Hematoma subcapsular esplénico en paciente portador de rasgo falciforme / Sub capsular splenic hematoma in a sickle cell trait carrier. Case report

Drepanocytic anemia is an uncommon hereditary disease in Chile. The heterozygous state of drepanocytic anemia or "sickle trait" has a frequency of 8 percent among Afro-Americans. A small number of patients carrying hemoglobin S are homozygous, with clinical manifestations of hemolytic anemia and thrombotic disease. Sickle trait is usually asymptomatic. We report a 59-year-old male who presented an acute abdominal pain and dyspnea while staying at high altitude. Six days later, an angio CAT scan showed the presence of a subcapsular splenic hematoma that was managed conservatively. Sickle cell induction with sodium metabisulphite was positive. Hemoglobin electrophoresis confirmed the sickle trait.

[Sub capsular splenic hematoma in a sickle cell trait carrier. Case report]. / Hematoma subcapsular esplénico en paciente portador de rasgo falciforme.

Drepanocytic anemia is an uncommon hereditary disease in Chile. The heterozygous state of drepanocytic anemia or "sickle trait" has a frequency of 8% among Afro-Americans. A small number of patients carrying hemoglobin S are homozygous, with clinical manifestations of hemolytic anemia and thrombotic disease. Sickle trait is usually asymptomatic. We report a 59-year-old male who presented an acute abdominal pain and dyspnea while staying at high altitude. Six days later, an angio CAT scan showed the presence of a subcapsular splenic hematoma that was managed conservatively. Sickle cell induction with sodium metabisulphite was positive. Hemoglobin electrophoresis confirmed the sickle trait.

[Genetic markers as prognostic factors in multiple myeloma]. / La genética como factor pronóstico y terapéutico en el mieloma múltiple.

The search for prognostic factors in multiple myeloma has identified the genetic profile of the tumor as the main determinant of patient survival and response to treatment. There is an association between a dismal prognosis and the presence of t(4:14) translocations or 17p deletion, determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or the detection of chromosome 13 deletion using conventional cytogenetic techniques. These alterations define a subpopulation that comprises 25% of patients with a bad prognosis even if they are treated with high dose chemotherapy These patients should be early derived to more specific therapies. In the other hand, the other 75% of patients without a genetic risk factor, have a higher probability of success with conventional treatment.

La genética como factor pronóstico y terapéutico en el mieloma múltiple: [revisión] / Genetic markers as prognostic factors in multiple myeloma: [revision]

The search for prognostic factors in multiple myeloma has identified the genetic profile of the tumor as the main determinant of patient survival and response to treatment. There is an association between a dismal prognosis and the presence of t(4:14) translocations or 17p deletion, determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or the detection of chromosome 13 deletion using conventional cytogenetic techniques. These alterations define a subpopulation that comprises 25% of patients with a bad prognosis even if they are treated with high dose chemotherapy. These patients should be early derived to more specific therapies. In the other hand, the other 75% of patients without a genetic risk factor, have a higher probability of success with conventional treatment.

[Frequency of venous thromboembolism among hospitalized patients with cancer]. / Frecuencia de tromboembolismo venoso en pacientes hospitalizados con cáncer. Factores de riesgo y eficacia de la tromboprofilaxis farmacológica.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients with cancer have a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). AIM: To study the frequency of VTE and its risk factors in hospitalized patients with cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients with cancer, hospitalized at a university hospital between 2002 and 2004. Patients with the diagnosis of VTE at admission or using anticoagulants, were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: The medical records of 366 patients were reviewed. Fifty three percent had a digestive cancer, 19% lung cancer, 10% breast cancer and 18% had a tumor of other origin. In 77%, the tumor was in an advanced stage. The most common admission diagnoses were pneumonia, vomiting and dehydration, gastrointestinal bleeding and urinary infection. In 125 patients (34%) pharmacological thrombo-prophylaxis was not used and 242 (66%) received regular or low molecular weight heparin. VTE was detected in 11 patients (3%) and was significantly more common among patients not receiving thrombo prophylaxis compared to those receiving heparin (6.4% and 1.2%, respectively p =0.014). Factors associated to VTE were a history of previous VTE with an odds ratio (OR) of 12.9 (p <0.01), obesity with an OR of 13.3 (p <0.01), recent chemotherapy with an OR of 6.9 (p =0.01). The use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis had an OR of 0.24 (p =0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Three percent of patients in this series had VTE during the hospitalization. Pharmacological thrombo-prophylaxis significantly reduced the risk of VTE.

[Intravascular lymphoma treated with anti CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Report of one case]. / Linfoma intravascular tratado con anticuerpos monoclonales anti CD20: descripción de un caso clínico.

We report a 78 year old male with prostatism, that was subjected to a prostate biopsy. The pathological study showed a microvascular lymphocytic infiltration. Four months later, the patients presented with reduced alertness, cough, dyspnea, fever and elevation of lactic dehydrogenase and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Chest and abdominal CAT scans, bone marrow aspirate, protein electrophoresis and prostate specific antigen were normal. A re-evaluation of prostate biopsy showed an intravascular lymphoid infiltration, positive for CD45 and CD20, compatible with the diagnosis of intravascular lymphoma. Chemotherapy was started, but it was not tolerated by the patient and the response was partial. Therefore, treatment with monoclonal antibodies anti CD20 (Rituximab) was started. The tumor had a complete and prolonged (24 months) remission after the treatment