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Biomedical subjects

G G Kletter

Publications and source records attributed to G G Kletter.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Thoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis in sickle-cell disease.

The radiographic manifestations of thoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis are unilateral or bilateral, smooth, sharply delineated, often lobulated paraspinal masses without erosion of the vertebral bodies or ribs, sometimes associated with subpleural, paracostal masses. These radiographic findings were encountered in eight adult patients with homozygous sickle-cell disease. In one patient, the masses encompassed essentially the entire thoracic paravertebral area bilaterally. In the other seven patients, the masses were unilateral and limited to the region of the eighth to the 12th thoracic vertebrae. Two of the eight patients had lateral subpleural masses that were not contiguous with the paraspinal masses and that were located medial to the lateral portions of the ribs. Follow-up in seven of the cases ranged from 2 to 15 years and demonstrated, after relatively rapid growth initially, either no change in size or slow growth. Each patient was asymptomatic with regard to the thoracic masses. Histologic verification was not available in any case because of the lack of clinical indication for invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The presence of well-defined unilateral or bilateral paraspinal masses and/or paracostal masses in patients with homozygous sickle-cell disease and without related symptoms should alert one to the possibility of the presence of extramedullary hematopoiesis. These masses tend to be slow-growing and should not be subjected to aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Adolescent↗

Acute splenic sequestration crises in adults with sickle cell disease.

Reports of acute splenic sequestration crises in adults with sickle cell hemoglobin C disease or sickle cell thalassemia are rare, although an enlarged and distensible spleen persists in half of these patients. Seven episodes of acute splenic sequestration crises in four adults, two with sickle C disease and two with sickle thalassemia, are described. The crises were life-threatening and recurrent in all, but there were no fatalities. One patient had mild steady-state thrombocytopenia suggesting hypersplenism. Technetium 99m/sulfur colloid scanning of the spleen during the acute splenic sequestration crises in three patients showed almost total lack of splenic uptake or decreased uptake with intrasplenic filling defects thought to be splenic infarcts or hematomas on follow-up computed tomographic scanning. The scanning abnormalities resolved following recovery from the crises. Acute splenic sequestration crises probably are common in adults with sickle C disease and sickle thalassemia but may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as splenic infarctions. The hematologic and splenic findings during acute splenic sequestration crises resemble those following splenic vein ligation in animals.

Acute Disease↗

Impaired clot retraction in thrombocytopenia due to methyldopa.

We have described a case of thrombocytopenic purpura caused by methyldopa. A methyldopa-dependent antiplatelet antibody as the mechanism of the patient's thrombopenia was suggested by a positive clot retraction inhibition test. This simple in vitro test should be done more often in suspected cases of drug-induced thrombocytopenia.

Clot Retraction↗