Solid tumors after chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients: Report of six cases and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Malignancies have been reported to occur with increased frequency in chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients. The aim of this study was to describe which second malignancies occur in patients with CLL, whether these malignancies are related to CLL, its treatment, or both. We also attempt to study factors predicting the development of other malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2009, six cases of CLL associated with solid tumor were diagnosed in Hematology Department of Military Hospital of Tunis. The diagnosis of CLL was made by immunophenotyping of peripheral blood circulating B cells, and the diagnosis of solid tumors was made by biopsy with anatomopathological exam and immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 71 years. Five patients were male. The CLL was classified Stage A in one case, Stage B in three cases and Stage C in two cases. Two patients had abnormal karyotype. Three patients have not received specific treatment for their CLL. Solid tumors were represented by skin cancer in three cases, lung cancer in two cases and breast cancer in one case. The median time between diagnosis of CLL and that of solid tumor was 53 months. CONCLUSION: Patients with CLL have an increased risk of developing a second cancer. Awareness of risk factors could permit early detection.

Evaluation of serum VEGF levels in untreated erythrocytosis patients.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the involvement of angiogenesis in the etiopathogenesis of the different classes of erythrocytosis (polycythemia vera PV, idiopathic erythrocytosis and secondary erythrocytosis). The angiogenic activity was evaluated by the assessment of the serum VEGF levels in 78 untreated erythrocytosis patients and 21 healthy subjects. The results indicated that VEGF was overproduced in advanced and untreated PV patients and at less degree, in early PV, a subgroup of idiopathic erythrocytosis, thus confirming an increased angiogenic activity. However, VEGF does not play an angiogenic role in secondary erythrocytosis.

[Deficiencies of physiological coagulation inhibitors in children with venous thromboses of the lower limbs. Prospective study of 6 cases]. / Déficts des inhibiteurs physiologiques de la coagulation dans les thromboses veineuses des membres inférieurs de l'enfant. Etude prospective de six cas.

Six patients aged 3 to 14 years with lower limb vein thrombosis were included in a prospective study of deficiencies in physiological coagulation inhibitors. The laboratory evaluation included standard hemostasis tests, tests for circulating anticoagulants, immunological and functional assays of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III, and a study of fibrinolysis. A qualitative protein S deficiency with decreased fibrinolysis and protein C deficiency were found. The family study detected asymptomatic heterozygotes in both families investigated. No antithrombin III deficiency or circulating anticoagulants were found.