Mielodisplasia hiperfibrótica: relato de caso com resposta à terapia com corticosteróides

Context: Bone marrow fibrosis is observed in different clonal hematological disorders including myeloproliferative diseases, acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. In myelodysplastic syndrome a new clinical-pathological entity with significant increase in reticulin fibers has been suggested, and the term hyperfibrotic myelodysplasia was used to define it. Bone marrow biopsy shows increased reticulin fibers, megakaryocytic hyperplasia and dysplasia. Differential diagnosis with primary myelofibrosis may be difficult and hybrid cases may occur. Patients with hyperfibrotic myelodysplastic syndrome responding to treatment with steroids have been reported. In the majority of cases there was only hematological remission, although resolution of fibrosis occurred in one patient. Design: Case report. Case report: A 62-year old male presented in June 95 with a 6-month history of lethargy and dispnea. On examination he was pale without hepato-splenomegaly. Hemoglobin concentration was 3g/dL with marked anisocytosis without teardrop cells. Bone marrow aspirates resulted in dry tap. Bone marrow biopsy showed hypercellularity with increased fibrosis (grade IV) obliterating the normal marrow architecture. Megakaryocytes were increased in number, with abnormal morphology. Monoclonal antibodies against factor VIII and CD31 revealed that both were expressed in megakaryocytes. Prednisone (1mg/Kg) was introduced in June 1996, after what his symptoms lessened and hemoglobin increased. Bone marrow fibrosis decreased (grade IV to grade II). He has become transfusion independent till Jan/1999, when hemoglobin fell to 6g/dL and prednisone was reintroduced with a prompt rise in hemoglobin concentration.Contexto: A fibrose de medula óssea é encontrada em algumas doenças hematológicas clonais, incluindo síndromes mieloproliferativas, leucemias agudas e síndromes mielodisplásicas. Nas síndromes mielodisplásicas, uma nova entidade clinicopatológica com acentuado aumento das fibras de reticulina tem sido sugerida, e o termo síndrome mielodisplásica hiperfibrótica é usado para sua definição. A biópsia de medula óssea mostra aumento das fibras de reticulina e hiperplasia megacariocítica com displasia. O diagnóstico diferencial com mielofibrose primária é difícil, e casos híbridos podem ocorrer. Pacientes com síndromes mielodisplásicas hiperfibróticas que respondem à terapia com corticosteróide têm sido descritos. Na maioria dos casos a remissão é apenas hematológica, mas resolução da fibrose de medula óssea já ocorreu em um paciente. Planejamento: Relato de caso. Relato: Paciente do sexo masculino, 62 anos de idade, apresentou-se, em junho de 1995, com história de seis meses de letargia e dispnéia. Ao exame, mostrou-se pálido, sem hepatoesplenomegalia. A concentração de hemoglobina foi de 3g/dl, com acentuada anisocitose, mas sem células em lágrimas. Os aspirados de medula óssea mostraram-se secos, enquanto a biópsia revelou hipercelularidade e fibrose grau IV, obliterando a arquitetura habitual. Os megacariócitos estavam em número aumentado, com morfologia anômala, reagindo com anticorpos antifator VIII e CD31. Com a introdução de prednisona 1mg/kg em junho de 1996, os sintomas reduziram, a hemoglobina elevou-se e a fibrose cedeu para grau II, tornando-se independente de transfusões até janeiro de 1999. Então, a hemoglobina caiu para 6g/dl e, com a introdução de prednisona, houve pronta elevação da hemoglobina.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 and MDM2 expression in Hodgkin's disease

CONTEXT and OBJECTIVE: Tumor cells in Hodgkin's disease (HD) express cell proliferation markers that are evaluated according to the oncogenes involved or the expression of their proteins. Correlations between the protein expression grade and clinical data are now important for disease prognosis.DESIGN and SETTING: This was a retrospective analysis on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 and MDM2 (murine double minute-2) expression using immunohistochemistry, on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from diagnostic biopsies on 51 patients with HID. the study was conducted at the Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Hospital São Paulo, Universidade Federal de São Paulo.METHODS: Antigen expression was evaluated as the proportions of positive Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells and reactive lymphocytes (L), which were compared using Spearman correlation coefficients. the Friedman test was used for comparisons between the markers. the Pearson test was used to investigate associations between marker expression and clinical and laboratory parameters, marrow involvement, complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) rates.RESULTS: There was overexpression of antigen proteins in HRS, in relation to L (p < 0.001). in HRS, MDM2 was higher than p53 and PCNA (p < 0.003), while the latter two were equivalent. in L, p53 was lower than MDM2 and PCNA (p < 0.001), while the latter two were equivalent. There was no relationship between protein expression and clinical and laboratory variables or outcome.CONCLUSIONS: PCNA, p53 and MDM2 are tumor markers for HID, but showed no clinical or prognostic significance in our analysis.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Hosp São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Hematol & Transfus Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Hosp São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Hematol & Transfus Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Association of myelodysplastic syndrome with CD5+, CD23+ monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FADA (Unifesp)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)University of Salamanca Department of Medicine Servicio General de CitometriaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Pathology DepartmentUNIFESP, Pathology Department05/57792-0142968/2006-4PDEE BEX 1025/05-8SciEL

Prognostic factors in non-Hodgkin lymphomas

CONTEXT: In Hodgkin's disease, each clinical or pathologic stage can be related to the extent of the area involved and predicts the next anatomical region at risk for tumor dissemination. OBJECTIVE: To determine the best prognostic factors that could predict survival in non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. DESIGN: A retrospective study. LOCATION: Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Escola Paulista de Medicina. PARTICIPANTS: 142 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed between February 1988 and March 1993. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Histological subset, Sex, Age, Race, B symptoms, Performance status, Stage, Extranodal disease, Bulk disease, Mediastinal disease, CNS involvement, BM infiltration, Level of DHL, Immunophenotype. RESULTS: In the first study (113 patients), the following variables had a worse influence on survival: yellow race (P<0.1); ECOG II, III e IV (P<0.1) and extranodal disease (P<0.1) for high grade lymphomas; constitutional symptoms (P<0.1), ECOG II, III e IV (P<0.1) and involvement of CNS (P<0.1) for intermediate grade and the subtype lymphoplasmocytoid (P=0.0186) for low grade lymphomas. In the second survey (93 patients), when treatment was included, the variables related to NHL survival were: CNS involvement (P<0.1) for high grade lymphomas, constitutional symptoms (P<0.1), ECOG II, III, IV (P=0.0185) and also CNS involvement (P<0.1) for the intermediate group. There were no variables related to the survival for low-grade lymphomas. CONCLUSIONS: The intermediate grade lymphomas were more compatible with data found in the literature, probably because of the larger number of patients. In this specific case, the treatment did not have an influence on the survival.CONTEXTO: Na doença de Hodgkin, cada estágio clínico ou patológico pode ser relacionado com a extensão da área envolvida e predizer a próxima região anatômica de risco para disseminação. OBJETIVO: Estabelecer os fatores prognósticos que melhor predizem sobrevida em LNH. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Estudo retrospectivo LOCAL: Disciplina de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Escola Paulista de Medicina. PARTICIPANTES: 142 pacientes com LNH diagnosticados entre fevereiro de 1988 e março de 1993. VARIÁVEIS ESTUDADAS: Tipo histológico, sexo, idade, raça, sintomas, sitação performance, estágio, doença extranodal, desenvolvimento de Bulk, comprometimento mediastinal, envolvimento do SNC, infiltração da medúla óssea, nível de desidrogenose láctica, fenótipo imune. RESULTADOS: Ao primeiro estudo (113 pacientes), as seguintes variáveis tiveram uma pior influência na sobrevida: raça amarela (P<0.1); ECOG II, III e IV (P<0.1) e doença extranodal (P<0.1) para os linfomas de alto grau; sintomas constitucionais (P<0.1), ECOG II, III e IV (P<0.1) e envolvimento de SNC (P<0.1) para os linfomas de grau intermediário e o subtipo linfoplasmocitóide (P=0.0186) para os linfomas de baixo grau. Ao segundo estudo (93 pacientes), quando inclui-se o tratamento, as variáveis relacionadas a sobrevida foram : envolvimento de SNC (P<0.1) para o linfomas de alto grau; sintomas constitucionais (P<0.1), ECOG II, III, IV (P=0.0185) e envolvimento de SNC (P<0.1) para o grupo intermediário. Nenhuma variável relacionou-se com a sobrevida para os linfomas de baixo grau. CONCLUSÕES: Os linfomas de grau intermediário, provavelmente devido ao maior número de pacientes, foram mais compatíveis com os dados encontrados na literatura. Neste caso específico, o tratamento não influenciou a sobrevida.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Cytogenetics, JAK2 and MPL mutations in polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia

BACKGROUND: The detection of molecular and cytogenetic alterations is important for the diagnosis, prognosis and classification of myeloproliferative neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to detect the following mutations: JAK2 V617F, JAK2 exon 12 and MPL W515K/L, besides chromosomal abnormalities. Furthermore, molecular and cytogenetic alterations were correlated with the leukocyte and platelet counts, hemoglobin levels and age in all patients and with the degree of fibrosis in primary myelofibrosis cases. METHODS: Twenty cases of polycythemia vera, 17 of essential thrombocythemia and 21 of primary myelofibrosis were selected in the Hematology Department of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) between February 2008 and December 2009. The JAK2 V617F, JAK2 exon 12 mutations, MPL W515K and MPL W515L mutations were investigated by real-time PCR and direct sequencing. G-band karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to detect chromosomal abnormalities. RESULTS: Chromosomal abnormalities were observed only in polycythemia vera (11.8%) and primary myelofibrosis cases (17.6%), without correlation to clinical data. Chromosomal abnormalities were not detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The JAK2 V617F mutation was observed in polycythemia vera (90%), primary myelofibrosis (42.8%) and essential thrombocythemia (47%). Patients with JAK2 V617F-negative polycythemia vera had lower platelet and leukocyte counts compared to V617F-positive polycythemia vera (p-value = 0.0001 and p-value = 0.023, respectively). JAK2 V617F-positive and MPL W515L-positive primary myelofibrosis cases had a higher degree of fibrosis than V617F-negative cases (p-value = 0.022). JAK2 exon 12 mutations were not detected in polycythemia vera patients. The MPL W515L mutation was observed in one case of primary myelofibrosis and in one of essential thrombocythemia. The MPL W515K mutation was not found in patients with essential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis. The MPL W515L-positive patient with primary myelofibrosis had more severe anemia than other patients with primary myelofibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that karyotyping for JAK2 and MPL mutations is useful in the diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasms. The precise pathogenetic contribution of these alterations is still unclear. However, this study adds more information about the pathophysiology of polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Hematology DepartmentUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Rheumatology DepartmentUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Genetics DepartmentUNIFESP, Hematology DepartmentUNIFESP, Rheumatology DepartmentUNIFESP, Genetics DepartmentSciEL

Tissue Microarray Analysis Applied to Bone Diagenesis

Taphonomic processes affecting bone post mortem are important in forensic, archaeological and palaeontological investigations. In this study, the application of tissue microarray (TMA) analysis to a sample of femoral bone specimens from 20 exhumed individuals of known period of burial and age at death is described. TMA allows multiplexing of subsamples, permitting standardized comparative analysis of adjacent sections in 3-D and of representative cross-sections of a large number of specimens. Standard hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and silver methenamine, and picrosirius red staining, and CD31 and CD34 immunohistochemistry were applied to TMA sections. Osteocyte and osteocyte lacuna counts, percent bone matrix loss, and fungal spheroid element counts could be measured and collagen fibre bundles observed in all specimens. Decalcification with 7 % nitric acid proceeded more rapidly than with 0.5 M EDTA and may offer better preservation of histological and cellular structure. No endothelial cells could be detected using CD31 and CD34 immunohistochemistry. Correlation between osteocytes per lacuna and age at death may reflect reported age-related responses to microdamage. Methodological limitations and caveats, and results of the TMA analysis of post mortem diagenesis in bone are discussed, and implications for DNA survival and recovery considered

Establishment of Bone Marrow Stroma from Patients at Pre and Post-Mobilization for Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Transplantation

Univ Texas MD Anderson Canc Ctr, Houston, TX 77030 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv State São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc