Caesarean sections, prenatal and postnatal conditions and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: A case-control study in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Brazil has high rates of caesarean sections, which has been suggested as a risk factor for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). In addition, some pre- and postnatal conditions have been identified as relevant in the etiology of ALL. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the association of caesarean sections, pre- and postnatal conditions with childhood ALL in the State of São Paulo. METHODS: Population-based case-control study including children that are below10 years old. Information on study variables was obtained through face to face interviews, through a questionnaire, and the State of São Paulo Declarations of Live Births database. The conditional and unconditional logistic regression approaches were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of the associations between caesarean sections, pre- and postnatal conditions with ALL, and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). RESULTS: We observed a weak and non-statistically significant risk for ALL among children exposed to caesarean sections (unconditional logistic regression OR 1.08; 95 % CI 0.70-1.66; conditional logistic regression OR 1.21; 95 % CI 0.72-2.02), but among children under 3 years old and born through a caesarean sections, the risk of ALL was greater (unconditional logistic regression OR 1.70; 95 % CI 0.69-4.21). A negative association for ALL was observed among children with mothers who reported 12 years of schooling or more (unconditional logistic regression OR 0.34; 95 % CI 0.16-0.69). CONCLUSIONS: We found a tenuous suggestive association between caesarean sections and childhood ALL. The mother's high level of education showed an inverse association with ALL.

Shorter Maintenance Therapy in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: The Experience of the Prospective, Randomized Brazilian GBTLI ALL-93 Protocol.

AIM: Maintenance therapy is an important phase of the childhood ALL treatment, requiring 2-year long therapy adherence of the patients and families. Weekly methotrexate with daily 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) constitutes the backbone of maintenance therapy. Reduction in the maintenance therapy could overweight problems related with poverty of children with ALL living in limited-income countries (LIC). OBJECTIVE: To compare, prospectively, the EFS rates of children with ALL treated according to two maintenance regimens: 18 vs. 24 months duration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 1993 to September 1999, 867 consecutive untreated ALL patients <18 years of age were treated according to the Brazilian Cooperative Group for Childhood ALL Treatment (GBTLI) ALL-93 protocol. Risk classification was based exclusively on patient's age and leukocyte count (NCI risk group) and clinical extra medullary involvement of the disease. Data were analyzed by the intention-to-treat approach. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (1.6%) were excluded: wrong diagnosis (n = 7) and previous corticosteroid (n = 7). Of the 853 eligible patients, 421 were randomly allocated, at study enrollment, to receive 18-month (group 1) and 432 to receive 24-month (group 2) maintenance therapy. Complete remission rate was achieved in 96% of the patients (817/853). Twenty-eight patients (3.4%) died during the induction phase. Thirty-four patients (4.0%) were lost to follow-up. The overall EFS was 66.1 ± 1.7% at 15 years. No difference was seen according to maintenance: EFS15y was 65.8 ± 2.3% (group 1) and 66.3 ± 2.3% (group 2; p = 0.79). No difference between regimens was detected after stratifying the analyses according to factors associated with adverse prognosis in this study (age group <1 year or >10 years and high WBC at diagnosis). Overall death in remission rate was 6.85% (56 patients). Deaths during maintenance were 13 in group 1 and 12 in group 2, all due to infection. Over 15 years of follow-up, two patients both from group 2 presented a second malignancy (Hodgkin's disease and thyroid carcinoma) after 8.3 and 11 years off therapy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Six-month reduction of maintenance therapy in ALL children treated according to the GBTLI ALL-93 protocol provided the same overall outcome as 2-year duration regimen.

Lowered Cisplatin Dose and No Bleomycin in the Treatment of Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors: Results of the GCT-99 Protocol From the Brazilian Germ Cell Pediatric Oncology Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE: We describe the results of a risk-adapted, response-based therapeutic approach from the Brazilian GCT-99 study on germ cell tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 1999 to October 2009, 579 participants were enrolled in the Brazilian GCT-99 study. Treatment, defined as specific chemotherapy regimen and number of cycles, was allocated by means of risk-group assignment at diagnosis with consideration for stage and primary tumor site. Patients at low risk received no chemotherapy. Patients at intermediate risk (IR) with a good response (GR) received four cycles of platinum and etoposide (PE), for total doses of platinum 420 mg/m(2) and etoposide 2,040 mg/m(2). Patients at IR with a partial response (PR) received three cycles of PE plus three cycles of ifosfamide, vinblastine, and bleomycin. Patients at high risk (HR) with a GR received four cycles of PE and ifosfamide (PEI) at total doses of platinum 420 mg/m(2), etoposide 1,200 mg/m(2), and ifosfamide 30 g/m(2). Patients at HR with a PR received six cycles of PEI. RESULTS: The risk-group distribution was 213 LR, 138 IR, and 129 HR for 480 evaluable patients. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates at 10 years were, respectively, 90% and 88.6% in the IR-GR group (n = 126) and 74.1% and 74.1% in the IR-PR group (n = 12). Ten-year rates for the HR-GR group (n = 86) were an OS of 66.8% and an EFS of 62.5%. The HR-PR group (n = 43) had an OS of 74.8% and an EFS of 73.4%. In univariable and multivariable analysis, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase level and histology for a metastatic immature teratoma were prognostic of a worsened outcome. CONCLUSION: Reduction of therapy to two drugs did not compromise survival outcomes for patients in the IR-GR group, and escalation of therapy with PEI did not significantly improve OS and EFS in patients at HR.

Two-year analysis of efficacy and safety of deferasirox treatment for transfusional iron overload in sickle cell anemia patients.

The efficacy and safety of a 2-year treatment with deferasirox was evaluated in 31 patients with sickle cell anemia and transfusional iron overload. At 24 months, there were significant decreases from baseline in mean serum ferritin (from 2,344.6 to 1,986.3 µg/l; p = 0.040) and in mean liver iron concentration (from 13.0 ± 5.4 to 9.3 ± 5.7 mg Fe/g dry weight; p < 0.001). Myocardial T2* values were normal (>20 ms) in all patients at baseline and did not change significantly over the course of the study. However, there was a significant improvement from baseline in left ventricular ejection fraction at 24 months (62.2-64.6%; p = 0.02). Deferasirox was generally well tolerated with no progressive increases in serum creatinine or renal failure observed. These data confirm that deferasirox is effective in reducing body iron burden in patients with sickle cell anemia and transfusional iron overload.

Exposure to magnetic fields and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have identified increased risks of leukemia in children living near power lines and exposed to relatively high levels of magnetic fields. Results have been remarkably consistent, but there is still no explanation for this increase. In this study we evaluated the effect of 60 Hz magnetic fields on acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This case-control study included ALL cases (n=162) recruited from eight hospitals between January 2003 and February 2009. Controls (n=565) matched on gender, age, and city of birth were selected from the São Paulo Birth Registry. Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) was based on measurements inside home and distance to power lines. RESULTS: For 24h measurements in children rooms, levels of ELF MF equal to or greater than 0.3microtesla (µT), compared to children exposed to levels below 0.1 µT showed no increased risk of ALL (odds ratio [OR] 1.09; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.33-3.61). When only nighttime measurements were considered, a risk (OR 1.52; 95% CI 0.46-5.01) was observed. Children living within 200 m of power lines presented an increased risk of ALL (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.49-5.75), compared to children living at 600 m or more of power lines. For those living within 50 m of power lines the OR was 3.57 (95% CI 0.41-31.44). CONCLUSIONS: Even though our results are consistent with the small risks reported in other studies on ELF MF and leukemia in children, overall our results do not provide support for an association between magnetic fields and childhood leukemia, but small numbers and likely biases weaken the strength of this conclusion.

Comportamento dos antitérmicos ibuprofeno e dipirona em crianças febris / Antipyretic effect of ibuprofen and dipyrone in febrile children

OBJETIVO: Analisar o comportamento da temperatura em crianças febris medicadas com dose oral única do ibuprofeno (10 mg/kg), dose recomendada para febre alta, comparado à dipirona (15 mg/kg), dose preconizada pelo fabricante, após 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 e 8 horas da medicação antitérmica. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico, aberto e randomizado (1:1), em crianças de ambos os sexos, com doenças febris, com idade entre 6 meses e 8 anos, temperatura axilar basal entre 38,0 e 40,3 °C, e divididas em dois grupos: febre alta (> 39,1 °C) e febre baixa (38,0 a 39,1 °C). A análise do comportamento baseou-se nos critérios de descontinuidade, segurança, resposta ao tratamento, tolerabilidade e eficácia terapêutica. RESULTADOS: Das 80 crianças, 31 permaneceram afebris ao longo de 8 horas (38,8 por cento), 100,0 por cento obtiveram decréscimo da temperatura com ambas as medicações nas 2 primeiras horas. No grupo de febre alta, 11 crianças medicadas com ibuprofeno foram mantidas até a 5ª hora (100,0 por cento), e 11 com dipirona até a 3ª hora (100,0 por cento). A eficácia antipirética na febre alta foi estatisticamente significante a favor do ibuprofeno na 3ª e na 4ª hora, e, na febre baixa, na 3ª hora após a medicação. CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo demonstrou que, em dose oral única, o ibuprofeno proporciona atividade antipirética mais acentuada do que a dipirona, principalmente na febre alta. Ambas as medicações foram bem toleradas e seguras em curto prazo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate temperature changes in febrile children that received a single oral dose of ibuprofen (10 mg/kg), the dose recommended for high fever, or dipyrone (15 mg/kg), the dose recommended by the manufacturer, at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 hours after administration. METHODS: This open-label randomized (1:1) controlled clinical tried enrolled 80 febrile boys and girls aged 6 months to 8 years with baseline axillary temperatures of 38.0 to 40.3 °C. The children were divided into two groups: high fever (> 39.1 °C) and low-grade fever (38.0 to 39.1 °C). The antipyretic effect was analyzed according to discontinuity, safety, response to treatment, tolerability and therapeutic efficacy. RESULTS: Of the 80 children, 31 remained febrile during the 8 hours (38.8 percent), but 100 percent had a temperature decrease in the first 2 hours after the administration of either medication. In the high fever group, the temperature fell in 11 children treated with ibuprofen up to the 5th hour (100.00 percent) and in the 11 that received dipyrone, up to the third hour (100.00 percent). The difference in antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen in the high fever group was statistically significant in the 3rd and 4th hours, and in the low-grade fever group, in the 3rd hour after medication. CONCLUSIONS: A single oral dose of ibuprofen has a greater antipyretic efficacy than dipyrone, particularly when the fever is high. Both drugs were well tolerated and safe in the short term.

Antipyretic effect of ibuprofen and dipyrone in febrile children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate temperature changes in febrile children that received a single oral dose of ibuprofen (10 mg/kg), the dose recommended for high fever, or dipyrone (15 mg/kg), the dose recommended by the manufacturer, at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 hours after administration. METHODS: This open-label randomized (1:1) controlled clinical tried enrolled 80 febrile boys and girls aged 6 months to 8 years with baseline axillary temperatures of 38.0 to 40.3 °C. The children were divided into two groups: high fever (> 39.1 °C) and low-grade fever (38.0 to 39.1 °C). The antipyretic effect was analyzed according to discontinuity, safety, response to treatment, tolerability and therapeutic efficacy. RESULTS: Of the 80 children, 31 remained febrile during the 8 hours (38.8%), but 100% had a temperature decrease in the first 2 hours after the administration of either medication. In the high fever group, the temperature fell in 11 children treated with ibuprofen up to the 5th hour (100.00%) and in the 11 that received dipyrone, up to the third hour (100.00%). The difference in antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen in the high fever group was statistically significant in the 3rd and 4th hours, and in the low-grade fever group, in the 3rd hour after medication. CONCLUSIONS: A single oral dose of ibuprofen has a greater antipyretic efficacy than dipyrone, particularly when the fever is high. Both drugs were well tolerated and safe in the short term.

Deficiência de ferro no feto e no recém-nascido: [revisão] / Iron deficiency in the fetus and newborn: [review]

A principal causa de anemia no feto é a doença hemolítica do recém-nascido (RN). As gestantes anêmicas na sua forma moderada não acarretam baixos estoques de ferro no concepto, porém podem evoluir para o trabalho de parto prematuro e RN com baixo peso ao nascer. O ferro é transportado para o feto por via transplacentária, principalmente durante o terceiro trimestre de gestação. A deficiência de ferro não ocorre no período neonatal, porém os prematuros e ou RN com baixo peso constituem o principal grupo de risco para desenvolver a deficiência de ferro. Nos RN nascidos a termo podemos observar uma deficiência de ferro naqueles que sofreram ressecção cirúrgica do duodeno devido à malformação congênita. A fim de evitarmos a deficiência de ferro neste grupo de risco, indica-se a suplementação de ferro a partir dos 30 dias de vida. A via de administração preferencial é a enteral, apesar de sabermos que no prematuro ocorre uma deficiência do controle da absorção do ferro. O complexo de ferro polimaltosado e o ferro aminoquelado são os de escolha para a profilaxia da deficiência de ferro em prematuros. A via endovenosa é segura e não acarreta piora das lesões causadas pela ação oxidativa do ferro em prematuros.

The main cause of anemia in the fetus is hemolytic disease. Mildly anemic pregnant women may evolve with premature labor and have low birth weight babies, but the baby's iron status is not influenced by the mother's iron deficiency. Iron transportation through the placenta occurs in the third trimester of gestation and premature labor results in reduced iron stores. Iron deficiency anemia does not occur during the neonatal period, but premature and low birth weight babies are at risk of developing iron deficiency. In full-term babies iron deficiency can occur due to intestinal malformation that leads to duodenal resection. To avoid iron deficiency in at-risk babies, iron supplementation is recommended from the thirtieth postnatal day. The best method to avoid iron absorption deficiency in premature babies is the enteral administration of iron. Iron polymaltose complex and amino acid-based iron chelators are preferable to ferrous sulfate in premature babies because of the reduced oxidative side effects of iron administration. Intravenous administration is safe and does not increase the oxidative side effects.

Cranial vault lymphoma: a systematic review of five patients.

Bone involvement is a common finding in many types of lymphoma (Clin Oncol 9(3): 195-196, 1997). However, cranial vault affliction has been regarded as an exceedingly rare presentation, particularly in the case of primary lymphoma (J Neurosurg 108(5): 1018-1020, 2008). Our objective is to describe a series of five immunocompetent patients with histologically confirmed cranial vault lymphoma (CVL), and to conduct a systematic review of the current literature. Our review points out identical imaging patterns in most of the lesions for all reported CVL cases, despite their different histological subtypes. This typical pattern can be seen on computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an expansive tumor that affects all three compartments of the cranial vault, including the scalp, skull bone, and pachymeninges, even in the absence of osteolysis. We argue that the absence of osteolysis might enhance diagnostic capability. In the appropriate clinical setting, these features represent important disease characteristics that may help with an earlier diagnosis. Large B-cell lymphoma was the most common subtype of primary CVL.

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in children and adolescents with Burkitt's lymphoma by in situ hybridization using tissue microarrays.

In this retrospective study, we evaluated 53 patients diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). Patients were admitted to the Pediatric Department of Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil from August 1988 to September 2006. The male gender was found more frequently in the proportion of three males to one female. At the time of the diagnosis, the mean age was 6 years. The most frequent clinical presentation was abdominal (extra nodal) in 42 (79.2%) cases. The patients were treated with chemotherapy using two different treatment methods, 30 cases until September 1994 with BGLTI -87 and the other 23 until September of 2006 with BGLTI -96. According to Murphy's classification, 90.2% of the patients were diagnosed as stages III and VI showing an advanced disease at time of diagnosis. Using Tissue Microarrays (TMA); we searched for the expression of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) RNA in 50 patients. The presence of EBV using in situ hybridization was found in 33/50 (66%) and there was no association between the presence of the virus in the tumor cells or patient age, as well as the survival rate. There was 74.5% global survival rate until September, 2005 of 12 years and 8 months. The disease free survival rate was 86.5%. The frequency of the EBV association with this neoplasia in Brazil is intermediate between the endemic and sporadic forms of disease.

Osteopetrose maligna: transplante de medula óssea / Malignant osteopetrosis: bone marrow transplantation

A osteopetrose é uma osteopatia hereditária caracterizada pela deficiência na reabsorção óssea que ocorre por disfunção dos osteoclastos. Com o acúmulo de material osteóide que oblitera o canal medular, ocorre hematopoiese extramedular (hepato-esplenomegalia), obliteração dos forames dos nervos cranianos (cegueira, surdez, paralisias faciais), macrocefalia, protusão da fronte, hipertelorismo, exoftalmo, aumento da pressão intracraniana, retardo na erupção dentária, atraso no crescimento, atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, e a morte ocorre precocemente nos primeiros anos de vida. A única alternativa terapêutica curativa é o transplante de medula óssea (TMO) de doador HLA idêntico, pois restabelece a hematopoiese e a função monócito-macrófago, com melhora das lesões ósseas e anormalidades hematopoiéticas, embora não reverta as alterações sensoriais já instaladas. Os autores relatam casos de duas crianças portadoras de osteopetrose maligna submetidas ao transplante de medula óssea com sucesso. A primeira encontra-se no dia +1260 do TMO, com melhora evidente da radiologia esquelética, sem progressão das deficiências neurológicas que apresentava, e com biópsia óssea sem sinais de osteopetrose. O segundo paciente encontra-se no dia + 700, com sinais de reabsorção óssea e sem progressão dos danos neurológicos. Os autores chamam a atenção para a necessidade de diagnóstico precoce da osteopetrose e o rápido encaminhamento para o transplante de medula óssea antes da instalação de seqüelas neurológicas definitivas.

Osteopetrosis is an inherited disorder characterized by the inability to reabsorb and remodel bone due to osteoclast dysfunction. The encroachment by bone and mineralized cartilage of the medullary cavities leads to extramedullary hematopoiesis (hepatosplenomegaly) and cranial-nerve foramina leads to blindness, auditory nerve damage, and occulomotor and facial nerve palsies. Defective bone re-absorption also leads to macrocephaly, frontal bossing, hypertelorism, exophthalmos, increased intracranial pressure, retarded tooth eruption, retarded linear growth and psychomotor delay. Death occurs within the first years of life. The only curative therapy is allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with a HLA-identical donor, which restores hematopoiesis, monocyte-macrophage function and bone recovery, but there is no sensorial deficit restoration once present. The authors report two cases of allogeneic bone marrow transplant for infantile malignant osteopetrosis. The first child, on day 1260 after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), showed radiologic bone recovery and no progression of neurological deficits with a bone biopsy showing no signs of osteopetrosis. The second child showed signs of bone re-absorption and no progression of neurological deficits on day 700. The authors emphasize the importance of early diagnosis of osteopetrosis and the necessity of bone marrow transplantation before neurological deficits have begun.

Osteossarcoma: experiência do Serviço de Oncologia Pediátrica da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo / Osteosarcoma: experience of the Pediatric Oncology clinic of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in São Paulo

OBJETIVOS: Descrever as características clínico-laboratoriais das crianças e adolescentes com osteossarcoma acompanhadas no Serviço de Oncologia Pediátrica da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo e determinar as taxas de sobrevida livre de evento e sobrevida global, correlacionando-as com os principais fatores prognósticos. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo realizado no Serviço de Oncologia Pediátrica da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo compreendendo o período entre abril de 1991 e setembro de 2002. Nesse período foram diagnosticados 60 casos de osteossarcoma. Observaram-se predomínio do sexo masculino (61,7 por cento), raça não-branca (65 por cento) e idade superior a 10 anos (70 por cento); história de trauma prévio em 53,3 por cento, relato de dor em 95 por cento e aumento de volume em 80 por cento dos casos. O joelho foi a região mais comprometida (74,9 por cento). Em 70,7 por cento dos casos o tumor apresentava tamanho inferior a 1/3 do comprimento do osso afetado, em 25 por cento o nível sérico de desidrogenase láctica era igual ou maior que 500U/L e em 48,3 por cento o nível de fosfatase alcalina era igual ou maior que 1.000U/L, 25 por cento dos pacientes apresentavam metástase pulmonar visível ao diagnóstico e 53,3 por cento pertenciam ao subtipo osteoblástico. O tratamento quimioterápico pré e pós-operatório foi realizado em 78,3 por cento dos pacientes, 64 por cento foram submetidos a procedimento cirúrgico conservador, 68,1 por cento apresentaram necrose tumoral graus I e II e houve recidiva em 60 por cento dos casos. RESULTADOS: Com seguimento de 48 meses observaram-se sobrevida livre de doença em 28,6 por cento dos pacientes e sobrevida global de 38,4 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: Os autores concluem que o diagnóstico precoce é fundamental, assim como novos estudos são necessários para aprimorar o manuseio e o tratamento desses pacientes e melhorar a sobrevida.

OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical and laboratorial features of children and adolescents with osteosarcoma seen at the Pediatric Oncology clinic of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in São Paulo and to determine the uneventful rates of survival and the overall survival, and correlate such rates to the main factors of prognosis. METHODS: Retrospective study carried out at the Pediatric Oncology clinic of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in São Paulo from April 1991 to September 2002. 60 cases of osteosarcoma were identified in the period. The authors saw a predominance of the male sex (61.7 percent), non-white race (65 percent), and age above 10 years (70 percent); history of previous trauma in 53.3 percent, reporting pain in 95 percent, and volume increase in 80 percent of the cases. The knee joint was the involved region in most cases (74.9 percent). In 70.7 percent of the cases, the tumor was smaller than 1/3 of the bone affected, in 25 percent the serum lactic dehydrogenase level was equal to or greater than 500U/L, and in 48.3 percent, the alkaline phosphatase level was equal to or greater than 1000U/L, 25 percent of the patients presented with lung metastasis that was visible in the diagnosis, and 53.3 percent were of the osteoblastic subtype. Pre and post surgical chemotherapy was conducted in 78.3 percent of the patients, 64 percent were submitted to conservative surgery, 68.1 percent had tumoral necrosis grades I and II, and recurrence was seen in 60 percent of the cases. RESULTS: With a 48 month follow-up, they observed disease-free survival in 28.6 percent of the patients, and overall survival in 38.4 percent. CONCLUSIONS: They concluded that early diagnosis is a must, and that new studies are required to improve the management and treatment of this patients and to improve survival.

Avaliação de dois anos de tratamento da doença de Gaucher tipo 1 com terapia de reposição enzimática em pacientes do estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Evaluation of two years of treatment with enzyme replacement therapy in type 1 Gaucher disease patients of São Paulo State, Brazil

A doença de Gaucher tipo 1 é a doença de depósito lisossômico mais freqüente. De herança autossômica recessiva, é caracterizada pela deficiência da atividade da enzima glicocerebrosidase e o acúmulo patológico de seu substrato, a glicosilceramida, nas células da linhagem dos monócitos/macrófagos principalmente no baço, fígado e medula óssea. As manifestações são heterogêneas e incluem hepatoesplenomegalia, anemia, trombocitopenia, infiltração da medula óssea e lesões esqueléticas. Avaliaram-se os efeitos da terapia de reposição enzimática (TRE) sobre a anemia, trombocitopenia, hepatoesplenomegalia, estatura (crianças e adolescentes) e dor óssea em noventa pacientes com doença de Gaucher tipo 1 tratados por período de 24 meses no estado de São Paulo. Os principais sinais e sintomas antes do início do tratamento foram anemia (50 por cento), trombocitopenia (59 por cento), hepatomegalia (97 por cento), esplenomegalia (96 por cento), baixa estatura (46 por cento) e dor óssea (62 por cento). A dose média de TRE foi 35U/kg a cada duas semanas. A recuperação da anemia, da trombocitopenia e da dor óssea foi mais intensa aos seis meses de tratamento, e da hepatoesplenomegalia e da baixa estatura aos 18 meses. Após a melhora, a maioria dos pacientes manteve-se estável. Ao final de 24 meses de TRE, pelo menos 88 por cento dos pacientes atingiram os objetivos terapêuticos para anemia, 80 por cento para trombocitopenia, 34 por cento para hepatoesplenomegalia, 77 por cento para baixa estatura e 76 por cento para dor óssea. Novos estudos são necessários para avaliar a resposta terapêutica em longo prazo, principalmente em relação às alterações ósseas e de estatura, que podem apresentar resposta mais tardia e lenta.

Type 1 Gaucher's disease, the most common lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by an autosomal recessive deficiency of glucocerebrosidase that results in a pathologic accumulation of its substrate, glucocerebroside, in the cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage mainly of the spleen, liver and bone marrow. The symptoms are heterogeneous and include hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow infiltration, and skeletal lesions. We evaluated the effects of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, growth retardation (children and adolescents) and bone pain among 90 patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease treated during 24 months in Sao Paulo State. Baseline signs and symptoms were anemia (50 percent), thrombocytopenia (59 percent), hepatomegaly (97 percent), splenomegaly (96 percent), growth retardation (46 percent) and bone pain (62 percent). The mean dose of ERT was 35 U/kg every two weeks. Reduction in anemia, thrombocytopenia and bone pain was greatest during the first six months of ERT and of hepatosplenomegaly and growth retardation within 18 months. Improvements were sustained by most of the patients during the follow-up. Within 24 months of ERT, therapeutic goals were achieved in at least 88 percent of patients with anemia, 80 percent with thrombocytopenia, 34 percent with hepatosplenomegaly, 77 percent with growth retardation and 76 percent with bone pain. Other studies are needed to evaluate the treatment efficacy over a longer period, mainly for skeletal lesions and growth retardation, which may present a slower recovery due to low penetration of imiglucerase in bones.

Crise de seqüestro esplênico na doença falciforme / Splenic sequestration crisis in sickle cell disease

Seqüestro esplênico é uma complicação aguda grave responsável por grande morbidade e mortalidade em pacientes com doença falciforme. Caracteriza-se pela diminuição da concentração de hemoglobina igual ou maior a 2g/dl comparada ao valor basal do paciente, aumento da eritropoiese e das dimensões do baço. Manifesta-se clinicamente com choque hipovolêmico e pode estar associado a infecções virais ou bacterianas. Sua incidência é variável conforme a região estudada, é mais freqüente dos 3 meses aos 5 anos de idade. A porcentagem de hemoglobina fetal aos 6 meses de vida elevada parece ser fator protetor, enquanto o tratamento com hidroxiuréia pela manutenção da função esplênica parece contribuir com o aumento da incidência das crises de seqüestros. A recorrência é freqüente, ocorrendo em aproximadamente 50 por cento dos sobreviventes do primeiro episódio. O tratamento da crise de seqüestro deve ser imediato com a expansão da volemia,transfusão de glóbulos vermelhos, ou que proporciona a mobilização das hemácias seqüestradas. Devido à sua freqüente recorrência estes pacientes devem receber tratamento preventivo. A melhor conduta ainda tem sido motivo de muitos estudos. Recomenda-se que pacientes menores de 2 anos que apresentaram crise severa deverão ser mantidos em esquema de transfusão crônica até 2 anos, quando serão espleneclonizados. Os maiores de 2 anos deverão ser encaminhados para cirurgia. Medidas educacionais dos pais no sentido de reconhecer rapidamente os sintomas têm contribuído com a boa evolução dos pacientes.

Splenic Sequestration is an acute complication responsible for high morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease. It is characterized by a reduction in the concentration of hemoglobin of 2g/dl or more compared to the basal value of the patient, and increases in erythropoietin and the size of the spleen. Clinical manifestations include hypovolemic shock which may be associated with viral or bacterial infections. Its incidence is variable depending on the region studied and it is more common in children between 3 months and 5 years old. A high percentage of fetal hemoglobin at 6 months of life seems to be a protective factor, while treatment with hydroxiurea to maintain splenic function seems to contribute with the increase in the rate of sequestration crises. Recurrence is common, occurring in about 50 percent of the survivors of first episodes. Treatment of sequestration crises should be immediate with volumetric expansion, transfusion which will immobilize the sequestered red blood cells.Duo to its common recurrence, these patients should receive preventive therapy. The best conduct is still the subject of many studies. It is recommended that under 2- years-old patients who present with severe crises should be maintained in chronic transfusion program up to 2 years old when they will be splenectomized. Over 2 years old infants should be referred for surgery. Educational measures of parents to quickly recognize the symptoms have contributed to a good evolution of...

Linfoma de Hodgkin em baixa faixa etária: relato de dois casos / Hodgkin's lymphoma in young children: two cases report

Relato de dois casos de pacientes do sexo masculino com linfoma de Hodgkin (LH) e idades inferiores a 5 anos apresentando linfonodomegalias com evolução de alguns meses e seguimento em nosso serviço. Os estudos imuno-histopatológicos do tumor confirmaram linfoma de Hodgkin, esclerose nodular e positividade para o vírus Epstein-Barr (EBV) em material tumoral, em ambos os casos. Após período de 13 meses em remissão completa houve recidiva em um dos pacientes, mostrando doença agressiva. A análise laboratorial do tumor mostrou as mesmas características da doença inicial, e mantendo a positividade ao EBV. Uma exposição mais precoce e intensa ao EBV poderia aumentar o risco para formas muito precoces da doença e a inesperada evolução poderia estar ligada à associação do subtipo histológico e positividade ao EBV.

The cases of two male under five-year-olds diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as lymphadenopathy in evolution for some months and treated in our hospital are reported. Immunohistopathological findings of the tumors proved the existence of Hodgkin's lymphoma nodular sclerosis and positive Epstein-Barr virus in tumoral material in both cases. After 13 months of complete remission one of the patients relapsed and presented aggressive disease. Laboratorial analyses of the tumor showed the same characteristics as the initial disease including positive Epstein-Barr virus. Early and intense exposure to Epstein-Barr virus may increase the risk related to the very early development of the disease and the unexpected evolution may be connected to the association of the histological subtype and the positive Epstein-Barr virus.

Results of the Brazilian Osteosarcoma Treatment Group Studies III and IV: prognostic factors and impact on survival.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of chemotherapy and surgery on the outcome of osteosarcoma (OS) of the extremities and to identify prognostic factors in Brazilian patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 225 patients with metastatic and nonmetastatic OS of the extremities were enrolled and assessed in two consecutive studies designed and implemented by the Brazilian Osteosarcoma Treatment Group. RESULTS: The 5-year survival and event-free survival rates for the 209 assessable patients were 50.1% and 39%, respectively; for the 178 patients with nonmetastatic disease at diagnosis, the rates were 60.5% and 45.5%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the following variables were associated with a shorter survival: metastases at diagnosis (P < .001), necrosis grades 1 and 2 (P = .046), and tumor size (P = .0071). CONCLUSION: The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were lower than the rates reported in North American and European trials. A pattern of advanced disease at diagnosis was often present, with a high proportion of patients having metastases (20.8%) and large tumor size (42.9%). However, these features were not necessarily associated with longer duration of prediagnostic symptoms. These findings were considered in the strategic planning of the current Brazilian cooperative study, with the aim of improving survival and quality of life of a large number of patients with OS.

Osteossarcoma e leucemia mielóide aguda: dois casos em crianças / Osteosarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia: two cases in children

A ocorrência de segunda neoplasia após quimioterapia é mais comum em pacientes com doença de Hodgkin e tumores cerebrais.1-4 Na literatura há poucos relatos de ocorrência de leucemia mielóide aguda (LMA) após tratamento para osteossarcoma. Os autores relatam dois casos de osteossarcoma que evoluíram com LMA após tratamento com múltiplos agentes quimioterápicos. O primeiro caso teve diagnóstico de osteossarcoma teleangectásico, foi tratado com carboplatina, ifosfamida, epirrubicina e metotrexato e desenvolveu LMA trinta e oito meses após o início do tratamento. O segundo caso teve diagnóstico de osteossarcoma condroblástico, foi tratado com cisplatina, doxorrubicina e ifosfamida e desenvolveu LMA seis meses após o início do tratamento. Os autores discutem a provável relação entre o uso de agentes alquilantes, inibidores da topoisomerase II e compostos da platina e o desenvolvimento de LMA.

A secondary neoplasia after chemotherapy often occurs in patients with Hodgkin's disease or brain tumors.1-4 There are a few cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after osteosarcoma treatment reported in the literature. The authors report on two children who developed AML after being treated by chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. The first patient had a telangiectatic osteosarcoma; he was treated with carboplatin, ifosfamide, epirubicin and methotrexate and developed AML thirty eight months after therapy. The second patient had chondroblastic osteosarcoma; she was treated with cisplatin, doxorubicin and ifosfamide and she developed AML six months after treatment. The authors discuss the role of alkylating agents, topoisomerase II inhibitors and platinum compounds in the development of AML.

Púrpura trombocitopênica idiopática e linfoma não-Hodgkin de células T na infância / Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood

Os linfomas representam 10 por cento de todos os tumores malignos da infância e, destes, os linfomas não-Hodgkin são os mais freqüentes. Crianças com doenças auto-imunes apresentam maior probabilidade de desenvolver doenças linfoproliferativas, podendo ocorrer antes, durante ou após o aparecimento da neoplasia. A associação de púrpura trombocitopênica idiopática e linfomas é infreqüente (3 por cento), principalmente na faixa etária pediátrica. Duas teorias tentam explicar a origem desta associação. Na primeira, a trombocitopenia seria decorrente da produção de auto-anticorpos antiplaquetas pelo clone tumoral. Na segunda, a PTI seria resultado de um estímulo antigênico persistente, secundário a uma desordem na proliferação linfóide. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi relatar a associação infreqüente na infância entre púrpura trombo-citopênica idiopática e linfoma não-Hodgkin de células T.

Lymphomas represent 10 percent of all malignant tumors in childhood and from these non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are the most frequent. Children who have autoimmune diseases have a higher probability of developing lymphoproliferative diseases, which can happen before, during or after the appearance of the neoplasia. The association between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and lymphomas is not common (3 percent) especially in children. Two theories try to explain the origin of this association. In the first one, the thrombocytopenia would be a result of an autoantibody anti-blood platelet production by the tumoral clone. In the second one, the idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura would be a result of a persistent antigenic stimulus subordinate to a disorder in the lymphoid proliferation. The aim of this work is to report the unusual association between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood.