA sequencing analysis of the patient revealed a homozygous p.His402Tyr mutation due to a p.1204 C>T change in exon 9, a homozygous p.Ala307Ala mutation due to a p921A>C change in exon 7 and a heterozygous p.Ala473Ala mutation due to a p.1419G>A change in exon 10 of the CFH gene (Figure 1).

Corneal Epithelial Microcysts due to High-Dose Cytarabine Administration in a Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient.

Over the past 2 decades the advent of new therapeutic strategies has led to remarkable progress in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (Aml) [1]; however, some serious side effects of treatment may be clinically apparent [2]. An 8-year-old boy was diagnosed as Aml and started on Aml-BFm 2004 therapy in August 2009. There were no important side effects observed until the initiation of hAm block treatment (1 g m–2 of cytarabine every 12 h on d 1-3 and 10 mg·m–2·d–1 of mitoxantrone on d 3). We have written informed consent.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Single Center Experience

Objective: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder which develops as a result of cytokine storm syndrome due to uncontrolled hemophagocytosis. Fever, splenomegaly, hyperferritinemia and cytopenias are well-known clinical manifestations of the disease. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is classified as familial (primary/genetic) and secondary (acquired) where an underlying disease is present. Among acquired causes infections, malignancies, autoimmune disorders and some metabolic disorders may be enumerated. The basis of treatment for HLH is immunosuppression and apoptotic chemotherapy. The curative treatment alternative for familial or non-familial persistent HLH is stem cell transplantation. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 46 HLH cases diagnosed and treated in our clinic in terms of diagnostic criteria and treatment plans. Results: We identified the most frequently recorded diagnostic criteria as fever, hemophagocytosis and hyperferritinemia. We found that 46% of the cases needed treatment consisting of dexamethasone, cyclosporine (CsA) and etoposide according to HLH-2004 treatment guideline. Conclusion: As a result, we think that search for HLH in children who presented with hectic-persistent fever is important for the early diagnosis and treatment of HLH.

Assessment of sleep in pediatric cancer patients

İnce D, Demirağ B, Karapınar TH, Oymak Y, Ay Y, Kaygusuz A, Töret E, Vergin C. Assessment of sleep in pediatric cancer patients. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 379-386. The purpose of the study is to describe sleep habits, assess the prevalence of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients and healthy controls, and to compare sleep patterns, sleep problems. One hundred-thirty-five patients and 190 healthy controls were evaluated. Healthy children matched for age, sex, economic status, parental education and family structure constituted the control group. Sleep was evaluated by using the Children`s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Sleep problems were detected in half of patients. There were no significant differences in total sleep score and subscale scores between patients and controls. Solely the wake-time was found significantly different between patients and controls. Although our results indicated that neither childhood cancer survivors nor patients with cancer during treatment period had more sleep problems than their healthy peers, sleep problems were not uncommon in whole study group. This study underlines the need to screen, assess and manage sleep problems in children with diagnosis of cancer.