Pure red cell aplasia and adult-onset Still?s disease

Unveiling the Mystery of Adult-Onset Still's Disease: A Compelling Case Report

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder. Diagnosis can take a long time, especially in the presence of confounding factors, and it is, to some extent, a process of exclusion. AOSD has life-threating complications ranging from asymptomatic to severe, such as macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), which is also referred to as hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis (HLH). This condition is correlated with cytokine storm production and monocyte/macrophage overactivation and typically occurs with rash, pyrexia, pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly and systemic involvement. Exitus occurs in approximately 10% of cases. For the treatment of MAS-HLH, the Histiocyte Society currently suggests high-dose corticosteroids, with the possible addition of cyclosporine A, anti-interleukin (IL)-1, or IL-6 biological drugs; the inclusion of etoposide is recommended for the most severe conditions. In all cases, a multidisciplinary collaboration involving the resources and expertise of several specialists (e.g., rheumatologist, infectiologist, critical care medicine specialist) is advised. Herein, we provide a detailed description of the clinical case of a previously healthy young woman in which MAS developed as a dramatic onset manifestation of AOSD and whose diagnosis posed a real clinical challenge; the condition was finally resolved by applying the HLH-94 protocol (i.e., etoposide in combination with dexamethasone).

Pure red-cell aplasia secondary to pregnancy: Case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of pure red-cell aplasia secondary to pregnancy and to conduct a review of the literature regarding diagnosis and treatment, as well as maternal and perinatal prognosis.

METHODS

This is the case of a 24-year-old patient at 34 weeks of gestation, referred to a regional public referral hospital due to anemia. Bone marrow biopsy was performed, leading to the diagnosis of pregnancy-related pure red-cell aplasia. The patient received serial red blood cell transfusions. Delivery by Cesarean section at term resulted in a healthy newborn. Hemoglobin values remained stable during the postoperative period. A literature search was conducted in Medline via PubMed, LILACS, SciELO and ScienceDirect using the terms "pregnancy" and "pure red-cell aplasia". Case reports, case series and literature reviews in English and Spanish published between January 1999 and January 2020 that report pregnant women with pure red-cell aplasia were included. Information on diagnosis, treatment and maternal and perinatal prognosis was collected. Three of the authors selected the studies by title and abstract; A descriptive synthesis is provided.

RESULTS

Overall, 828 titles were identified; of these,818 were discarded after reviewing the inclusions criteria. Ten articles were included: six case reports, three case reports with literature review, and one case report in the poster modality, for a total number of 10 reported cases. Diagnosis was based on low hemoglobin levels and compromised erythroid cell line in bone marrow biopsy. Treatment consists of red blood cell transfusions, with good maternal and fetal prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of pure red-cell aplasia during pregnancy requires bone marrow biopsy. With transfusion support, maternal perinatal prognosis is good. Further studies are required to assess the safety and efficacy of steroid use in this pregnancy-related condition.

Pure Red Cell Aplasia with Adult Onset Still's Disease

Adult Onset Still's Disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory syndrome mostly seen in young adults. Known for its wide range of clinical manifestations, AOSD often presents with nonremitting systemic signs and symptoms. Many rare case associations have been described with AOSD, but only few with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). We are presenting a fourth known case of a young female adult with AOSD and PRCA in the literature.

Successful treatment of acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia with cyclosporine in adult onset Still's disease

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (AAT) is a rare disorder, characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and selective, marked decrease or absence of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. We describe a 29-year-old female with adult onset Still's disease preceding a diagnosis of AAT and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which was successfully treated with cyclosporine. This is the first case of AAT in a patient with adult onset Still's disease.