Chronic lymphocytic leukemia skin infiltration mimicking an ICD pocket infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We are presenting a case report on an unreported and unusual cutaneous manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old man with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), previously treated with chlorambucil, was referred in October 2013 for extraction of a single chamber ICD due to a suspected device-related infection in the pulse generator area (left-hand side of Fig. 1). The ICD system (Current VR, St. Jude Medical, USA) had been implanted in November 2009. The patient complained of painless erythema with pruritus in the pocket area. Inflammatory blood parameters were C-reactive protein 17.3 mg/L and leucocytes 29.0 × 109/L. Due to the atypical appearance of the pocket area we did not extract the device. Instead, we created an exploratory excision in the skin induration, which had been present for approximately 6 weeks, and conducted a microbiological and histological examination. All cultivation examinations were negative. However, we did histologically show skin infiltration by CD-5 positive low-grade B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (B-CLL/SLL). Re-initiation of chemotherapy was not necessary and the skin induration completely disappeared within 2 months (right-hand side of Fig. 1). CONCLUSIONS: Complete removal of an ICD system carries considerable risk. In patients with a history of hematological disease, it is crucial to exclude cutaneous manifestations of the disease prior to device removal.

[Diagnosis and treatment of BCR/ABL-negative myeloproliferative diseases--principles and rationale of CZEMP recommendations]. / Diagnostika a lécba BCR/ABL-negativních myeloproliferativních onemocnení--principy a výchdiska doporuceni CZEMP.

In 2009, the recommendations of the Czech Collaborative Group for Ph- Myeloproliferative Diseases (CZEMP) for diagnosis and treatment of BCR/ABL-negative myeloproliferative diseases (MPD), i.e., essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythaemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) were updated and extended. The present article gives the rationale of the recommendations in full detail. The CZEMP diagnostic criteria for ET and PMF are based on histopathological (HP) findings, which must unconditionally be in line with the given clinical and laboratory characteristics of ET or of a certain stage of PMF, respectively. The platelet count is not decisive for diagnosis. In cases lacking an adequately taken and read HP finding, the Polycythemia Vera Study Group (PVSG) criteria are recommended. The diagnosis of typical PV is based on demonstration of the V617F mutation of the JAK2 gene along with a significant increase of red cell parameters. If these are close to borderline, the demonstration of increased total red cell mass (RCM) is required. In atypical cases lacking polyglobulia or elevated RCM, the HP picture of PV (in accordance with WHO description) plus JAK2 V617F mutation is satisfactory for diagnosis, or, in cases lacking JAK2 V617F mutation, the HP picture of PV along with polyglobulia (or increased RCM) is sufficient. The treatment principles of ET and other MPDs with thrombocythemia (MPD-T; i.e., the early stages of PMF and PV) are identical. The patients are stratified by their thrombotic risk (preceding thrombosis, another thrombophilic state, jAK2 mutation), presence of disease symptoms (mainly microcirculatory), platelet count and age. Only patients up to 65 years lacking the above mentioned risks with a platelet count < 1000 x 10(9)/l are considered as low-risk and do not demand cytoreducing therapy. The others are high-risk ones and have an indication for thromboreduction. In patients older than 65 years, the potentially leukemogenic drug hydroxyurea (HU) may be used. In the younger ones, the choice is between anagrelide (ANG) or interferon-alpha (IFN). In high-risk patients, the treatment goal is to maintain platelet counts below 400, and in low-risk ones, below 600 x 10(9)/l. In PV, polycythemia itself is another thrombotic risk factor. The condition is treated by bloodletting or erythrocytaphereses. If hematocrit levels < or =45 are not achieved, cytoreductive therapy using HU in patients over 65 years, or IFN in younger individuals is required. All patients with thrombocythemia in PV are high-risk and have an indication for cytoreduction. Acetylsalicylic acid is given to all patients with MPD-T with platelets < 1000 x 10(9)/l (at higher counts, hemorrhage is imminent), and to all individuals with PV, unless contraindication is present. In case of platelet count normalization, it may be withdrawn in cases of low-risk ET or PMF, not in JAK2+ PV. The treatment of advanced stages of PMF is symptomatic, with substitution of blood derivatives being the basis. The only curative treatment is allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which should not be indicated too early seeing to its risks, but also not too late--we must not allow transition into acute leukemia, which is heralded by blasts in the blood picture. The indication is the presence of any of the following criteria: values of hemoglobin < 10 g/dl, WBC < 4 x 10(9)/l and platelets < 100 x 10(9)/l, any percentage of blasts or > or = 10% immature granulocytes in the differential picture, >1 erythroblast per 100 cells--all at repeated examinations within at least a 2-month interval, and in addition, rapid progression of hepato-/splenomegaly, presence of general symptoms of the disease, portal hypertension and extensive swellings.