Brucella bacteremia in a recipient of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients living in areas that are endemic for the infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20 years old Saudi male was diagnosed to have severe aplastic anemia at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh in April 2006. One hundred and twelve days following his successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, he presented with pyrexia in addition to neutropenia and mild thrombocytopenia. Brucella serology was strongly positive and blood cultures grew Brucella melitensis. The bacteremic episode of brucellosis was successfully treated with streptomycin, doxycyclin and ciprofloxacin at the outpatient clinic. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a naturally occurring Brucella infection complicated by Brucella bacteremia in a recipient of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis may cause systemic infections, complicated bacteremias and serious morbidity in immunocompromised patients living in countries that are endemic for the infection. It should be considered as a possible cause of fever and pancytopenia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients living in these geographical locations. Nevertheless, the infection is curable provided the diagnosis is made early and an appropriate antimicrobial therapy is promptly initiated.

Methotrexate-induced acute leukemia: report of three cases and review of the literature.

For many years, methotrexate has been used in the treatment of certain chronic medical disorders e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis as well as a number of malignant disorders e.g. acute lymphoblastic leukemia, certain types of lymphoma and breast carcinoma. Its use has been associated with various systemic toxicities and complications. The association between methotrexate therapy and the development of lymphoma and pseudolymphoma is well established. In patients treated with methotrexate, the development of leukemia has been attributed to either the primary disorder e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or to other drugs used concomitantly e.g. cyclophosphamide. Reported here are two patients with rheumatoid arthritis and one patient with psoriasis treated with low dose methotrexate for variable periods of time. Two of these patients developed acute myeloid leukemia on myelodysplastic syndrome background, while the third patient developed pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia that expressed few myeloid markers and had a positive philadelphia chromosome. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of methotrexate-induced acute leukemia.

Klebsiella oxytoca bacteremia causing septic shock in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella oxytoca can cause various infectious complications in healthy as well as in immunocompromised individuals. CASE PRESENTATIONS: Case 1: A 49 year old female with multiple myeloma received an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in October 2005. Eight days following her autograft she developed septic shock caused by Klebsiella oxytoca bacteremia which was successfully treated with intravenous meropenem and gentamicin. Case 2: A 29 year old female with sickle cell anemia and severe aplastic anemia underwent an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant in July 2005. Seven months following her unsuccessful allograft, she developed septic shock due to Klebsiella oxytoca bacteremia caused by a urinary tract infection. The septic episode was successfully managed with intravenous meropenem and gentamicin. Both patients were treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To our knowledge, they are the first reports of Klebsiella oxytoca bacteremias and septic shocks in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. CONCLUSION: Klebsiella oxytoca should be considered as a possible cause of severe infections in recipients of various forms of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, these infections may be complicated by bacteremias, septic shocks, systemic dysfunctions and even deaths if not managed promptly and appropriately.

Successful outcome of Langerhans cell histiocytosis complicated by therapy-related myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Various therapeutic options are available for the management of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. However, treatment administered to control this disease may be complicated by acute leukemia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34 years old male was diagnosed to have Langerhans cell histiocytosis in March 1999. Unfortunately, the cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy given to control the repeated relapses and exacerbations of the primary disease predisposed him to therapy-induced myelodysplastic syndrome which transformed into acute myeloid leukemia. After achieving complete remission of his leukemia, the patient received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The allograft was complicated by chronic graft versus host disease that was controlled by various immunosuppressive agents and extracorporal photophoresis. CONCLUSION: Management of complicated cases of histiocytosis requires various therapeutic modalities and a multidisciplinary approach. Having complications of therapy eg myelodysplasia or acute leukemia make the outcome more dismal and the management options limited to aggressive forms of treatment. High dose chemotherapy followed by an allograft may be a curative option not only for therapy-related myelodysplasia/acute leukemia, but also for frequently relapsing and poorly controlled Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Successful management of invasive pulmonary nocardiosis and aspergillosis in a patient with T-cell lymphoma: a case report.

In patients with malignant hematological disorders receiving immunosuppressive therapy, invasive pulmonary infections are serious complications that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. In immunocompromised hosts with impaired cellular immunity, two or more organisms may coexist leading to a wide range of clinical and radiological manifestations. Reported here is an old man who was diagnosed to have angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh in December 2004. The lymphoma was treated with various immunosuppressive agents including alemtuzumab. In October 2006, the patient was admitted with severe bronchopneumonia caused by Nocardia asteroides and Aspergillus niger that was complicated by septic shock. The invasive pulmonary infections were successfully treated with trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, amikacin and liposomal amphotericin-B (amBisome).

Successful management of multifactorial colitis in a recipient of hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a case report.

Recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant can develop life-threatening complications at any time following their transplants. These complications require repeated clinical assessment, appropriate and thorough screening as well as a comprehensive management approach. We report a young adult male who received a sibling allograft in the second complete remission of his acute lymphoblastic leukemia at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. The patient developed severe colitis which was caused by: acute exacerbation of chronic graft versus host disease of the lower gastrointestinal tract, cytomegalovirus disease of the colon and a superadded Salmonella infection caused by food poisoning. The multifactorial colitis was properly investigated and successfully managed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of multifactorial colitis in a recipient of hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Hepatotoxicity induced by horse ATG and reversed by rabbit ATG: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The use of antilymphocyte agents has improved patient and graft survival in hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation but has been associated with the development of short-term toxicities as well as long-term complications. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a young female with Fanconi anemia who received antithymocyte globulin as part of the conditioning regimen prior to her planned allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. She developed sudden and severe hepatotoxicity after receiving the first dose of horse antithymocyte globulin, manifested by marked elevation of serum transaminases and mild elevation of serum bilirubin level. Immediately after withdrawal of the offending agent and shifting to the rabbit form of antithymocyte globulin, the gross liver dysfunction started to subside and the hepatic profile results returned to the pre-transplant levels few weeks later. The patient had her allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant as planned without any further hepatic complications. After having a successful allograft, she was discharged from the stem cell transplant unit. During her follow up at the outpatient clinic, the patient remained very well and no major complication was encountered. CONCLUSION: Hepatotoxicity related to the utilization of antithymocyte globulin varies considerably in severity and may be transient or long standing. There may be individual or population based susceptibilities to the development of side effects and these adverse reactions may also vary with the choice of the agent used. Encountering adverse effects with one type of antithymocyte agents should not discourage clinicians from shifting to another type in situations where continuation of the drug is vital.

Thyrotoxic crisis induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Thyroid storm is a rare and life-threatening medical emergency. We report a young lady with Graves' disease and acute myeloid leukaemia who developed thyrotoxic crisis following an induction course of chemotherapy given for the treatment of acute leukaemia. After successful management of her leukaemia and thyroid disease, she received an autologous bone marrow transplantation.