Implementation of a roadmap for the comprehensive diagnosis, follow-up, and research of childhood leukemias in vulnerable regions of Mexico: results from the PRONAII Strategy.

The main objective of the National Project for Research and Incidence of Childhood Leukemias is to reduce early mortality rates for these neoplasms in the vulnerable regions of Mexico. This project was conducted in the states of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala. A key strategy of the project is the implementation of an effective roadmap to ensure that leukemia patients are the target of maximum benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, clinicians, surveyors, and laboratories. This strategy guarantees the comprehensive management of diagnosis and follow-up samples of pediatric patients with leukemia, centralizing, managing, and analyzing the information collected. Additionally, it allows for a precise diagnosis and monitoring of the disease through immunophenotype and measurable residual disease (MRD) studies, enhancing research and supporting informed clinical decisions for the first time in these regions through a population-based study. This initiative has significantly improved the diagnostic capacity of leukemia in girls, boys, and adolescents in the regions of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala, providing comprehensive, high-quality care with full coverage in the region. Likewise, it has strengthened collaboration between health institutions, researchers, and professionals in the sector, which contributes to reducing the impact of the disease on the community.

Epidemiology of childhood acute leukemias in marginalized populations of the central-south region of Mexico: results from a population-based registry.

Introduction: Acute leukemias (AL) are the main types of cancer in children worldwide. In Mexico, they represent one of the main causes of death in children under 20 years of age. Most of the studies on the incidence of AL in Mexico have been developed in the urban context of Greater Mexico City and no previous studies have been conducted in the central-south of the country through a population-based study. The aim of the present work was to identify the general and specific incidence rates of pediatric AL in three states of the south-central region of Mexico considered as some of the marginalized populations of Mexico (Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Oaxaca). Methods: A population-based study was conducted. Children aged less than 20 years, resident in these states, and newly diagnosed with AL in public/private hospitals during the period 2021-2022 were identified. Crude incidence rates (cIR), standardized incidence rates (ASIRw), and incidence rates by state subregions (ASIRsr) were calculated. Rates were calculated using the direct and indirect method and reported per million children under 20 years of age. In addition, specific rates were calculated by age group, sex, leukemia subtype, and immunophenotype. Results: A total of 388 cases with AL were registered. In the three states, the ASIRw for AL was 51.5 cases per million (0-14 years); in Puebla, it was 53.2, Tlaxcala 54.7, and Oaxaca de 47.7. In the age group between 0-19 years, the ASIRw were 44.3, 46.4, 48.2, and 49.6, in Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Oaxaca, respectively. B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most common subtype across the three states. Conclusion: The incidence of childhood AL in the central-south region of Mexico is within the range of rates reported in other populations of Latin American origin. Two incidence peaks were identified for lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias. In addition, differences in the incidence of the disease were observed among state subregions which could be attributed to social factors linked to the ethnic origin of the inhabitants. Nonetheless, this hypothesis requires further investigation.

["Seronegative" catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in pediatrics: Clinical case]. / Síndrome antifosfolípido catastrófico "seronegativo" en pediatría: Caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: The antiphospholipid syndrome is an acquired autoimmune thrombophilia, characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis. Rarely, this condition can have a catastrophic presenta tion, with high mortality, and presence of microangiopathy and involvement of three or more organs. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation and evolution of a pediatric patient with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, with a seronegative onset form, whose response to aggressive therapy was favorable. CLINICAL CASE: Adolescent female, with a one-week history of pain, increased abdo minal volume and edema in the lower extremities. Generalized lupus erythematosus was diagnosed and the neoplastic process was ruled out. During its evolution, she presented various thrombotic events, initially with the presence of negative antiphospholipid antibodies, which were subsequently positive. The patient presented multisystemic failure secondary to multiorgan thrombosis, required hemodynamic and ventilatory support. It was managed with low molecular weight heparin, plas mapheresis, anticoagulation, immunosuppression and boluses of rituximab with excellent response. CONCLUSIONS: We consider this case interesting because it is an infrequent diagnosis in the pediatric age and whose suspicion, timely and aggressive intensive management, can change the poor progno sis and high mortality of these patients.

Síndrome antifosfolípido catastrófico "seronegativo" en pediatría: caso clínico / "Seronegative" catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in pediatrics: clinical case

INTRODUCCIÓN: El síndrome antifosfolípido es una trombofilia adquirida autoinmune, caracterizada por trombosis arteriales y/o venosas. En raras ocasiones este cuadro puede tener una presentación catastrófica, de elevada mortalidad, con presencia de microangiopatia y compromiso de tres o más órganos. OBJETIVO: Describir la presentación clínica y evolución de una paciente pediátrica con síndrome antifosfolípido catastrófico, con forma de inicio seronegativa, cuya respuesta a terapia agresiva fue favorable. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente femenina adolescente, que debutó cuadro de una semana de evolución de dolor, incremento del volumen abdominal y edema en extremidades inferiores. Se diagnosticó lupus eritematoso generalizado y se descartó proceso neoplásico. Durante su evolución pre sentó diversos eventos trómboticos, al inicio con presencia de anticuerpos antifosfolípido negativos, que posteriormente fueron positivos. Cursó con deterioro multisistémico secundario a trombosis multiorgánica, requirió soporte hemodinámico y ventilatorio. Se manejó con heparina de bajo peso molecular, plasmaféresis, anticoagulación, inmunosupresión y bolos de rituximab con excelente respuesta. CONCLUSIONES: Consideramos este caso de interés por tratarse de un diagnóstico infrecuente en la edad pediátrica y cuya sospecha, manejo intensivo y oportuno, puede cambiar el pronóstico sombrío y de alta mortalidad de estos pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: The antiphospholipid syndrome is an acquired autoimmune thrombophilia, characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis. Rarely, this condition can have a catastrophic presenta tion, with high mortality, and presence of microangiopathy and involvement of three or more organs. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation and evolution of a pediatric patient with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, with a seronegative onset form, whose response to aggressive therapy was favorable. CLINICAL CASE: Adolescent female, with a one-week history of pain, increased abdo minal volume and edema in the lower extremities. Generalized lupus erythematosus was diagnosed and the neoplastic process was ruled out. During its evolution, she presented various thrombotic events, initially with the presence of negative antiphospholipid antibodies, which were subsequently positive. The patient presented multisystemic failure secondary to multiorgan thrombosis, required hemodynamic and ventilatory support. It was managed with low molecular weight heparin, plas mapheresis, anticoagulation, immunosuppression and boluses of rituximab with excellent response. CONCLUSIONS: We consider this case interesting because it is an infrequent diagnosis in the pediatric age and whose suspicion, timely and aggressive intensive management, can change the poor progno sis and high mortality of these patients.