ABSTRACT
Hepatitis E is an enterically transmitted and typically self-limited infection, that is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E viral infection has traditionally been considered an acute. Chronic hepatitis E is rare and occurs mainly in immunosuppressed individuals such as transplant recipients, HIV patients with low CD4 count and in patients with hematological malignancies receiving chemotherapy.
Subject(s)
Hematologic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Hepatitis E/diagnosis , HIV Infections/complications , Hepatitis E virus , Hepatitis, Chronic , HumansABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the antibody response to combined passive-active immunization versus active immunization against hepatitis B in 71 patients with acute leukemia with negative hepatitis B virus serology at presentation. METHODS: The first group (n=28) received a double dose of hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, 2 and 6 months and immunoglobin (HBIG) at 0 and 1 month concurrently with vaccine but at a different intramuscular site. The second group (n=43) received double dose of hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months. HBsAg and anti-HBs titers were determined one month after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th doses of vaccine. ESULTS: In the vaccine-only group, 2.56%, 8.33%, 14.28% and 34.29% of patients developed anti-HBs titer ≥10 IU/L after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th doses of vaccine, respectively. In the HBIG group, 91.30%, 91.30%, 69.56% and 73.91% of patients developed anti-HBs titer ≥10 IU/L after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th doses of vaccine, respectively. Those in the vaccine-HBIG group maintained their anti-HBs titer ≥10 IU/L from the 1st to the 4th doses. In the vaccine-only group, 34.29% of patients gained protective antibody titer after receiving the 4th dose of vaccine. Subgroup analysis of age (pediatric vs adult) and disease (acute lymphoblastic leukemia vs acute myeloid leukemia) groups showed no effect of either on the development of protective antibody titer. The incidence of HBsAg positivity one month after the 4th dose of vaccine was 8.62%. No patient became positive for anti-HCV or HIV antibody before or after chemo therapy. CONCLUSION: Combined HBIG and vaccine may protect acute leukemia patients during the intensive chemotherapy period.
Subject(s)
Eosinophilia/complications , Eosinophilia/etiology , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/complications , Thrombophlebitis/etiology , Eosinophilia/physiopathology , Humans , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Thrombophlebitis/physiopathologyABSTRACT
A young adult was diagnosed to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia, T-cell immunophenotype and was initiated on chemotherapy. He presented with acute renal failure two days after the completion of his induction regimen. A renal biopsy showed features of necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN). Serology for c-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) was positive and a final diagnosis of ANCA-associated necrotizing crescentic GN was made. Aggressive immunosuppression could not be used due to the presence of nosocomial pneumonia and the patient expired 26 days after the renal biopsy diagnosis. We report for the first time the association of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with crescentic GN and, hence, expand the list of malignancy-related ANCA-positive GN.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury/etiology , Glomerulonephritis/complications , Kidney/pathology , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications , Acute Kidney Injury/immunology , Acute Kidney Injury/pathology , Adolescent , Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Glomerulonephritis/immunology , Glomerulonephritis/pathology , Humans , Kidney/immunology , Male , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/immunologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the treatment and outcome of children with acute myeloid leukemia. The Primary objectives were to assess remission rates, treatment related toxicity and disease free survival. Secondary objective was to assess prognostic factors associated with poor outcome. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia, less than 18 year of age from Sept 2005 to Aug 2009 was done. Clinical laboratory, treatment and follow up records retrieved to calculate remission rate, treatment related toxicity, disease free survival and poor prognostic factors. RESULTS: This analysis included thirty five patients (male : female; 23:12), twenty seven (77.1%) achieved remission after one 3 + 7 induction and seven required two inductions. High dose cytosine arabinoside consolidation was given in thirty one patients while one underwent allogenic stem cell transplantation. Two patients died during chemotherapy (TRM- 5.7%), two did not complete the therapy, seventeen relapsed (48.5%) with 80% of relapses occurring within first year of remission and no relapse occurred after 2 years. Fourteen patients are in remission (40%, follow up 5-54 months) and cumulative median disease free survival is of 13 months. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggests that 3 + 7 induction, followed by high dose cytarabine consolidation has low treatment related toxicity and resource utilization; however, relapse free survival is inferior to more intensive regimens, highlighting the need to intensify chemotherapy regimen once the treatment related mortality has been minimized.