Use of plasma exchange in methotrexate removal in a patient with osteosarcoma and acute renal insufficiency

Acute renal failure induced by methotrexate (MTX) can be lethal because renal excretion of the drug can be delayed. Pre-existing renal impairment, abstention, or underdosage of folinic acid and inadequate hydration facilitate toxicity. the prolonged high serum levels of MTX result in severe mucositis and pancytopenia, but strategies useful to accelerate MTX removal have not been universally accepted. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with osteosarcoma who was treated with high-dose MTX because of thoracic tumor recurrence. No side effects were observed after 2 cycles of high-dose MTX; however, after the third cycle there was a delayed MTX elimination followed by clinical toxicity. Forty hours post-MTX infusion the serum level of MTX was 5.39 x 10(-4) mol/L. Treatment was based on symptomatic measures, such as maintenance of an abundant and alkaline diuresis and parenteral administration of folinic acid. Concomitantly, plasma exchange was employed to accelerate MTX removal and reduce its toxicity. After 24 days, she was discharged from the hospital, and her renal function recovered gradually. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Hematol & Transfus Med Serv, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilGRAAC, IOP, Pediat Oncol Inst, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Hematol & Transfus Med Serv, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Why do we waste anti-D immunoglobulin in early miscarriage?

OBJECTIVE: evaluation of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) in patients who would need Rh alloimmunization with anti-D immunoglobulin (300 mug) prophylaxis after early miscarriage. METHOD: we included in the study Rh (D) negative blood group patients with positive or unknown Rh (D) partners, who had had a miscarriage up to 12 weeks of gestation, and had been admitted to hospital for uterine curettage. After this procedure 5 ml of venous blood was collected from the patients and the rosette test was applied to screen which patients would need quantitative determination of fetal blood transferred to the maternal circulation, by the Kleihauer-Betke test (K-B). RESULTS: out of 26 patients evaluated the rosette test was positive in one , who showed an FMH of 1.5 ml in the K-B test. CONCLUSIONS: the dose of anti-D immunoglobulin used in cases of miscarriage up to 12 weeks of gestation should be substantially reduced. The availability of preparations of 50 mug is recommended, for a more inexpensive and rational treatment.OBJETIVO: avaliação da hemorragia feto-materna (HFM) nas pacientes que receberiam profilaxia da aloimunização Rh com emprego de imunoglobulina anti-D (300 mig), pós-aborto precoce. MÉTODO: foram admitidas no estudo pacientes do grupo sanguíneo Rh negativo, com parceiro Rh positivo ou ignorado, com quadro de aborto até 12 semanas de gestação internadas para curetagem uterina. Uma amostra de 5 ml de sangue venoso destas pacientes foi obtida após o procedimento, na qual realizamos o teste qualitativo de roseta para detectar quais casos necessitariam determinação quantitativa do volume de sangue fetal transferido para circulação materna, que foi então apurado pelo teste de Kleihauer-Betke (K-B). RESULTADOS: das 26 pacientes avaliadas, em uma o teste de roseta foi positivo, e o teste de K-B apontou HFM de 1,5 ml. CONCLUSÕES: a dose de imunoglobulina anti-D nos casos de abortamento até a 12ª semana de gestação deveria ser substancialmente reduzida, parecendo-nos oportuna a disponibilização no mercado nacional de apresentação com 50 mig, que representaria além da economia, maior racionalidade

Duffy-negative is associated with hemolytic phenotype of sickle cell anemia

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Hematol & Hemoterapia, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Hematol & Hemoterapia, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Importance of combined-modality therapy for primary bone lymphoma

Primary bone lymphoma (PBL) is a rare entity and comprises about 5% of all extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and 7% of all primary bone tumors. To date there is no consensus about the optimal treatment for PBL. We retrospectively reviewed all cases of PBL treated at Hospital São Paulo, Brazil, over a 10-year-period (January 1992-January 2002). Medical records of 7 patients with PBL were reviewed and information on age at diagnosis, sex, NHL clinical staging (CS), treatment and response to treatment were retrieved. Five patients (72%) received combined-modality therapy (CMT) and all of them are in complete remission (CR) with a median follow up of 19 months (ranging from 12 to 144 months). We conclude that PBL is a potentially curable malignancy and treatment should be undertaken in a multiprofessional approach, in order to provide the best support which probably has to include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, for patients with IPI higher than 2, consolidation with stem-cell transplantation.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Hematol & Transfus Med Serv, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Orthoped, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Radiotherapy, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Hematol & Transfus Med Serv, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Orthoped, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Radiotherapy, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc