Mesalazine-associated severe aplastic anemia successfully treated with antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

A 20-year-old male with ulcerative colitis complicated by mesalazine-associated severe aplastic anemia is described. The patient developed aplastic anemia four months after the start of mesalazine therapy. He was treated with antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and responded well. Hematological complications of mesalazine are rare, but if bone marrow suppression is detected, immediate cessation of the drug and intensive immunosuppressive treatment with G-CSF should be considered.

Severe aplastic anemia associated with chronic natural killer cell lymphocytosis.

Chronic natural killer (NK) lymphocytosis involves a persistent increase in CD56+ large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) that is sometimes associated with immune-mediated complications, such as anemia and neutropenia. However, aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare complication. Here we describe 2 patients with severe AA who presented with persistent increases in NK cells. Their LGLs were positive for CD56, CD16, and intracellular interferon (IFN)-gamma but negative for CD3, Fas-ligand, and T-cell receptor rearrangement, findings that are compatible with NK cells. Not only the number of NK cells, but NK activity as well, was increased in both patients. The number of NK cells changed according to hematologic recovery and relapse in 1 case. Thus, there seemed to be a close relationship between NK cells and the progression of AA, at least in this instance. Further investigation of the clinical course of similar cases and the characteristics of NK cells is necessary.

Primary central nervous system lymphomas express Vh genes with intermediate to high somatic mutations.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare disease, especially among non-AIDS patients. Although almost all PCNSLs belong to the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) category, its clinical course differs from that of other types of DLBL. To elucidate the histogenesis of PCNSL, we analyzed the source of the cells from its variable region (VH) sequences using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to amplify the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene of DNA extracted from paraffin sections. Fifteen patients with AIDS-unrelated PCNSL of DLBL type, (7 males and 8 females), were evaluated. Only one case showed positive evidence of EBV infection. The prognosis was very poor with a median survival of 9 months. Analysis of the VH sequences revealed that the VH4 family was used in 4 cases and the VH3 family in 2 cases. The homology with previously published germline sequences was random, ranging from 82.7-93.2%, showing intermediate to high somatic mutations. In 3 of 6 cases, the existence of intraclonal diversity was suspected. These findings suggest that PCNSLs are histogenetically derived from antigen selected B cells in the germinal center (GC) environment.

Cholesterol emboli following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty as speculated by toe skin biopsy.

A 55-year-old man required hemodialysis for acute renal failure 3 days after repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Bilateral acrocyanosis and necrotic lesions of the toes occurred 10 days after PTCA. Skin biopsy samples revealed needle-shaped cholesterol crystals of the intraluminal clefts in his small arteries. He was diagnosed with cholesterol emboli presenting as blue toe syndrome. The conditions improved with anticoagulation and vasodilation, but improvement in renal function was temporary. He later required maintenance hemodialysis. Cholesterol emboli following PTCA are life threatening because they are difficult to diagnose and can cause severe complications.

[Flowcytomeric analysis on neutrophil intracellular enzyme activity in patients on hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis].

To elucidate the mechanism of neutrophil dysfunction in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), intracellular enzyme activity such as oxidative burst, elastase, cathepsin, and collagenase, was investigated. Response of enzyme activity to in vitro addition of TNF-alpha, which is known to have a powerful priming effect on neutrophils, was also evaluated. Peripheral blood from 15 HD and 15 CAPD patients was washed and incubated with Cell Probe, an indicator for intracellular enzyme activity. Mean fluorescent intensity of neutrophils, which represents neutrophil enzyme activity, was measured by flowcytometry. In HD group, unstimulated enzyme activity was similar to that of control, but activity after addition of TNF-alpha was significantly lower than the control. In the group of CAPD, enzyme activity without stimulation was not different from that of control, and in TNF-alpha stimulated neutrophils, only elastase activity was lower than control. Many of the enzyme activities after stimulation were lower in HD than in CAPD. Response to in vitro addition of TNF-alpha was diminished in both dialysis groups, but more prominent in HD neutrophils. Duration of dialysis, serum concentration of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) was significantly related inversely to intracellular enzyme activity in HD patients. To the contrary, in CAPD group, although beta 2-MG and PTH showed similar negative correlation, duration of dialysis was not related to enzyme activity. These results indicate that neutrophils in patients with maintenance dialysis have diminished intracellular oxidative burst, elastase, and cathepsin activity. Especially, impaired response to TNF-alpha closely related to neutrophil dysfunction in dialysis patients.

[Clinical courses and pathological findings in two gay male patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome infected in Japan].

This is a report on the clinical courses and pathological findings in two gay male patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infected in Japan. Case 1. A 39 year-old Japanese homosexual male was diagnosed as amebic dysentery complicated with liver abscess on admission. He was placed on Metronidazole with complete relief. Serological tests was positive for AIDS. On second admission, he was found to have pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and cytomegalo-viral uveitis. Administration of Pentamidine was partially effective, however the therapy with Azidothimidine was discontinued by bone marrow suppression. On his third admission, he suffered from cryptococcal meningitis and therapy-resistant fungusemia. Finally he died of recurrent pneumonia regardless of appropriate therapies. Autopsy proved extended cryptococcal infection in the brain, meninx, lungs, liver and kidney, and cytomegalo-infection in the lungs, liver and kidney. Furthermore, atypical mycobacteriosis was found in the lymph nodes. There was no active findings compatible with PCP. Case 2. A 44 year-old Japanese homosexual male was admitted with oral candidiasis and diagnosed as AIDS related complex. He suffered from pneumonia with marked improvement on sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim. On his second admission, he developed diarrhea and was found to be infected with Giardia lambia. In addition, cytomegalo-viral infection damaged his eye sight. He died of pneumonia and meningitis shortly there after. Autopsy proved a cytomegalo-viral infection in the lung and colon, old lesions possibly caused by PCP in the lungs, and suppurative meningitis in the meninx. These experiences confirm that AIDS patients can be exposed to several opportunistic infections at the same time in the multiple organs. Furthermore, it is suggested that homosexual patients with AIDS may have unique opportunistic infections such as amebic dysentery or Giardia lamblia unlike other AIDS patients related to hemophilia.

[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the uterine cervix complicated by acute renal failure due to ureter obstruction].

An 80-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of irregular genital bleeding. An abnormal mass was found in the uterine cervix, and diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse large B cell type. Soon after admission, the patient became anuric and was given a diagnosis of acute renal failure due to obstruction of the ureter. She was immediately placed on dose-reduced CHOP and radiotherapy of 15 Gy. As a result, not only did the malignant lymphoma go into remission, but diminished renal function was alleviated. Because malignant lymphoma of the uterus is extremely rare, it exact biocharacteristics are not well understood. We are unaware of any previous report concerning uterine lymphoma complicated by renal failure.

[Pharmacokinetics of BHAC, VP-16 and Ara-C derived from BHAC in a hemodialysed patient with AMMoL].

Although recently the occurrence of a malignant neoplasma as a complication of uremia is becoming more frequently, pharmacokinetics of antitumor agents are not precisely studied in patients with impaired renal function. In this report we investigated pharmacokinetics of enositabine (BHAC), arabinosylcytosine (Ara-C) and etoposide (VP-16) in a patient on maintenance hemodialysis who suffered from acute myelomonocytic leukemia and treated by BHAC-EV regimen. Pharmacokinetic parameters of BHAC in uremia were not different from that in patients with normal renal function, and hemodialysis did not affect on the plasma level of BHAC. No significant accumulation of Ara-C was seen in uremia, but there remained the possibility that Ara-C could be removed by hemodialysis. So BHAC was able to be used in uremic patients safely. Since VP-16 was proved to be not a hemodialyzable but an accumulative substance and prolongation of plasma half life was prompt in uremia, VP-16 should be administered to uremic patients very cautiously. From these results BHAC-EV regimen was presumed to be a safely, well tolerated and beneficial regimen in uremic patients.

[Pure red cell aplasia complicated with polyarthritis, angitis, and acute renal failure].

A case of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) with various complications polyarthritis, angitis, acute renal failure and DIC was successfully treated with steroid pulse therapy was described. A 55-year-old woman was hospitalized with a 9-month of intermittent but progressive joint pain, morning stiffness, general fatigue, and fever. Her initial laboratory evaluation revealed a hemoglobin of 4.4 g/dl and absence of reticulocyte. Her bone marrow aspirate showed no erythroblast which was compatible with a diagnosis of PRCA. Marked leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, positive antinuclear antigen, elevation of gammaglobulin and C-reactive protein and the presence of polyarthritis and angitis which was confirmed by renal angiography, indicated an underlying autoimmune disorders. Steroid pulse therapy was administered at 500 mg/day for 3 days, resulting in the complete response in both red cell aplasia and above findings. PRCA is known to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis very rarely, but this case did not fulfill the criteria of known collagen diseases, and there is no previous report representing PRCA with various complications such as polyarthritis, angitis and acute renal failure. This case may help us to understand more about the relationship between PRCA and autoimmune disorders.

[Fulminant hepatic failure induced by intermediate dose methotrexate in a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Methotrexate (MTX) is frequently used as an antifolics agent in many malignant neoplasms such as leukemia, lymphoma and osteosarcoma. The major side effects of MTX are liver and renal damages, bone marrow suppression and so on. But careful management and citrovorum factor rescue could decrease the incidence and degree of these side effects. In this report, we described a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed and died of fulminant hepatic failure soon after the administration of intermediate dose MTX. Serological tests for HB virus were not changed throughout, and lymphocyte stimulation test for MTX was strongly positive. His autopsy revealed no inflammatory cell infiltration into the liver, but marked biliary congestion which is a distinctive feature of drug induced hepatitis. From above results, it was suggested that nature of this fulminant hepatic failure was an allergic reaction to MTX. There is no previous report which is concerning about MTX and fetal drug related hepatic failure.

[Interferon therapy of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

The authors evaluated the efficacy of a daily administration of recombinant human alpha 2a interferon (IFN), given at a dose of 300MU for 12 consecutive days, in patients with steroid-nonresponsive or -dependent idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Nine patients received courses of IFN therapy. Mean platelet counts rose from 1.39 to 10.9 x 10(4)/microliters and PAIgG decreased from 151.7 to 59.7 ng/10(7) cells. The maximum rise in platelet counts occurred from 10 to 42 days (mean 19.1) after the initiation of IFN. Complete response (CR) was achieved in 3 of 13 courses (23.1%), and partial response (PR) in 8 (61.5%). One CR case continued for longer than 20 months without further treatment, but intermittent IFN therapy was necessary for the other. The increment of the platelet counts was transient in all of the partial responders. No severe side effect requiring interruption of the course of IFN was experienced. Both serum IgG and PAIgG significantly correlated with the increment of platelet counts, therefore the mechanism of IFN on ITP was presumed to be associated with the inhibition of autoantibody production. Daily administration of IFN appears to be an effective and safe treatment protocol for refractory ITP.

[High-dose cepharanthin therapy of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

Clinical efficacy of oral high-dose cepharanthin (40-60 mg/day) was evaluated in nine patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who were unable to discontinue the administration of adrenocorticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs. Mean platelet counts significantly (p less than 0.05) rose from 4.5 +/- 0.9 x 10(4)/microliters to 8.9 +/- 4.2 x 10(4)/microliters without any side effects. Two to five months after the initiation of this therapy, 4 patients, including 3 who could discontinue adrenocorticosteroids, kept their platelet counts over 10 x 10(4)/microliters. It was suggested that the oral administration of cepharanthin could be a beneficial and safe strategy for ITP.

[Successful low-dose etoposide therapy for a case of myelofibrosis with chronic myelogenous leukemia megakaryocytic predominance type].

A 38-year-old woman presented with ear pain and vertigo. No hepatosplenomegaly or lymphadenopathy were found, but her platelet counts markedly rose to 414 x 10(4)/microliters with an increase of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow (859/microliters). Cytogenetic assay revealed positive Ph1 chromosome and rearrangement of the break point cluster region (bcr). Although platelet counts remained under 100 x 10(4)/microliters after the administration of carboquone, a high fever and pancytopenia appeared 31 months later. Bone marrow biopsy showed marked myelofibrosis which was improved by low dose etoposide. This case was thought to be Ph1 positive ET, but it was more compatible with CML megakaryocytic predominance type according to the newly proposed "Hannover criteria for myeloproliferative disorders" and cytogenetic assay.

[A case of hemophagocytic syndrome with multiple myeloma].

A case with multiple myeloma complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) is presented. Because pancytopenia, liver dysfunction and increase of mature histiocytes in the bone marrow appeared rapidly a diagnosis of HS was made. The patient died of multiple organ failure, despite steroid therapy. Autopsy revealed marked invasion of hemophagocytic histiocytes not only into the bone marrow but also into many other organs such as the liver, lymph nodes and kidneys. HS is a histiocyte proliferative disorders, which is likely to be seen in immunocompromised hosts, but there is no previous report about HS and multiple myeloma.

[Erythropoietin improved anemia in a case of multicentric Castleman's disease].

Severe anemia A 37 year-old male with therapy resistant multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) anemia was treated by subcutaneous injection of erythropoietin. Although immunoglobulin and CRP concentration increased, anemia obviously improved with hemoglobin levels increasing from 4.8 g/dl to 8.5 g/dl without any side effects. Colony assay revealed that the bone marrow mononuclear cells responded to erythropoietin in a dose dependent manner. The mechanism of anemia of MCD is not clearly understood, and treatment is sometimes very difficult. There is no other previous report concerning erythropoietin as a treatment for anemia in MCD.

[Acute myelomonocytic leukemia complicated with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, nephrotic syndrome, and hemophagocytic syndrome].

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever in August 1991. Bone marrow showed normocellularity with 41.5% of CD13, 14, 33 positive blasts, and a diagnosis of AMMoL was made. Laboratory investigation revealed hyponatremia and elevated serum ADH level, indicating the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Intensive chemotherapy successfully induced hematological complete remission and his serum sodium level became normal. In February 1992, he developed proteinuria and findings were consistent with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Renal biopsy specimen showed membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis and massive infiltration of macrophages, and his serum interleukin 6 level was elevated. Five months later, he suffered from pancytopenia and elevation of biliary enzymes with increase of hemophagocytic histiocytes in his bone marrow (hemophagocytic syndrome). He transiently responded to low dose chemotherapy but he died due to severe infection. It is interesting that association between macrophages and/or cytokines with these various complications was suggested in AMMoL.

[Aplastic anemia with giant splenomegaly and myelofibrosis successfully treated with antilymphocyte globulin].

Severe aplastic anemia was diagnosed in a 58-year-old female because of pancytopenia with leukocyte count 700/microliters, hemoglobin 3.4 g/dl, platelet count 4.2 x 10(4)/microliters and fatty hypoplastic bone marrow in August 1992. In January 1993, she was admitted with an abdominal skin infection caused by pseudomonas aeruginosa. After treatment of the infection, antilymphocyte globulin was given at a dose of 2,000 mg/day for four consecutive days in July 1993. This resulted in a gradual but steady improvement in her hematological data. In February 1995, her leukocyte count increased to 2,000/microliters, hemoglobin to 15.2 g/dl and platelet count to 11.0 x 10(4)/microliters. Although no splenomegaly or myelofibrosis was found previously, from April 1993, the spleen enlarged and was palpable 10 cm below the costal margin. Her bone marrow biopsy in June 1993 revealed prominent myelofibrosis. Thereafter no changes were found in these features. Splenomegaly and myelofibrosis are characteristic of primary myelofibrosis and although the relationship is uncertain, there is no previous report on aplastic anemia with splenomegaly and myelofibrosis.

[RAEB in T with monosomy 7 after treatment of severe aplastic anemia with long term G-CSF].

A 19-year-old male who suffered from severe aplastic anemia had been treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) from September 1991. Marked increase of hematopoietic cells in his bone marrow was observed, and maintenance administration of G-CSF was continued. 15 months later, myeloblasts with nuclear abnormality increased, and 22 months later, myeloblasts with chromosomal abnormality presenting 46, XY, -7, +21 exceeded 20%, and aplastic anemia seemed to be transformed into refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation (RAEB in T). The usefulness of G-CSF in the treatment of aplastic anemia is now established, but there are some reports questioning the effect of long-term administration, especially transformation to MDS with monosomy 7. Leukemic transformation from aplastic anemia is very complex, but in some cases, long term administration of G-CSF may affect the natural course and may lead to the earlier development of leukemia.

[Bilateral ankle ulcers associated with hydroxyurea therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia].

Bilateral ankle skin ulcers developed in a 61-year-old man in the chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia receiving hydroxyurea therapy. The circulating immune complex (anti-C3d antibody) was high in this case, but vasculitis was not observed in the pathological findings of biopsied skin materials. This association has been reported in patients who had chronic myelogenous leukemia or other myeloproliferative disorders and were treated with hydroxyurea. It is likely that skin ulcers are caused by hydroxyurea.

[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia reactivated by alpha-interferon therapy in a case of chronic active C-type hepatitis].

A case with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is presented. A 40-year-old male who had a previous history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia was admitted to our hospital because of chronic C type hepatitis. Liver biopsy was performed, which diagnosed chronic active hepatitis and IFN-alpha was administrated at a dose of 3 Meg unit per day. 11 days after the initiation of the therapy he developed hemolytic anemia, but Coombs tests were negative. Although IFN was withdrawn 15 days later, anemia became progressively more serious. 20 days later, both direct and indirect Coombs tests became positive. He was diagnosed as AIHA and treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, then he recovered soon afterward. Further analysis of Coombs tests revealed that he had both cold type and warm type (IgG) autoantibodies which was the same type of antibodies for AIHA he suffered 10 years ago. In conclusion, latent AIHA may be reactivated by the treatment with IFN-alpha.