Hypopituitarism and hematological abnormalities mimicking myelodysplastic syndrome. Report of four cases

Insufficiency of the pituitary gland and hematological abnormalities may coexist in the context of two syndromes. In the course of some hematopoietic neoplasms, particularly acute leukemias, the pituitary insufficiency may be caused by destruction of the gland either by direct neoplastic infiltration or occlusion of vessels. Alternatively, thy pituitary dysfunction may be associated with but not caused by hematological abnormalities, usually mild peripheral cytopenias. We present four cases of the latter type (1. M/33, pituitary tumor, hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia, anemia, mild leukopenia with leukocytosis, 2. F/54, pituitary tumor, hyperprolactinemia, thyreotropic and corticotropic insufficiency, anemia, thrombocytopenia, mild neutropenia, 3. F/27, pituitary tumor, diabetes insipidus, hypogonadism, sideropenic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, 4. M/24, primary multihormonal insufficiency of the anterior portion of the pituitary gland, neutropenia, microcytosis). Trephine and aspiration bone marrow biopsies revealed topographic and cytological abnormalities partially resembling these found in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Bone marrow cellularity varied markedly between and within the cases, and in three patients abnormal aplastic areas were found. The percentage of hematopoietic stem cells (CD34+) was low in three cases and normal in one case. Pituitary dysfunction may be associated with hematological abnormalities simulating MDS, but showing different, less aggressive clinical course. The proliferative potential of hematopoietic cells is low, the peripheral blood abnormalities are stable, and no patient developed acute leukemia. Detailed bone marrow examination, including the trephine bone marrow biopsy, is useful in differentiation with true MDS, which was also reported in the literature in the patients with pituitary insufficiency.     

New clinical aspects of Pearson's syndrome. Report of three cases

We describe 3 patients affected by Pearson's syndrome, presenting anemia, exocrine pancreas failure, and skeletal abnormalities; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus arose in two cases during the course of the disease. Bone marrow dysplasia and exocrine pancreas failure are also reported in Shwachman's syndrome; the two forms differ in bone marrow morphology. The clinical pattern of Pearson's syndrome can be so polymorphic as to increase the difficulties of differential diagnosis with Shwachman's syndrome.     

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: a clinical and morphologic study of 65 cases

This study consists of 65 patients (pts) who developed a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (39 pts) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (26 pts) following chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; the interval from the onset of therapy to bone marrow abnormality ranged from 11 to 192 months (median, 58). Thirty-three patients had been previously treated for lymphoproliferative diseases, 29 for carcinoma, and three for a nonneoplastic disorder. Approximately 30% of the cases presenting in the MDS phase evolved to AML in one to 12 months (median, 3.5). The AML in 49% of the cases was not readily classified according to French-American-British (FAB) criteria; the primary difficulty in classification related to the involvement of multiple cell lines. Among the cases that could be classified, all FAB types were represented except for M1; M2 was the most frequent type. Clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in marrow specimens from 22 of 24 (92%) patients studied with G banding; 11 had abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and/or 7. The median survival for all patients was four months with no significant difference between those treated and not treated with antileukemic therapy. The median survival was three months for the patients presenting with AML, six months for the patients with AML following an MDS, and four months for the patients with an MDS that did not evolve to AML. The findings in the present study suggest that there are three stages of therapy-related panmyelosis: (1) pancytopenia with associated myelodysplastic changes, (2) a frank MDS, and (3) overt AML. Many patients will present in the stage of overt AML that differs from de novo AML primarily by the high incidence of trilineage involvement, difficulty in classification, frequent cytogenetic abnormalities, and poor response to antileukemic therapy. The myelodysplastic phase, with or without evolution to acute leukemia, is a highly lethal disease with a median survival comparable to that of the patients who present with AML.     

Primary myelodysplastic syndrome in children: the clinical experience in 33 cases

We describe the clinicomorphological features in 33 cases of primary myelodysplastic syndrome classified according to the FAB classification which presented to a single centre over a 12 year period. Presenting features were typically related to pancytopenia although hepatosplenomegaly and granulocytic sarcomas were far more prevalent than in the adult population. Morphological assessment of the peripheral blood and the bone marrow showed seven patients had refractory anaemia (RA), 13 patients had RA with excess of blasts (RAEB), nine patients had RAEB in transformation (RAEB-t) and four patients had chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML). The overall mean survival was short (9.9 months) in all the subgroups and the leukaemic transformation rate was high. None of the patients scored 0-1 according to the Bournemouth Scoring System; four patients scored 2 whereas 29 patients scored 3 to 4. We conclude that unlike adults, the myelodysplastic syndromes in children run an aggressive clinical course, irrespective of the FAB subtype, and the pathogenesis of these diseases in paediatric practice warrants scientific scrutiny. Intensive chemotherapy such as the one used in de novo-AML lead to complete remission in some children and these early results suggest that this should be the treatment of choice in paediatric MDS.     

骨髓增生异常综合征45例患者的染色体核型研究

目的:探讨骨髓增生异常综合征(MDS)患者染色体异常克隆与WHO分型及临床转归的关系。方法:采用骨髓短期培养和G显带技术对45例MDS患者进行染色体核型分析,同时追踪其临床病情进展情况。结果:45例MDS患者中有27例(60%)检出异常克隆。在异常染色体核型中 8和高度复杂异常最多,其次为-7/7q-和复杂异常。难治性贫血(RA)异常核型检出率33.3%,难治性血细胞减少伴多系增生异常(RCMD)异常核型检出率66.6%,难治性贫血伴原始细胞增多(RAEB)异常核型检出率75%。45例患者经追踪观察,16例(35.5%)患者转化为急性白血病,其中复杂和高度复杂核型异常7例,3例 8患者,2例-7/7q-患者,4例在初诊时核型正常。国际预后评分系统(IPSS)评分中低危组和中危1组白血病转化率为0,中危2组白血病转化率为18.2%,高危组为70%,明显高于其他3组,差异有统计学意义。结论:染色体核型分析在MDS的预后评估中有重要价值。     

Caplan's syndrome - a clinical study of 13 cases.

Thirteen cases of Caplan's syndrome were investigated by chest X-ray, rheumatic and immunological tests, heart and lung physiology and pathological-anatomical specimens. No positive correlation was found between exposure time to silica, roentgenolgical findings, degree of rheumatoid factor or physiological findings. In nine of the cases a rapid roentgenological progress took place. Although the combination of lung infiltrations and rheumatic disorders makes an immunological reaction probable, no correlation was found between the degree of rheumatic disorder and roentgenological progress. The hypothesis that silica acts as an adjuvant, which may strengthen an antigen-antibody reaction, was not reflected in rheumatic parameters. The roentgenological examination appeared to be the most sensitive method for following the disease.     

骨髓增生异常综合征99例临床分析

目的探讨骨髓增生异常综合征(MDS)患者WHO亚型分布、细胞遗传学特点及其与MDS诊断分型、疾病进展和预后的关系。方法回顾性分析2001年1月至2007年12月安徽医科大学附属安徽省立医院血液科收治的99例成人原发MDS患者的染色体核型、WHO分型及预后情况,随访观察并进行相关性研究。结果99例MDS患者难治性贫血(RA)型26例(26.26%);难治性贫血伴环形铁幼粒细胞增多(RAS)型6例(6.06%);难治性贫血伴多系发育异常(RCMD)型23例(23.23%);难治性贫血伴原始细胞增多(RAEB)型44例(44.44%)。按IPSS预后分组,中危Ⅱ和高危组的染色体核型异常检出率明显高于低危和中危Ⅰ组(χ2=17.88,P<0.01);中危Ⅱ和高危组患者进展为急性白血病的发生率明显高于低危和中危Ⅰ组(χ2=40.22,P<0.01)。按IPSS染色体核型分组,预后好、中、差的患者中位存活期分别为45(95%CI:39~51)、37(95%CI:25~49)和23(95%CI:13~31)个月,Log-rank检验三组总体生存(OS)率差异有统计学意义(P=0.010)。结论中国有别于西方国家MDS患者的WHO亚型分布,染色体核型分析是MDS诊断分型及预后评估的重要指标。     

60例低增生性骨髓增生异常综合征的临床分析

目的:探讨低增生性骨髓增生异常综合征(Hypo-MDS)的临床特点.方法:根据有关诊断标准;从60例低增生性骨髓增生异常综合征(Hypo-MDS)患者初发病时的临床表现、血象、骨髓象、骨髓病理学和细胞遗传学等方面回顾性分析Hypo-MDS的临床特点,并与同期Normo/Hyper-MDS进行比较分析.结果:共诊治Hypo-MDS60例,男∶女=1.5∶1,血红蛋白(47.15±15.63 g/L),血小板(25.57土18.84)×10 9/L,中性粒细胞(0.81±0.58)×109/L.行染色体检查的39例中,染色体异常12例,根据IPSS,39例低危组有0例,中危组-131例,中危组-27例,高危组1例.结论:Hypo-MDS是MDS的一种特殊类型,不同于Normo/Hyper-MDS.     

Severe symptomatic hyponatremia: treatment and outcome. A study of 64 cases

A serum sodium concentration of 110 mmol/L or less is thought to be extremely dangerous; mortality rates of 33% to 86% have been cited. Experience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine does not corroborate this widespread belief. Among 62 patients with 64 episodes of severe hyponatremia, the mortality rate was only 8%, and most deaths were caused by underlying diseases; with a serum sodium concentration of 105 mmol/L or less, the mortality rate was 5%. Rapid correction of hyponatremia did not account for this favorable prognosis. Only 6% of the 64 cases were corrected to a serum sodium concentration of 120 mmol/L at recommended rates of 1.5 to 2 mmol/(L.h); half of the patients achieved this rate of correction because of a spontaneous water diuresis. In some settings, vigorous therapeutic efforts may have contributed to an adverse outcome. Rapid correction of hyponatremia is not indicated just because the serum sodium concentration is extremely low.     

Studies on CFU-Mix in 54 cases of leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome

By use of limiting dilution assay, it is confirmed that most of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, such as chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, had defect in the stage of pluripotent hemopoietic stem cell. With light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, colonies which originated from leukemic progenitor cells (L-CFU) were ascertained. The incorporated rates of 3H-TdR and 55 + 59Fe showed that proliferative manner of LCFU was apparently different from that of normal adults.     

骨髓增生异常综合征研究进展

骨髓增生异常综合征(myelodysplastic syndromes,MDS)亚克隆在低危组就达到很高比例,驱动基因导致疾病进展。RNA剪接子复合物基因突变与MDS有较高相对特异性,并与疾病临床表现和预后相关。MDS的难治性血胞减少伴单系病态造血(refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia,RCUD)中各亚型,MDS-U(MDS-unclassified,MDS-U)和MDS-RCMD(MDS-refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia,MDS-RCMD)之间,病态造血、生存率和转白率无显著差异。IPSS的修订版和合并症指数更好地对MDS患者的预后和机体状态做出评价。规则去铁治疗可能改善MDS患者生活质量、生存期。促红细胞生成素早期失败者转白率和生存率均差。去甲化药物中阿扎胞苷可能疗效更佳。