Successful second hematopoietic cell transplantation in severe congenital neutropenia.

Allogeneic HCT is curative for SCN; however, a standard conditioning regimen or intensity has not been established. We describe a patient with SCN associated with c.1A>G (M1V) mutation in ELANE gene resulting in refractoriness to G-CSF, who received reduced-intensity HCT and developed secondary graft failure requiring a second myeloablative HCT. This case suggests that M1V mutation confers a poor G-CSF response and HCT using the best available donor is beneficial.

Twice daily i.v. bolus tacrolimus infusion for GVHD prophylaxis in children undergoing stem cell transplantation.

Tacrolimus is routinely administered for GVHD prophylaxis as a 24-h continuous infusion that requires a dedicated i.v. line and thus becomes logistically difficult to administer, especially in young pediatric patients. We investigated the safety and efficacy of twice daily bolus infusions of i.v. tacrolimus in 33 children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at our institution. Tacrolimus was started at an initial dose of 0.015 mg/kg i.v. bolus administered as a 2-h infusion and then given at every 12 h to maintain a trough drug level between 5-15 ng/mL. Patients also received short-course MTX (66%) or mycophenolate mofetil (34%) in combination with tacrolimus. No acute infusional toxicities were observed with bolus infusions of i.v. tacrolimus. Nephrotoxicity occurred in 14/33 (42%) patients and 48% developed hypertension (HT). Almost all (94%) patients required magnesium supplements to maintain magnesium (Mg) levels 1.5 mg/dL. In all, 3 (9%) patients developed severe sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). One patient developed posterior reversible leuko-encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and one additional patient had tremors. The prevelance of these side-effects was similar to those reported for continuous i.v. administration. In all, 28% of the evaluable patients developed acute GVHDgrade II, though the incidence of severe (grade III-IV) GVHD was only 7%. These results suggest that intermittent bolus i.v. tacrolimus administration is a safe and effective method of GVHD prophylaxis in children.

Demographic study of leukaemia presenting within the first 3 months of life in the Northern Health Region of England.

AIMS: To determine the incidence and outcome of congenital leukaemia. METHODS: Retrospective population based study of putative leukaemia arising during the first 3 months of life over an 18 year period within the Northern Health Region of England. RESULTS: Nine infants with putative leukaemia were identified. Five had acute leukaemia and four had transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD). Trisomy 21, either as Down's syndrome or perhaps restricted to proliferating marrow cells, was present in all four infants with TMD. The incidence of congenital acute leukaemia was 8.6/10(6) live births/year, but would be less than half this value if only patients presenting within 4 weeks of birth were counted. Remission was induced in three of the five patients with acute leukaemia. One patient, who presented at birth, remains well five years after diagnosis. All four patients with TMD survive. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital leukaemia is very rare but is not inevitably fatal. Finding trisomy 21 in spontaneously dividing blood or bone marrow cells of an infant with putative acute leukaemia, particularly within 3 months of birth, should encourage a cautious clinical approach and suggests that the diagnosis might be TMD.

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for treatment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease following bone marrow transplantation in children: effectiveness and a scoring system for initiating treatment.

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) following bone marrow transplantation is potentially fatal. Criteria for diagnosis and starting treatment are mainly based on adult studies. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) has been used with variable success. rtPA and heparin were given to 12 children (nine with immunodeficiency, two malignancy, one thalassaemia) with moderate to severe HVOD. Of the 12, 10 responded with a fall in bilirubin concentration; eight survived with complete resolution of HVOD. Four of the five patients with associated multiorgan failure (MOF) died despite rtPA treatment. One child suffered significant, and one minor, bleeding during rtPA treatment. A scoring system for quantifying the severity of HVOD in children is proposed, incorporating the criteria used to diagnose HVOD, risk factors for its development and also parameters reflective of the patient's general condition. This will facilitate early diagnosis and management of those cases which, if not treated promptly, are likely to deteriorate with an adverse outcome. Our experience suggests rtPA and heparin are an effective treatment for HVOD in children, with relatively little toxicity provided therapy is started before MOF develops.

Chemotherapy and marrow transplantation for congenital leukaemia.

The optimum approach to congenital leukaemia is unclear. Results of treatment are generally discouraging and palliation is offered to many. The successful treatment of an infant with congenital leukaemia is reported.

Polyarteritis nodosa--a few unusual findings.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical spectrum of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) from North India and highlight some unusual findings. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Hospital based. SUBJECTS: Eight children with PAN. INTERVENTION: Treatment with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. RESULTS: One child had spontaneous remission while another started deteriorating rapidly in spite of treatment and died within 2 weeks. Six children went into remission-of these one died, two were lost to follow-up and the remaining three are on regular follow-up for periods ranging from 3-5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Prednisolone and cyclophosphamide can significantly improve the outcome in childhood PAN.

Primary pelvic neuroblastoma with central nervous system metastases.

Secondary intracranial neuroblastoma is an extremely rare site of metastasis from primary extracranial disease. Direct parenchymal involvement of the neuraxis without disease involving the overlying bone, dura, or venous sinuses is even rarer. We report a case of pelvic neuroblastoma with cerebral and cerebellar metastasis and communicating hydrocephalus, probably caused by diffuse leptomeningeal involvement. Clumps of neuroblastoma cells were seen in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF pathway was the probable route for neuraxis dissemination.

Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) in myelodysplastic syndrome.

This is the first report of the rare association of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a child. The skin lesions showed a dramatic response to colchicine.

Neutropenic enterocolitis and cecal perforation in acute lymphatic leukemia.

A ten year old boy who died of the consequences of an infrequent gastrointestinal complication, whilst on induction chemotherapy for acute lymphatic leukemia, is being reported. Recent trends in the diagnosis and management of typhilitis or neutropenic enterocolitis have been reviewed.