Successful immunosuppressive therapy for a patient with hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome

We encountered a patient with hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who responded to immunosuppressive therapy including antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin A (CsA). A 13-year-old girl was referred to our hospital because of pancytopenia. Bone marrow smears disclosed extreme hypocellularity without cellular atypism. A diagnosis of aplastic anemia was made, and immunosuppressive therapy consisting of ATG, CsA, granulocytecolony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), methylprednisolone, and danazol was started. A month later dysplastic cells appeared in the bone marrow. The karyotype of pretreatment bone marrow cells was 46, XX, del (13) (q12; q14). Therefore, the final diagnosis was hypoplastic MDS. CsA and danazol were continued. The patient became transfusion-independent 1 month later and dysplastic cells disappeared from bone marrow 3 months later. The chromosomal abnormality also became undetectable 6 months after the initiation of treatment. These findings indicated that immunosuppressive therapy is beneficial for patients with hypoplastic MDS.     

Aplastic anemia which terminated in hypoplastic leukemia 10 years after diagnosis

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of further examination of anemia in November, 1978. She was diagnosed as having aplastic anemia, which was not associated with any atypical findings. Treatment with oxymetholone had been effective. However, she developed pancytopenia in January, 1988. A bone marrow aspiration revealed a hypocellular marrow with 75.6% blasts. Following two courses with low dose cytosine arabinoside and vitamin D3, the leukemia improved although she needs red cell transfusions at intervals of one to two months because of persistent pancytopenia. We present a patient with aplastic anemia who developed a hypoplastic leukemia at the tenth year of the disease.     

An unclassifiable case of hypoplastic leukemia in old age treated successfully with vincristine and prednisolone

An 80-year-old male was admitted because of dizziness and palpitation. Laboratory investigation revealed pancytopenia. A bone marrow aspirate showed a markedly hypocellular marrow with 41.6% blast cells. Peroxidase activity was negative and PAS reaction was block positive in the blast cells. Surface markers of these cells were positive for HLA-DR antigen and partially positive for CD13 (MY7). Other markers, such as T, B or myeloid antigens were all negative. These blast cells were classified as L1 according to the FAB system but suggested essentially unclassifiable in cell differentiation. The patient was treated successfully with vincristine and prednisolone and induced into complete remission although repeated marrow examination findings revealed hypocellular. As for the classification of hypoplastic leukemia, lymphoid or primitive "stem cell" leukemia also should be considered as other categories of acute leukemias and be treated according to each case.     

Primary splenic lymphoma with hypoplastic bone marrow

A 44-year-old man was admitted because of persistent fever and pancytopenia. Because his bone marrow was hypoplastic and the karyotype of his marrow cells was normal, he was given a diagnosis of aplastic anemia, and treated with glucocorticoids and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Splenomegaly was later found and a splenectomy performed: pathological findings on resected tissue specimens disclosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, B-cell diffuse large. The patient was transferred to our hospital, where a bone marrow biopsy revealed lymphoma cells infiltrating his hypoplastic marrow. Complex chromosomal abnormalities were detected in marrow cells, but no lymphadenopathy was observed. A diagnosis of primary splenic lymphoma with infiltration of lymphoma cells into bone marrow was made, and chemotherapy was accordingly started. After multiple cycles of chemotherapy, the patient's marrow recovered to a normal state and his karyotype abnormalities disappeared. Six months later, pancytopenia reappeared and lymphoma cells were again detected in the patient's bone marrow. We reasoned that the hypoplastic state of his bone marrow was associated with the lymphoma, and that cytokines, including interferon-gamma, may have been responsible for this association.     

IBL-like T cell lymphoma associated with early gastric cancer: a case report

A 67-year-old man was admitted in October 1987 with complaints of nausea, headache, dizziness and speech disturbance. Hematological examination showed pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration failed with a dry tap. A month later, the second aspiration showed hypocellular marrow containing 18.2% of lymphoma cells. Physical examination showed splenomegaly and lymph node swelling. Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia was not observed. A lymph node biopsy exhibited typical histology of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (IBL)-like T cell lymphoma. Surface marker CD3 and CD4 positive cells were dominant. The patient complained of epigastric pain and occult blood was positive in stool. Gastrofiberscopic examination disclosed well differentiated adenocarcinoma in situ located on a polyp, and polypectomy was performed. Lymphoma was treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vinblastine and prednisolone. Splenomegaly and lymph node swelling were reduced in size but the effect was temporary. Thereafter the patient has been treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vindesine, prednisolone and etoposide every 3 weeks. This is our first case report of IBL-like T cell lymphoma associated with early gastric cancer.     

Hemophagocytic Syndrome Caused by Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis and Cytomegalovirus Infection: Report of a Case

We report a case of hemophagocytic syndrome that developed in a 35-year-old, Japanese male with fulminant ulcerative colitis. The patient underwent an emergency operation, consisting of subtotal colectomy, ileostomy with rectal preservation (suprapubic mucous fistula). After the operation, peripheral blood counts showed progressive pancytopenia and bone marrow aspirate smears revealed hypocellular bone marrow with an increase in histiocytes, indicating hemophagocytic syndrome. Viral studies (serum antibody titer and antigenemia of cytomegalovirus) revealed systemic cytomegalovirus infection. The patient was diagnosed with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome and was successfully treated with antiviral therapy consisting of intravenous ganciclovir, gamma globulin, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.     

Massive plasmocytosis due to methimazole-induced bone marrow toxicity.

Pancytopenia is a rare complication of the thionamide therapy reported secondary to aplastic anemia, the bone marrow being invariably hypocellular. We present a case of a 16-year-old female with Graves' disease who presented with massive bone marrow plasmocytosis mimicking multiple myeloma. The patient had already been on methimazole for a month when she was admitted to the Pediatric Unit with the diagnosis of sepsis. CBC revealed pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspirations showed hypocellular-normocellular bone marrow, 98% of plasma cells. At that time, MMI was discontinued and the patient was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics, dexamethasone, and G-CSF. Bone marrow aspiration day +4 still showed hypo-normocellular marrow, with remaining 6% plasma cells. Myeloma screen was negative; ANC >1,000 at day +7, platelets >50,000 at day +24. Twenty-four months after patient's discharge, her clinical condition, CBC, and bone marrow remained normal. To our knowledge this is the first report of pancytopenia due to MMI, where the usual hypoplasia found is replaced by massive plasmocytosis.     

1 alpha(OH) D3 (Alfarol) is effective for the treatment of chronic B cell leukemia: a case report

We reported a case of chronic B-cell leukemia reacted to the administration of 1 alpha (OH)D3 (Alfarol-CHUGAI Pharm. Co.), The patient showed pancytopenia with IgM-kappa type monoclonal protein in the serum. The bone marrow aspiration was failed due to a dry tap, but the biopsied specimen showed a marked infiltration of small sized lymphoid cells with wide cytoplasm. The leukemic cells from peripheral blood showed a morphology of atypical hairy cells, Surface markers of the leukemic cells were IgM, D(kappa)+, CD 19+, CD 20+, CD 21- and HLADR+, The leukemic cells showed no L-tartrate resistant acid phosphatase sensitivity. This case was diagnosed as a chronic B-cell leukemia closely related to a hairy cell leukemia. The treatment with estrogen-chlorambucil compound (Bestrabucil-KUREHA Chem, Co.) or splenic irradiation was not effective. However, after two months' administration of Alfarol the regular blood transfusion was not needed because of increment of the Hb concentration. After eight months of its administration, the bone marrow aspirate showed a marked decrease in the number of the leukemic cells and a restoration of normal hematopoietic cells. This experience suggested that Alfarol in usefull for the treatment of chronic B cell leukemia including hairy cell leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.     

Hodgkin lymphoma accompanied by aplastic anemia and polyclonal expansion of large granular lymphocytes

Immunologic abnormalities have been described in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. The concurrent diagnoses of Hodgkin lymphoma and acquired aplastic anemia, however, is extremely rare. We report a 56-year-old Japanese female patient with severe aplastic anemia and increased large granular lymphocytes prior to the recurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma. After being in remission for 10 years from Hodgkin lymphoma, she developed progressive pancytopenia. The large granular lymphocytes (expressed CD3+ CD8+ TCRalphabeta+) had a polyclonal distribution, the serum-soluble FasL concentration was significantly elevated, and bone marrow biopsy showed severely hypocellular bone marrow without infiltration of abnormal lymphocytes. No lymphadenopathy was observed that would suggest a relapse of Hodgkin lymphoma. A diagnosis of aplastic anemia was made, and treatment with corticosteroids and cyclosporine was initiated. Two months later, she suddenly developed celiac and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. She underwent one cycle of chemotherapy before she died of progressive pancytopenia. Autopsy revealed the recurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma, nodular sclerosis in the lymph nodes and markedly hypocellular bone marrow. Although autoimmune disorders are described in Hodgkin lymphoma, our case shows a rare instance of a patient who had aplastic anemia as the first manifestation of a relapse of Hodgkin lymphoma.     

Effective treatment combining antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporin A, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for atypical paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria accompanied by bone marrow hypoplasia

A 25-year-old man was admitted for evaluation of pancytopenia on May 2, 1997. On admission, he had pancytopenia with a normal reticulocyte count. Bone marrow aspirate specimens displayed a normal karyotype and hypocellularity without myelodysplasia. Although total bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase levels were within their normal ranges, the haptoglobin level was low; additionally, two-color flow cytometric analysis determined that 3.3% of erythrocytes were double-negative for CD55 and CD59 expression. Atypical paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with bone marrow hypoplasia was diagnosed. Because initial treatment with cyclosporin A was not effective, the patient was subsequently given a combination of antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporin A, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Although the pancytopenia subsided, the percentage of double-negative erythrocytes in the patient's blood remained almost unchanged compared to findings obtained on admission.     

GOLD-INDUCED BONE MARROW APLASIA: SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH ANTITHYMOCYTE GLOBULIN

A patient receiving gold treatment for rheumatoid arthritis developed sudden severe pancytopenia secondary to bone marrow aplasia. She required extensive hematological support but was unsuitable for bone marrow transplantation.
Although early use of large doses of a chelating agent did not change the hematological parameters, subsequent use of antithymocyte globulin has been associated with substantial hematological improvement.     

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia initially presenting with bone marrow necrosis

We report on a case of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with massive bone marrow necrosis. A 4-year-old boy complained of fever and leg pain. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia, but bone marrow examination showed only necrotic materials. About one month later, repeated bone marrow examination showed leukemic cells and the necrotic marrow had disappeared. The patient was treated with standard chemotherapy and was successfully induced to complete remission. Patients with massive bone marrow necrosis should undergo bone marrow examination repeatedly to make the correct diagnosis.     

Dyskeratosis congenita with hypoplastic anemia: a stem cell defect

A case of dyskeratosis congenita (DC) with pancytopenia was studied in an attempt to elucidate the cause of the hypocellular bone marrow and pancytopenia. Levels of erythroid hemopoietic stem cells were estimated by clonal cell culture. Results showed a decrease in the number of precursor cells in both the bone marrow and the peripheral blood of this patient.     

CD5- CD11c+ CD23- small lymphocytic lymphoma evolving from aplastic anemia

A 91-year-old woman was hospitalized with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to pneumonia in June 1997. Since she had pancytopenia and a bone marrow aspirate indicated hypocellularity with no increase in myeloblasts, dysplasia or abnormal chromosomes, aplastic anemia (AA) was diagnosed. Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and antibiotics proved successful, and blood cell numbers stabilized. In June 2001, she was readmitted to our hospital with persistent low grade fever and leukopenia. A bone marrow aspirate from the sternum and iliac bone biopsy revealed compact proliferation of small lymphocytes, and the surface marker CD5- CD10- CD11c+ CD19+ CD20+ CD23- was detected through immune staining and flowcytometry. CD30+, CD34+and CD56+cells were scarce. Tests for surface immunoglobulins, IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD, were negative. No nodal or extranodal lesions were evident. Since Southern blot analysis of bone marrow cells indicated rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain and abnormal chromosomes were evident, small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) was diagnosed. Four intravenous infusions of rituximab (375mg/m2) were administered without critical adverse effects. Tests conducted four weeks later revealed saturation of CD20+ antigens of lymphoma cells and chromosomal abnormalities and rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain were still apparent. Though complete remission of the pancytopenia was not achieved, serum concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase and soluble interleukin-2 receptor decreased, and the numbers of platelets and erythrocytes increased. There was also an improvement in systemic condition. This was a rare case of SLL having the surface marker of CD5- CD10- CD11c+ CD19+ CD20+ CD23-, which had evolved from AA and infiltrated bone marrow.     

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia preceded by a hemophagocytic syndrome-like state

A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for acute hepatitis of unknown cause. His liver function improved with rest, but worsened 2 months later. He developed a high fever and pancytopenia. The serum level of cytokines including TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and M-CSF was elevated, and hemophagocytes were seen in bone marrow. These findings suggested a hemophagocytic syndrome-like state. With prednisolone, gamma-globulin, and G-CSF, the high fever disappeared and the patient's liver function gradually recovered. However, the severe pancytopenia persisted. The bone marrow became acellular with a small number of hemophagocytes, and hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia was diagnosed. After immunosuppressive therapy with ATG, CyA and G-CSF was started, and the patient showed hematopoietic reconstitution. The bone marrow CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio recovered to within the normal range, and the serum cytokines including TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma decreased. The increase in serum cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha and INF-gamma, as well as the presence of activated T cells associated with the preceding hemophagocytic syndrome-like state may have predisposed this patient to aplastic anemia.     

Zoledronate-induced remission of acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis

Acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis is a rare and aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia. We describe a new case with a huge proliferation of megakaryocytes, blast cells and reticulin fibers. The patient was treated with zoledronate, a third-generation bisphosphonate, and a gradual recovery from pancytopenia was observed. A new bone marrow biopsy performed 4 months later showed a surprising disappearance of the leukemic infiltration. Ten months after the diagnosis, the patient is still in healthy condition. This may support the recently described anti-tumor activity of zoledronate.     

Hepatosplenic αβ T-Cell Lymphoma with Myelodysplastic Syndrome

We describe a patient with hepatosplenic 33 T-cell lymphoma who showed pancytopenia and myelodysplasia. A 35-year-old man was admitted with fever, pancytopenia, and hepatosplenomegaly but with no lymphadenopathy. We also found trilineage myelodysplasia in the bone marrow on his first admission.The patient had high fever and anemia but no evidence of infection and was tentatively treated with prednisolone. This treatment resulted in a transient improvement of the cytopenia and a reduction of spleen size. However, 10 months after the first manifestation, progression of the splenomegaly and fever became apparent, and a splenectomy was performed. The pathologic findings for the spleen showed diffuse and disseminated infiltration of medium- to large-sized T-lymphocytes in the splenic red pulp. These cells were immunohistochemically positive for CD3, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD16, CD56,T-cell receptor 33 (TCR33),T-cell intracellular antigen 1, and granzyme B but were negative for CD4, CD30, CD57, and TCR33. These data suggested a diagnosis of hepatosplenic 33 T-cell lymphoma. A Southern blot analysis revealed gene rearrangement of the TCR 3-chain gene but not the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene in the spleen cells. An in situ hybridization analysis for the Epstein-Barr virus revealed negative results. The patient received 8 courses of combination chemotherapy and achieved a partial remission; however, the dysplastic features of the marrow cells persisted after the partial remission was obtained. Additional treatment with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation resulted in a transient complete remission; however, the patient relapsed 11 months later. Because he had experienced no lymphadenopathy and showed dysplastic features in the bone marrow, the diagnosis was highly dependent on the pathologic findings for the resected spleen.     

Antithymocyte globulin treatment of severe aplastic anaemia

Nineteen patients with severe aplastic anaemia were treated with antithymocyte globulin. Ten patients obtained remissions (transfusion independent, at least 45000 platelets and 2000 PMN/mm³) within 2–3 months and continue in remission 5–35 months after antithymocyte globulin. Ages of responders ranged from 17 to 71. Complications of antithymocyte globulin included arthralgias, rash, serum sickness, angioedema and fever. Two patients died during, two shortly after, and one 10 months after therapy. One patient with a previous remission following antithymocyte globulin relapsed and achieved a second remission with retreatment. Previous androgen therapy did not affect outcome since two of four patients with and eight of 15 patients without previous androgen therapy achieved remission with ATG. Treatment with antithymocyte globulin is a promising alternative to bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of severe aplastic anaemia.     

Sustained remission of MDS overt leukemia associated with abrupt discontinuation of immunosuppression following relapse after the second course of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The case of a 32-year-old female with relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after second course of allogeneic transplantation is described. The peripheral blood stem cell transplantation was performed as early as 3 months after the initial bone marrow transplantation because of rejection and relapse; however, the patient again relapsed 2 months later. Immediate discontinuation of cyclosporine resulted in the progression of pancytopenia and the development of high fever, liver dysfunction and skin eruption. The patient was then treated with dexamethasone, which successfully stabilized these symptoms. After these clinical events, a dramatic hematological response was obtained; the blast rate was reduced from 10.6 to 0% in bone marrow aspiration, and pancytopenia was restored to normal levels. Moreover, fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses with X and Y chromosome-specific probes revealed that hematopoietic precursor cells were predominantly of donor origin. The patient subsequently received donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) from the original donor. Currently, 2 years after DLI, the patient continues to be in remission.     

Prolonged pancytopenia in a gene therapy patient with ADA-deficient SCID and trisomy 8 mosaicism: a case report

A patient with adenosine deaminase-deficient severe combined immune deficiency (ADA-SCID) was enrolled in a study of retroviral-mediated ADA gene transfer to bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. After the discontinuation of ADA enzyme replacement, busulfan (75 mg/m2) was administered for bone marrow cytoreduction, followed by infusion of autologous, gene-modified CD34+ cells. The expected myelosuppression developed after busulfan but then persisted, necessitating the administration of untransduced autologous bone marrow back-up at day 40. Because of sustained pancytopenia and negligible gene marking, diagnostic bone marrow biopsy and aspirate were performed at day 88. Analyses revealed hypocellular marrow and, unexpectedly, evidence of trisomy 8 in 21.6% of cells. Trisomy 8 mosaicism (T8M) was subsequently diagnosed by retrospective analysis of a pretreatment marrow sample that might have caused the lack of hematopoietic reconstitution. The confounding effects of this preexisting marrow cytogenetic abnormality on the response to gene transfer highlights another challenge of gene therapy with the use of autologous hematopoietic stem cells.