[Anemia in chronic lymphatic leukemia: is erythropoietin the solution?]. / La anemia en la leucemia linfática crónica: Es la eritropoyetina la solución del problema?

Anemia is a common complication in the clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Low hemoglobin levels both correlate with an adverse prognosis and adversely affect the quality of life of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Different physiopathological phenomena may lead to anemia: marrow infiltration, hypersplenism, immune hemolysis or toxicity of chemotherapy. Treatment with human recombinant erythropoietic agents has been shown to be effective for anemia associated with different lymphoproliferative syndromes. This paper analyses the available evidence on erythropoietic agent treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated anemia. The comparative effect of different dosage schemes, the role of possible response-prediction factors such as the endogenous erythropoietin level and the results achieved using darbopoietin alpha are reviewed.

Experimental study on the feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation for secondary splenomagely and hypersplenism.

AIM: To assess the feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of secondary splenomagely and hypersplenism. METHODS: Sixteen healthy mongrel dogs were randomly divided into two groups, group I (n=4) and group II (n=12). Congestive splenomegaly was induced by ligation of splenic vein and its collateral branches in both groups. At the end of 3rd week postoperation, RFA in spleen was performed in group II via laparotomy, complications of RFA were observed, CT scan was performed and the spleens were obtained. The radiofrequency (RF) thermal lesions and histopathology of spleen were examined regularly. RESULTS: No complication or death was observed in both groups; CT revealed that the splenomegaly lasted over 2 months after ligation of splenic vein; the segmental RF lesions included hyperintense zone of coagulative necrosis and more extensive peripheral hypointense infarcted zone, the latter was called "bystander effect". The infarcted zone would be absorbed and subsequently disappeared in 4-6 weeks after RFA accompanied with shrinkage of the remnant spleen. The fundamental histopathological changes of splenic lesions caused by RF thermal energy included local coagulative necrosis, peripheral thrombotic infarction zone, subsequent tissue absorption and fibrosis in the zone of thrombotic infarction, the occlusion of vessels in remnant viable spleen, deposition of extensive fibrous protein, and disappearance of congestive splenic sinusoid - "splenic carnification". Those pathologic changes were underline of shrinkage of spleen. CONCLUSION: It is feasible and safe to perform RFA in spleen to treat experimental splenomegaly and hypersplenism. The RFA could be safely performed clinically via laparotomy or laparoscopic procedure while spleen was strictly separated from surrounding organs.

Congestive hypersplenism: treatment by means of radioembolization of the spleen with Y-90.

Radioembolization of the spleen with yttrium-90 was performed in a patient with severe thrombocytopenia attributable to congestive hypersplenism. Follow-up included performance of serial contrast material-enhanced computed tomographic studies for 13 months. Splenic volume decreased from 1,400 to 470 cm3. The platelet count increased to almost normal levels. No complications were observed. Splenic radioembolization merits further investigation in selected patients.

[Spleen irradiation and splenectomy for treatment of hypersplenism in chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphatic leukemia (author's transl)]. / Milzbestrahlung uns Splenektomie zur Behandlung des Hyperspleniesyndroms bei chronischer myeloischer und chronischer lymphatischer Leukämie.

Hypersplenism is characterized by cytopenia, splenomegaly (possibly hyperplastic bone-marrow), and lienal hypersequestration. It is necessary, in view of the rather important surgical risks of splenectomy, to clarify if the hypersplenism may be influenced by splenic irradiation in case of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL). References in literature are rare and do not present a reliable differentiation of the syndrome, according to its present definition. Of our patients, three cases with hypersplenism verified by radioiron studies are reported: in one patient with chronic myeloid leukemia, irradiation of the spleen had no effect, whereas pancytopenia was completely repaired by means of splenectomy. The same results were seen in a patient with chronic lymphatic leukemia. In the last patient, however, who had chronic lymphatic leukemia, fractionated irradiation of the spleen led to a distinct improvement of anemia and thrombopenia, but the recovery lasted only six months. This effect is due to transient normalization of the lienal hypersequestration.

Splenectomy or radiation and splenectomy for hypersplenism in lymphosarcoma.

This is a retrospective study of 14 patients with lymphosarcoma with hypersplenism. Eight patients received radiation to the spleen followed by splenectomy for recurrence of hypersplenism. Six patients underwent primary splenectomy for hypersplenism. Radiation decreases the size of the spleen but recurrence of hypersplenism is seen in an average of 8 mo. Splenectomy in these cases improves the hematological picture. Average postsplenectomy survival is 27.6 mo. Splenectomy alone in hypersplenism also improves the hematological picture. Postsplenectomy survival in this group is 13 mo. One case of primary lymphosarcoma of the spleen is reported.