[Plasma cell leukemia (IgA-lambda type) with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia]

An 84-year-old woman was admitted to Ehime University hospital because of fever and generalized swelling of lymph nodes. On admission, she did not have any bone diseases. The laboratory data included a WBC count of 60,900/microliter, with 80.5% atypical plasma cells in the peripheral blood and 26.4% in the bone marrow. The patient's serum total protein was 9.3 g/dl with increased polyclonal gamma-globulin (62.4%). Serum levels of LDH (1,986 IU/l) and IL-6 (34.3 pg/dl) were also elevated. Immunofixation-electrophoresis detected a monoclonal band defined as IgA-lambda type, with a broad band of polyclonal immunoglobulin. Southern blotting analysis demonstrated rearranged monoclonal bands in the JH and J lambda genes. Based on these findings, plasma cell leukemia (IgA-lambda type) was diagnosed. The patient was treated with combination chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia and achieved complete remission. However, she died of aspergillus sepsis two months after admission. After chemotherapy, the patients IgG and IgM levels normalized but IgA still showed a slight increase. IL-6 also decreased, from 34.3 pg/dl to 10.2 pg/dl. To our knowledge, this report is the first in the literature concerning a case of plasma cell leukemia with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia.

[Plasma cell leukemia (IgG kappa) presenting bilateral neurosensory hearing loss and left sixth cranial nerve plasy]

A 30-year-old man who had been given a diagnosis of IgG-kappa multiple myeloma by another hospital and treated with melphalan, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide 6 months earlier, was admitted to our hospitaly in July 1994 because of progressively impaired hearing in both ears, vertigo, and worsening fatigue. Peripheral blood examination showed a white blood cell count 25,000/microliter, with 77.5% atypical plasma cells. Examination at the time of hospitalization also revealed retinal hemorrhages and serum hyperviscosity. The diagnosis was plasma cell leukemia with hyperviscosity syndrome. Subsequent treatment consisted of vincristine, doxorubicine, and prednisone and repeated plasmapheresis. This resulted in a partial response and a reduction of serum viscosity but no reversal of hearing loss. One month after admission, left sixth cranial nerve plasy was demonstrated. Cranial computed tomography studies disclosed a tumoral mass in the sphenoid sinus. The patient received local radiotherapy and intensive chemotherapy, but exhibited no notable alleviation of his cranial nerve palsy. He died of septicemia and progressive disease in August 1994. This case was rare in that it involved plasma cell leukemia and bilateral neurosensory hearing loss associated with serum hyperviscosity and sixth cranial nerve plasy due to plasmacytoma within the sphenoid sinus.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance evolving directly in primary plasma cell leukemia

A case of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) which evolved directly into primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is reported. Even if MGUS and PCL represent the opposite aspects of the same immunoproliferative disorder, no previous cases of this direct evolution have been described, as stated by an accurate review of the specific literature. The patient abruptly developed PCL after five months from the discovery of a serum monoclonal spike, without any other clinical, laboratory and radiological abnormalities. The practical conclusions of this case report indicate that a patient with MGUS must be followed periodically and over an indefinite period, and that PCL must be considered into the possible evolution of MGUS.

Pyomyositis of the anterior tibial compartment

Five oncology patients developed bacterial pyomyositis involving the anterior tibial compartment and resulting in compartment syndrome with ischemia and abnormalities of neuromuscular function. All patients were neutropenic and thrombocytopenic, and four were receiving or had recently received cancer chemotherapy. Three infections were due to gram-negative bacilli and two to Staphylococcus aureus. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy and surgical drainage in four patients resulted in the resolution of these infections with good residual muscle function. To our knowledge, primary pyomyositis has never previously been known to cause compartment syndrome.

[Plasma cell leukemia associated with monocytosis]

A 51-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in December 1993, because of fatigue. Peripheral blood tests showed a WBC of 49,400/microliter with 36% plasma cells and 35% monocytes, Hb 14.5 g/dl, and Plt 137,000/microliter. Bone marrow aspirate revealed hypercellularity with 48.7% plasma cells and 22.4% monocytes. Plasma cells in blood were positive for CD38 and PCA-1. Serum calcium, IgA and M-CSF levels were elevated to 14.1 mg/dl, 2,337 mg/dl and 2.7 ng/ml, respectively. Immunoelectrophoresis of serum and urine revealed IgA lambda type M protein and lambda type Bence Jones protein, respectively. Rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy chain and light chain were demonstrated by Southern blotting analysis. Plasma cell leukemia (IgA lambda type) was diagnosed. He was treated with combination chemotherapy and IFN-alpha and achieved complete remission. However, he suffered a meningeal relapse in February 1995, and died in April 1996. It seems likely that the enhanced production of M-CSF by myeloma cells and/ or activated B cells stimulated monocyte production.

[Clinical and evolutive study of plasma cell leukemia. Apropos of 9 cases]

Nine patients were diagnosed with plasma cell leukemia (PCL) from 1982-1995 at our hospital. Seven patients had primary PCL and the other two patients a secondary from. In this study the clinical and analytical features are reported, as well as the therapy and response obtained in these patients. Also, the karyotype findings in bone marrow of four of these patients are reported. At diagnosis, the most common symptom was bone pain which was associated with osteolytic lesions or diffuse bone demineralization. Analytical features were similar to those reported in other series of patients with PCL. Different therapeutical regimens were used, and VAD was the most commonly employed. Two patients underwent consolidation therapy with autologous transplantation of hemopoietic stem cells. The mean survival time was 5.5 months. Although PCL prognosis associated with chemotherapy is still poor, myeloablative therapy with hemopoietic support can increase the survival length in these patients.

Increased serum CA125 levels in plasma cell dyscrasias

We report 2 cases of plasma cell dyscrasia presenting with significantly elevated serum CA125 levels. The serum levels of CA125 from these patients correlated well with their serum M-protein levels. One patient had an IgG-kappa type extramedullary plasmacytoma with the culture supernatant from lymph node plasma cells showing a considerably high level of CA125 activity. The serum IgG fraction purified using a protein A column was devoid of any detectable CA125 activity, negating that the serum IgG M-protein from this patient might respond with a false-positive result in the CA125 immunoradiometric assay. The other patient had an IgG-lambda type plasma cell leukemia with the culture supernatant from peripheral mononuclear cells also showing a high level of CA125 activity. These observations may suggest that in plasma cell dyscrasias the CA125 antigen is spontaneously produced by tumor cells.

[Hypercirculatory heart failure in a patient with plasmacytic leukemia]

High cardiac output failure/state (HCOF) is regular feature of some illnesses e.g. thiamine deficiency, hyperthyroidism, severe anemia, Paget's disease or arteriovenous fistulae. HCOF in multiple myeloma is reported quite rarely. 31-year-old man was admitted because of fatigue, dyspnea and subfebrilities. Heart rate was 116/min, sinus rythm blood pressure 110/60 mmHg. Chest film showed cardiomegaly with sings of interstitial pulmonary edema, echocardiography mild dilatation of the left ventricle with hyperkinetic wall motion and small pericardial effusion. Hemoglobin was 104 g/l, leukocyte count 13.5 x 10(9)/l with 30% of plasmatic cells. Serum protein electrophoresis demonstrated a monoclonal gammapathy, X ray studies of the skelet multiple osteolytic lesions. Diagnosis of plasmocytic leukemia-form of multiple myeloma was established and chemotherapy (vincristine + adriamycine + dexamethason) was started. Patient cardiac status deteriorated. Cardiac catheterisation demonstrated mean righ atrial pressure of 25 mmHg, mean pulmonary artery pressure of 28 mmHg and pulmonary artery wedge pressure of 24 mmHg. Co was 20.0 l/min (C.I. 11.5 l/min/m2). In continuing of chemotherapy and symptomatic therapy for heart failure patients status gradually improved and complete remission of the myeloma and normalisation of cardiac parameters was achieved. Heart failure in multiple myeloma patients has been attributed to amyloidosis of myocardium, hyperviscosity syndrome, co-existing CAD or anthracycline toxicity. HCOF should be considered in patients with clinical evidence of heart failure and normal left ventricular function.

Primary plasma cell leukemia with extensive dense osteosclerosis: complete remission following combination chemotherapy

Diffuse osteosclerotic myeloma is very rare, and primary plasma cell leukemia with extensive osteosclerosis is even more rare. We describe a 71-year-old man who presented with severe anemia and dense widespread osteosclerosis similar to the X-ray finding of myelosclerosis. His peripheral blood showed 40% plasma cells. Bone marrow examination revealed heavy plasma cell infiltration with marked myelofibrosis and myelosclerosis. Protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated an M-protein of IgG-lambda type. He was treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone for 10 months. A complete remission was obtained, with disappearance of M-protein and circulating plasma cells and normalization of complete blood counts, bone marrow picture, and biochemical parameters, as well as complete regression of myelofibrosis and osteosclerotic lesions. Unmaintained complete remission lasted for more than 1 year and he survived for more than 22 months. Our case indicated that one must include in the differential diagnosis of an osteosclerotic lesion the possibility of multiple myeloma, and that combination chemotherapy can induce a complete remission in this disease.

[Pleural effusion in plasmacytic leukemia]

Multiple myeloma affects predominantly osseous spaces and the close vicinity of bones. A plasmacellular exudate is rare. The authors describe the course of plasmacellular leukaemia in a 68-year-old female patient where the first symptom of the disease was anaemia and a dextrolateral pleural exudate with a cytological finding of plasma cells. The exudate disappeared after the first cycle of chemotherapy and intrapleural administration of cytostatic. After the third cycle of chemotherapy remission of the disease was recorded which was, however, short. After three months' remission (six months after establishment of the diagnosis) the disease exacerbated violently, the dextrolateral exudate reappeared and gradually the insufficiency of the infiltrated bone marrow increased. The patient died one month after the relapse of the disease. The finding of a plasmacellular exudate must be considered the sign of a very poor prognosis and in that case very aggressive treatment is indicated.

Plasma cell leukemia with myelofibrosis

We describe a case of plasma cell leukemia associated with myelofibrosis. A 60-year-old woman was admitted due to lumbago and monoclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Peripheral blood showed about 40% of plasma-cell-like cells. A bone marrow aspiration was dry tap. The patient was diagnosed as having plasma cell leukemia with myelofibrosis by bone marrow biopsy. Plasma cell leukemia as well as myelofibrosis improved with combination chemotherapy using vincristine, pirarubicin, and dexamethasone. However, when plasma cell leukemia became resistant to chemotherapies, myelofibrosis also reappeared. This case strongly suggests the pathogenetic relationship between plasma cell leukemia and myelofibrosis.

[Primary plasma cell leukemia complicated with high-output cardiac failure and hyperammonemia]

A 23-year-old male patient with plasma cell leukemia showed characteristic clinical features: accelerating heart failure and consciousness disturbance accompanied with an increase of plasma cells in peripheral blood. Evaluation of cardiac function revealed a hyperdynamic cardiac state with low somatic vascular resistance, indicating high-output cardiac failure. However no disorders causing high-output cardiac failure were found. Consciousness disturbance and hyperammonemia with serum amino acid abnormality of unknown origin were also demonstrated. After intensive combined chemotherapy (MVD + VAD), high-output cardiac failure and hyperammonemia improved with disappearance of plasma cells, suggesting that these symptoms were closely related with progression of plasma cell leukemia.

Plasma cell leukemia presenting as a pancreatic mass

A 62-year-old woman presented with a 3-week history of obstructive jaundice. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed marked enlargement of the head of the pancreas and a prominent pancreatic body, suggestive of a neoplasm with associated pancreatitis. The peripheral blood showed an increased number of plasma cells accounting for 50% of the leukocytes. Biopsy specimens of the pancreas, liver, and a peritoneal lymph node showed a diffuse infiltrate of typical and atypical plasma cells (50% of which had cytoplasmic IgG-lambda). Serum and urine protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal IgG-lambda spike and Bence Jones-lambda protein, respectively. The bone marrow was diffusely infiltrated by plasma cells. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a plasma cell leukemia presenting as a pancreatic mass producing extrahepatic biliary obstruction.

[Primary plasma cell leukemia associated with hypercalcemia]

A 34-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of anorexia and nausea in September, 1987. On admission, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypercalcemia were observed, and the peripheral blood showed leukocytosis with atypical plasma cells (50%). Bone marrow aspiration showed hypercellularity, with a presence of atypical plasma cells (82%). The M-type protein in the serum and urine was identified as lambda Bence Jones protein by immunoelectrophoresis. On systemic skeletal X-rays, osteolytic lesions were not detected. Thus, a diagnosis of plasma cell leukemia associated with hypercalcemia was made. Hypercalcemia was treated successfully with overhydration. However the disease was refractory to combination chemotherapy, and at 10 months after diagnosis, he died of septic candidiasis. Hypercalcemia associated with plasma cell leukemia in its initial stage is rare.

Plasma cell leukemia and hyperviscosity syndrome

A 56-year-old man had dyspnea, weight loss, hemoptysis, and a generalized bleeding diathesis. Physical examination disclosed hepatosplenomegaly, congestive heart failure, and multiple sites of bleeding. Severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, rouleaux formation, and a leukocytosis with circulating immature plasma cells were observed, along with azotemia, hyperuricemia, and marked elevation of total proteins with a monoclonal IgG kappa spike. The finding of increased serum viscosity confirmed the clinical impression of the hyperviscosity syndrome. Emergency plasma exchange produced marked improvement in the clinical manifestations of hyperviscosity syndrome. Systemic chemotherapy resulted in a partial remission of the disease, but the patient ultimately died of complications of treatment. In this review, we discuss the diagnosis and management of the hyperviscosity syndrome.

Parasellar syndrome caused by plasma cell leukemia

A 71-year-old man had incomplete third cranial nerve palsy caused by plasma cell leukemia and a parasellar plasmacytoma. This is the first reported case of plasma cell leukemia in which a central nervous system sign was the initial manifestation. Only one previous case of intracranial plasmacytoma associated with plasma cell leukemia has been reported. The characteristics of intracranial plasmacytomas and of plasma cell leukemia are discussed.

[Plasma cell leukemia. Study of 10 cases]

Ten patients with plasma cell leukaemia (PCL), out of 259 cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed in the Haematology Service of the University Hospital of Barcelona in the last 18 years, are presented. Of the 10 PCL cases, 5 were primary and 5 were secondary. Anaemia and thrombocytopenia, along with massive plasma cell infiltration of the bone marrow, were the most striking findings. Osteolytic lesions were present in 9 of the cases and liver involvement in two. Chemotherapy including vincristine and prednisone was administered to eight patients, associated to alkylating agents (melphalan and/or cyclophosphamide) in six of them. Four of these patients received also adriamycin and BCNU. Two objective responses were achieved, lasting for 10 and 3 months, the remaining six patients failed to respond. The median survival for all the PCL patients was less than one month (ranging between 0.2 and 14 months). None of the secondary PCL patients survived for 2 months after diagnosis. Infection (3 cases of septicaemia and 3 of pneumonia), renal failure (2 cases) and liver insufficiency (1 case) were the causes of death in the nine deceased patients. The therapeutic possibilities for this severe haemopathy are discussed.

Plasma cell leukemia with IgA paraproteinemia and hyperviscosity

Primary IgA plasma cell leukemia is a rare disorder in which hyperviscosity has not been reported. We studied a patient with plasma cell leukemia and IgA lambda monoclonal gammopathy with an elevated relative serum viscosity and congestive heart failure. Plasmapheresis and chemotherapy were successful in controlling symptoms. We discuss this unusual association and review the literature.

[Contemporaneous presentation of plasma cell leukemia and multiple myeloma. Description of a clinical case with a biclonal component]

A case of simultaneous evidence of plasma cell leukaemia and multiple myeloma is reported. Plasma cell leukaemia doesn't represent an evolution of multiple myeloma, but a primitive disease, because the two forms of plasma cell dyscrasia arose from two different neoplastic plasma cell populations. In fact, leukaemic plasma cell produced IgA and were PAS-positive, while myelomatous plasma cells produced IgG and were PAS-negative. From this case, some hypothesis on simultaneous development of the two types of plasma cell neoplasias are discussed.