Successful Management of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia in a Patient Who Presented With Acute Ischemic Stroke on Top of Subdural Hematoma.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a distinct subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), is commonly associated with a heightened risk of bleeding due to coagulopathy. Thrombotic events, although less frequent, have also been linked to APL. However, the occurrence of ischemic stroke as an initial presentation of APL, particularly concomitant with central nervous system (CNS) bleeding, is exceedingly rare. The combination of these two complications is not reported in APL patients and is anticipated to carry a high mortality rate even with treatment. In this report, we describe the case of a young female patient with no significant medical history, who presented with decreased consciousness and recurrent seizures. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the simultaneous occurrence of acute ischemic stroke and acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma. The subsequent bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of APL, displaying the characteristic positive promyelocytic leukemia (PML)-retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) t(15;17) translocation. The patient was promptly initiated on a high-risk AML-M3 protocol, coupled with supportive treatment through platelet transfusion. Remarkably, a favorable response to treatment was observed, and a marked improvement in her neurological parameters was observed within 2 weeks duration of treatment. Subsequent assessment through a bone marrow biopsy one month later revealed complete remission, with the PML-RARA fusion gene becoming negative following a single course of consolidation therapy.

Epidemiology of Common Ocular Manifestations among Patients on Haemodialysis in West Bank, Palestine.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of ocular manifestations and associated factors in patients on haemodialysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients on haemodialysis from a haemodialysis unit in Nablus, Palestine, was conducted. Medical examination for ocular manifestations (intraocular pressure, cataract, retinal changes and optic neuropathy) was performed using Tono-Pen, portable slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. Predictor variables were age, gender, smoking, medical comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease [IHD], peripheral arterial disease [PAD]) and use of antiplatelet or anti-coagulation medications. Results: A total of 191 patients were included in this study. The prevalence of any ocular manifestation in at least one eye was 68%. The most common ocular manifestations were retinal changes (58%) and cataract (41%). The prevalence of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and NPDR or PDR was 51%, 16% and 65%. Two patients had PDR in one eye and NPDR in the other, and therefore, they were counted only once making the total for this category 71 rather than 73 patients. An increase in age by one year increased the odds of having cataract by 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-1.14). Patients with diabetes had higher odds of having cataract (odds ratio [OR] = 7.43, 95% CI: 3.26-16.95) and any retinal changes (OR = 109.48, 95% CI: 33.85-354.05) than patients without diabetes. Patients with diabetes and IHD or PAD had higher odds of having NPDR than those with diabetes without IHD or PAD (OR = 7.62, 95% CI: 2.07-28.03). Conclusion: Retinal changes and cataract are common ocular manifestations among patients on haemodialysis. The findings emphasise the importance of periodic screening for ocular problems in this vulnerable population, especially older patients and those with diabetes, to prevent visual impartment and associated disability.

Epidemiology of early infections and predictors of mortality after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation among multiple myeloma, Hodgkin, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the first experience from Palestine.

BACKGROUND: Autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the standard of care in many relapsed and refractory lymphoid malignancy, neuroblastoma, and multiple myeloma (MM). This study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of early infections that occurred within the first 100 days among patients who received HSCT for MM, Hodgkin (HL), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in Palestine. METHODS: This study was conducted in a retrospective cohort design in the only autologous HSCT in Palestine in the period between 2014 and 2021. The medical records of the patients were reviewed to identify and collect demographic, clinical, and microbiological data on bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections as diagnosed by cultures, polymerase chain reaction, and fluorescent antibody testing. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients were included in this study (median age = 44.0 [28.0, 53.5] years). Of those, 8 (5.5%) were younger than 18 years, 69 (47.6%) had MM, 53 (36.6%) had HL, and 23 (15.9%) had NHL. The source of fever had no focus in the majority of the cases 82 (56.6%), 12 (8.3%) had bloodstream infections, 8 (5.5%) had colitis, and 7.6 (5.0%) had pneumonia. Patients from whom gram-negative bacteria were isolated stayed in the hospital for longer duration compared to the other patients (median = 21.0 [19.0, 25.0] vs. 18.0 [15.0, 22.0] days, p-value = 0.043, respectively). The cumulative incidence of death in the first 100 days after infusion of stem cells was 3.4%. The cumulative incidence of death in the first 100 days post-transplantation was higher for patients with NHL compared to those with HL and MM (p-value = 0.017). Gram-negative and fungal infections were strong predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Bacterial gram-positive and gram-negative infections were the most common early infections among patients who underwent autologous HSCT for hematological malignancies (HM) in the only center in Palestine. The findings of this study are informative to healthcare providers and planners of care for patients who are scheduled to receive autologous HSCT for HM.

Successful Treatment for Isolated Bone Marrow Hodgkin Lymphoma in an Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Negative Patient.

BACKGROUND Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoid neoplasm characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in histopathology. It presents with swollen lymph nodes, and in advanced cases, it can involve bone marrow. Isolated and primary involvement of Hodgkin lymphoma in bone marrow is a very rare presentation, especially in an HIV-negative patient, and has a high mortality rate, even with appropriate management. CASE REPORT A 36-year-old male patient presented with a 6-month history of chills, night sweats, and generalized weakness. Laboratory investigations showed pancytopenia. A peripheral blood smear was unremarkable. A bone marrow biopsy revealed Reed-Sternberg cells, consistent with Hodgkin lymphoma. Further imaging did not show any lymphadenopathy, and the spleen was normal. Therefore, primary bone marrow Hodgkin lymphoma was diagnosed at stage IV, with an International Prognostic Score of 5 potential unfavorable factors. He was started on conventional chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma and received the first cycle of ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) during his hospitalization. Meanwhile, he had fever without focus, and was managed empirically by broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment (piperacillin-tazobactam). Hospitalization lasted for 2 weeks. He continued to receive other cycles as an outpatient, with good clinical response. The patient remained in complete remission after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS Isolated Hodgkin lymphoma of bone marrow is a very rare scenario, especially in HIV-negative patients, with no established management for patients. Here, we report a patient successfully treated with a conventional chemotherapy protocol for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with uncommon cardiac invasion.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common histologic subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Secondary involvement of the heart is seen late in advanced cases, it is uncommon for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma to present as intracardiac mass. A 26-year-old female patient presented with progressive shortness of breath, facial swelling, and lower limb edema. Imaging investigations by echocardiography and computed tomography showed a large right atrial mass that was obstructing the tricuspid valve. Open biopsy was taken, histopathology showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. She received six cycles R-CHOP chemotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) with complete resolution of the mass. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma can present with atypical and uncommon sites such as the heart as the first presentation. Early diagnosis and appropriate management is crucial given the poor outcome with late presentation. A high index of suspicion and the proper investigations is recommended to allow for early intervention and favorable outcomes as what happened with the case under discussion.

Impact of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Implantation of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump on the Outcome of an Acute Total Obstruction of the Left Main Coronary Artery.

BACKGROUND: Acute total occlusion of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is a fatal event; most patients die before reaching hospitals. Few of them reach the hospital alive. Revascularization of the LMCA can be achieved by surgical intervention or percutaneous coronary intervention with unknown optimal modality. However, mortality of those patients is very high even with either; few cases reported successful management of acute total occlusion of the LMCA including our patient. Case Presentation. A 56-year-old male patient who is a smoker presented with typical chest pain worsened 2 hours prior to admission. He was hemodynamically stable, but he had respiratory failure due to pulmonary edema. An electrocardiogram showed anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was given loading doses of dual antiplatelet agents, in addition to respiratory support, then transferred immediately to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Urgent cardiac catheterization showed total occlusion of the LMCA. Recanalization was done successfully, and a stent was inserted in the LMCA and left anterior descending artery. The patient developed cardiogenic shock during the procedure. An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was applied which improved his hemodynamic status and enhanced his coronary flow. He is clinically improved, there was resolution of ST elevation, and cardiogenic shock gradually resolved. IABP was removed, and the patient was discharged in good general condition. CONCLUSIONS: Survival after acute total occlusion of the LMCA is very rare. The good outcome in this patient is attributed to early recognition and timely successful intervention, with good respiratory and hemodynamic support. The surgical and anaesthesia team should be on stand-by until complete revascularization and stabilization of the patient are achieved.

Impact of Prone Position on 12-Lead Electrocardiogram in Healthy Adults: A Comparison Study with Standard Electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: The standard electrocardiogram (ECG) is commonly performed in the supine posture. It may be difficult to report ECG in a supine posture for those who are unable to adopt the supine posture because of certain circumstances such as acute respiratory distress syndrome-patients who are placed in a prone position for long periods to improve oxygenation. Few data are available on the impact of the prone position on the ECG recording with electrodes on the posterior chest. Examining and analyzing the type and extent of changes observed in the prone ECG in healthy adults have become vitally valuable. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study enrolled forty healthy adults (24 males and 16 females) aged between 18 and 40 years. The ECG was performed in two different body positions, supine and prone. Influence of prone position on the heart rate, mean QRS axis, amplitude, morphology, duration, mean T wave axis and polarity, mean P wave axis, PR, and mean QTc duration was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean heart rate was higher in the prone position (73.2 ± 12.4 bpm) compared with the supine position (69.5 ± 11.5 bpm, p = 0.03). The QRS duration decreased considerably from supine (92.8 ± 12.6 ms) to prone (84.9 ± 11.9 ms, p < 0.001). The mean QRS axis moved to the left in the prone posture (40.5° ± 32°) relative to the supine (49° ± 28°, p=0.015). The QRS amplitude in the precordial leads was significantly decreased from supine (7.42 ± 3.1 mV) to prone (3.68 ± 1.7 mV, p < 0.001). In addition, changes in the QRS morphology in leads V1-V3 with the appearance of new Q waves were noted. A notable variation in the mean corrected QT (QTc) period with decrease in duration in prone posture ECG (385 ± 64.8) relative to supine (406 ± 18.8, p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prone position ECG resulted in significant changes in healthy adults that should be aware of this as this can affect diagnosis and management strategies. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of prone position on ECG recording in patients with cardiovascular diseases.