RESUMEN
Human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-I) is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus of the Retroviridae family. The virus causes two well-recognized disease associations: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM), also known as tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). We report a case of HTLV-1-induced adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia in a 45-year-old female who presented with complaints of swelling on the right side of her neck and rash on her upper and lower extremities and abdomen. The patient also had a history of strongyloidiasis infection and Crohn's disease. She was found to have hypercalcemia and multiple lytic lesions of the bone found on the imaging. She also tested positive for HTLV-1 and T cell-positive for cluster of differentiation (CD) 2, CD3, partial CD5, and minimal CD56, later confirmed by the bone marrow (BM) and skin punch biopsies. ATL is characterized by the clonal proliferation of CD4+ T cells containing randomly integrated HTLV-I provirus, often associated with T-cell receptor gene rearrangements. ATL, in its aggressive forms, has one of the poorest prognoses of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is essential to raise awareness of ATL, although further research and trials are needed to solidify the treatment options to prevent mortality.
RESUMEN
Acute liver injury in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can occur both during primary infection and after chronic HBV reactivation. Guidelines recommend considering antiviral therapy in both cases. Antiviral therapy with a nucleoside analog may be beneficial in patients with acute liver failure from acute HBV infection, though not all studies have shown a benefit. This is a case of a 53-year-old woman with a past medical history of untreated hepatitis C with undetectable viral load and right breast cancer status post lumpectomy, who presented to the emergency department with complaints of yellowish skin and sclera discoloration with right upper quadrant pain for one week. She was a known intravenous drug abuser and binge alcohol user. Her labs were positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis E, and hepatitis C viruses. She also had elevated liver enzymes with hyperbilirubinemia showing severe acute liver injury. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast was normal, and the abdominal ultrasound showed homogenous echotexture of the liver without a focal lesion. The patient was diagnosed with acute fulminant hepatitis B. After initial hemodynamic stabilization, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and tenofovir were started, and transaminases were followed. Liver function tests showed a downtrend, and, in a few weeks, they came to baseline. Hepatitis B viral load became undetectable as well. Acute hepatitis B infection is seldom treated. The presented case depicts the use of tenofovir in the setting of severe acute liver injury due to hepatitis B. Starting antiviral therapy (especially tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) early in the disease course was shown to have very assuring results with complete resolution of symptoms and normalization of liver function tests. The treatment protocol for acute HBV deserves further investigation.
RESUMEN
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hematological disorder characterized by immune dysregulation with multiple organ involvement and carries a poor prognosis. The occurrence of HLH can be familial or sporadic, which is triggered by causes like infection or malignancy. This case report is about a 47-year-old male who presented to the hospital with a fever, chills, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss. He was found to have severely elevated ferritin, and computed tomography showed cirrhosis, a normal sized spleen, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. He underwent an extensive battery of tests to identify the etiology. Meanwhile, he had recurrent fevers with worsening transaminitis and septic shock, requiring admission to the ICU. Blood tests for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were positive. Due to high suspicion of HLH, he was started on intravenous methylprednisone 1000 mg daily for three days with clinical improvement. A bone marrow biopsy showed hemophagocytosis and he was diagnosed with EBV-associated HLH. He was continued on steroids with oral prednisone and continued to clinically improve. He was later tapered off steroids over the course of five months. HLH is a rapidly progressive and fatal condition that requires prompt treatment, and thus a high index of suspicion is needed to make a timely diagnosis.
RESUMEN
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) caused by severely reduced ADAMTS13 or the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (VWFCP) enzyme resulting in low platelet and red blood cell counts along with severe renal, cardiac, and neurological dysfunction. Plasmapheresis is the treatment of choice. Mitomycin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers anal and breast cancers, has been reported to occasionally cause severe TTP and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases. Here, we present a case of a 57-year-old African American transgender patient who presented with worsening kidney function, thrombocytopenia, and anemia following mitomycin therapy for her anal squamous cell carcinoma. Peripheral smear showed numerous schistocytes, and the patient was diagnosed with TTP because of low ADAMTS13 levels. The patient was started on plasmapheresis and steroid with ultimate improvement in condition. TTP is a rare condition that can be idiopathic or acquired. Further research is required to assess the complexity of the underlying mechanism. Early diagnosis and aggressive management often lead to a favorable outcome.