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Biomedical subjects

D Prados

Publications and source records attributed to D Prados.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Acute myeloid leukemia in those over 70 years of age. Experience using low-dose ara-C treatment].

PURPOSE: The treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) remains controversial. We present the results of the treatment of a group of patients aged above 70 years with AML diagnosed in our Hospital since 1990. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have studied retrospectively the cases of AML in patients older than 70 years diagnosed in our Service since January 1990 to June 1996. Induction treatment was performed, in all cases but one, with two cycles of Ara-C 10 mg/m2/12 h s.c. for 21 days and after haematological recuperation, if complete remission had been achieved, monthly maintenance treatment with Ara-C (25 mg/m2/12 h oral x 5 days), prednisone (40 mg/m2/day x 5 days) y vincristine (1 mg/m2 i.v. x 1 day) was begun. RESULTS: During the period of study 48 patients with AML have been diagnosed in our Service, among them 22 (45.8%) were older than 70 years. One of them could not be considered for the study as not all data from him could be compiled. Among the other 21 patients 5 presented previous haematological processes (4 myelodysplastic syndrome and 1 Waldenström's macroglobulinemia). Initial diagnosis according to FAB classification for AML was as follows: 7 M1, 6 M2, 4 M4, 2 M5 and 2 M6. From these 21 patients 2 received no treatment due to rapid progression and death, among the other 19, one was directly treated with a modification of the maintenance treatment with vincristine and prednisone without response (survival 2 months). The other 18 patients were treated with low-dose Ara-C (described above), among them 3 (16.7%) were not evaluable as they did not finish the first cycle of induction treatment; 8 (44.4%) showed no response; 2 (11.1%) achieved partial remission and 5 (27.8%) complete remission. One patient did not show any response after two cycles of low-dose Ara-C but she obtained complete remission when treated with Ara-C and idaurubicin. Overall mean survival was 5.7 months (median 2; 95% confidence interval 1.6-9.8 months). In the group of patients treated with low-dose Ara-C mean survival was 6.6 months (median 3.5; 95% confidence interval 1.9-11.2 months). CONCLUSION: We consider that the treatment with low-dose Ara-C is a valid option in the treatment of elderly patients (aged 70 or above) with AML because 28% complete remissions can be achieved, specially in those ones in which other more aggressive treatments are not possible.

Acute Disease

rHuEpo for the treatment of anemia in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. Experience in 6 patients and meta-analytical approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Experience with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in the treatment of the anemia secondary to myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) is slight up to now. We present our results of the treatment of 6 patients and a review of the literature in search of possible parameters predicting response to this treatment. DESIGN AND METHODS: From January 1994 to June 1996 all transfusion-dependent patients with MMM diagnosed in our hospital were included in this study. We established a minimum period of 4 weeks of treatment and a maximum of 12 if no response was observed. Initial dosages used were 100 U/kg s.c. 3 times weekly, increasing by 50 U/kg every 4 weeks where no response was observed. Response was defined as a reduction > or = 30% of the previous transfusional needs. The review of the literature was made using a MEDLINE search (January 1990-December 1996) on the keywords erythropoietin, myelofibrosis, and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia. A statistical study was made in search of possible parameters to predict response. The parameters studied include age, sex, hemoglobin, serum erythropoietin (sEPO) levels, transfusional dependency, transfusional requirements per month prior to treatment, maximum dosages used and dosage at which response was obtained. RESULTS: Only 2 of our 6 patients responded, both at a dosage of 600 U/kg/week (200 U/kg 3 times weekly s.c.). In addition to our 6 patients we have found only 28 other patients in the literature. For statistical calculation 2 of our patients were not considered as they did not complete the period of study. The overall rate of response was 17/32 (53.1%). In the univariate analysis comparing responders and non-responders we found a tendency to significance with respect to sex (p = 0.07), sEPO (p = 0.07) and transfusional needs in units of packed red blood cells per month (PRBC/m) (p = 0.13). In this way patients with low sEPO, females and those with low transfusional needs (< 3 PRBC/m) respond better. This better response in females could be explained by the fact that their disease situation was more stable (with both lower sEPO levels and transfusional dependency). The best cut-off point in the sEPO to predict response was 123 mU/mL. No important side-effects have been observed except three cases of aggravation of splenomegaly. In two cases this condition improved when the rHuEPO was discontinued. The association of rHuEPO with hydroxyurea or interferon does not seem to affect the response. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Though the number of patients is low, our data suggest that some MMM patients, in particular females and individuals with low sEPO levels and with low transfusional needs, might benefit from rHuEPO in terms of elevation of hemoglobin levels. Unfortunately, transfusion dependent-patients, i.e. those in whom a beneficial effect of rHuEPO would be most welcome, are unlikely to respond, and more generally, treatment is not cost effective in medically responsive patients.

Aged

[T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma. Presentation of 3 cases].

T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma (TBL) is a rare entity not included in the classical classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), presenting usually at diagnosis in advanced stages and with extranodal involvement. Its differential diagnosis, based on immunophenotyping technics, include other entities with different treatment and prognosis, mainly lymphocytic-predominance Hodgkin disease and peripheral T-cell lymphoma; this differential diagnosis has importance in patient's survival. We present 3 patients, two males (one of them with HIV infection) and one female, aged 38, 60 and 64 respectively, diagnosed as having TBL. The two former patients presented advanced stages at diagnosis. None of them was initially diagnosed as having TBL, the diagnosis were immunoblastic NHL in the first patient, peripheral T-cell lymphoma in the second and mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease in the third one. The first patient was not treated due to rapid worsening and early death of septic shock; the other two cases were treated with COP-BLAM/IMVP-16 protocol achieving partial and complete remission respectively after 6 cycles of treatment. Comments about clinical, pathological and differential diagnostic aspects are made.

Adult

A necrotic soft-tissue lesion due to Corynebacterium urealyticum in a neutropenic child.

Corynebacterium urealyticum has been associated mainly with infections of the urinary tract. Other infections due to this organism are highly unusual. We report what we believe is the first case of necrotic infection of soft tissue due to C. urealyticum in a neutropenic child who was previously treated with chemotherapy. The infection was cured when the patient was treated with vancomycin and surgical debridement. The increase in the number of neutrophils may also have contributed to the patient's recovery.

Child

[Usefulness of bone marrow examination in patients with advanced HIV infection].

A bone marrow investigation is a common examination in HIV infected patients for the study of cytopenia, febrile syndromes of unknown origin and extension of neoplastic disorders. A study was made of bone marrow specimens from 35 patients with advanced HIV infection (stage IC or C, CDC, Atlanta) for morphologic and culture investigations (aerobes, anaerobes, fungi, and mycobacteria). In nine patients cytopenia accounted for the investigation of bone marrow specimens (9 aspirates and 3 biopsies); in only two cases did the investigation orientate towards a possible etiology: in the first patient a parvovirus B19 infection and in the second patient a hemophagocytic syndrome. In twenty-five patients the bone marrow specimen was studied because of fever of unknown origin (23 aspirates and 10 biopsies) and only in one case was the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis obtained. The other patient was studied for lymphoma staging and aspirate and biopsy examinations were normal. A high percentage of patients had eosinophilia, plasmacytosis, increased iron reserves, fibrosis, and changes consistent with myelodysplasia. In conclusion, in our experience the investigation of bone marrow specimen was of little help to clarify the possible etiology of cytopenia and febrile syndromes of unknown origin in patients with advanced HIV infection.

Adult

[Comparative study of the stability of oral anticoagulant treatments (warfarin vs acenocoumarol)].

PURPOSE: To compare the stability of the effect of two oral anticoagulants, one of them (acenocoumarol) with a short half life and the other one with a long half life (warfarin) in patients in the stable phase of treatment (at least 2 months with treatment before entering the study). PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a year period (January-December 1993) a comparative study of two groups of 53 patients each was performed: group 1 patients were treated with warfarin and group 2 with acenocoumarol. Both groups were paired with respect to age, sex, diagnosis for anticoagulant therapy and desired therapeutic range (INR 3-4.5). The mean value of controls per patient, the dosage changes, the evolutive controls and the incidence of haemorrhagic and thromboembolic episodes were studied. RESULTS: The controls performed in group 1 were 728 in total with a mean value of 13.74 per patient and 800 in group 2 with a mean value of 15.09 per patient. A change in the dosage was performed in 214 controls in patients of group 1 and in 269 of group 2. Seventeen patients had 38 haemorrhagic episodes (2 major and 36 minor) in group 1, and 6 of group 2 had 20 episodes (2 major and 18 minor). Significant differences were observed in the mean value of controls (p = 0.04), the evolutive controls (p < 0.001), the global incidence of haemorrhages (p = 0.008) and incidence of minor ones (p = 0.006). No significant differences in dosage were observed. In both groups no thromboembolic episodes during the period of study were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Anticoagulant treatment with warfarin is more stable than with acenocoumarol. The total controls and the mean value of controls per patient are decreased. Nevertheless with warfarin we have observed a greater incidence of haemorrhagic episodes.

Adult

[Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease associated with acute infection by herpesvirus 6].

The histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a very rare entity in Spain. We present a 34-year-old arabic male admitted to hospital because one-month story of asthenia, anorexia, weight loss, fever and lymphadenopathies in all palpable sites. Analytic studies were all within normal limits except LDH levels and globular sedimentation rate, both raised. After cervical lymph node biopsy performance high grade Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was initially diagnosed. During admission he complained from pain in both shoulders and an erythematous desquamative eruption in trunk appeared. Some days later, a second lymph node biopsy was performed and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease was diagnosed. Serologic tests for human herpes virus 6 were positive demonstrating active associated infection. He begun treatment with indomethicin, fever and general symptoms disappeared one week later discontinuing treatment. Two months after discharge, all lymphadenopathies had disappeared. A review on epidemiological, clinical, pathological and differential diagnosis issues is made.

Adult

[Primary testicular lymphoma. Report of two cases].

Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is the most frequently diagnosed testicular tumor in men over 60 years, in spite of this circumstance it is a rare process. Two cases of PTL are reported, the first one in a child and the second in an adult. Both cases were intermediate grade lymphoma and had low stage (IEA), presenting initially as an enlargement of the testicle as the only symptom, the second case presented involvement by contiguity of the abdominal muscles. Immunohistological markers showed T nature in the first case, and B in the second. The treatment applied in both cases was orchiectomy and systemic chemotherapy using COP-BLAM/IMVP-16, in the child prophylaxis of the central nervous system using methotrexate was made. Response to treatment was good, the first patient achieved complete remission and his survival at present is 24 months, the second patient died 5 month after diagnosis due to stroke without having completed chemotherapy but with an important reduction of the tumoral mass. A review of the literature on clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic issues is made.

Aged