Prevalence and characteristics of positional plagiocephaly in healthy full-term infants at 8-12 weeks of life

Positional plagiocephaly (PP) denotes flattening of the skull that occurs frequently in healthy infants. Aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of positional plagiocephaly and to identify the risk factors in a cohort of healthy infants in order to help prevention of PP. In a prospective design, all healthy full-term infants, ranging from 8 to 12 weeks of age, who presented at the public immunization clinic in Ferrara, were eligible for the study. After obtaining informed consent, we interviewed the parents and examined the infants using the Argenta's assessment tool. Of 283 infants examined, 107 (37.8%) were found to have PP at 8-12 weeks of age. In 64.5%, PP was on the right side, 50.5% were male and 15% presented also with brachycephaly. Risk factors significantly associated were lower head circumference, advanced maternal age, Italian compared to African, and supine sleep position, in particular for infants born at 37 weeks, preference for one side of the head. In logistic regression, risk factors significantly associated were lower birth weight, advanced maternal age, and supine sleep position.

CONCLUSIONS

Positional plagiocephaly is a common issue faced by pediatricians; our results reinforce the need of improving prevention both of sudden infant death and positional plagiocephaly, through uniform messages provided prenatally and postnatally by different health professionals. "What is Known:" •The incidence of positional plagiocephaly varies due to population studied and measuring methods. •Different factors are considered in the literature as being associated to positional plagiocephaly (infant factors, obstetric factors, infant care practices, sociodemographic factors). "What is New:" •This is one of the few European studies quantifying positional plagiocephaly prevalence in a population of unselected healthy infants. •In this study, positional plagiocephaly is confirmed as a common issue, related to some factor (as supine sleep position and positional head prevalence) that should be addressed in pre and postnatal counseling. •The prone sleepers rate in our population highlight the need to improve parental awareness regarding SIDS prevention, in particular in borderline gestational age.

Serum antibodies from epileptic patients react, at high prevalence, with simian virus 40 mimotopes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been demonstrated that inflammation may contribute to epileptogenesis and cause neuronal injury in epilepsy. In this study, the prevalence of antibodies to simian virus 40 (SV40), a kidney and neurotropic polyomavirus, was investigated in serum samples from 88 epileptic children/adolescents/young adults.

METHODS

Serum antibodies reacting to specific SV40 peptides were analysed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the epitopes of viral capsid proteins 1-3 were used as SV40 antigens.

RESULTS

A significantly higher prevalence of antibodies against SV40 was detected in sera from epileptic patients compared to controls (41% vs. 19%). Specifically, the highest significant difference was revealed in the cohort of patients from 1.1 to 10 years old (54% vs. 21%), with a peak in the sub-cohort of 3.1-6 years old (65% vs. 18%).

CONCLUSION

Our immunological data suggest a strong association between epilepsy and the SV40 infection.

Epidemiology and burden of rotavirus-associated hospitalizations in Ferrara, Italy

Objective of this study was to provide data on hospitalizations for rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in Ferrara, Italy. The study was conducted analyzing the hospital discharge forms of all children admitted to the Pediatric Department of the University of Ferrara, Arcispedale Sant'Anna, from January 2001 through December 2005. The database was searched for all gastrointestinal diseases and in particular RVGE. During the period under study 3277 children, of which 2038 <60 months of age, were hospitalized; 247 children < 5 years old were admitted for acute gastroenteritis and 89 (4.4% of all and 36% of gastroenteritis-related hospitalizations) had rapid screening tests positive for rotavirus. A seasonal pattern was observed for RVGE with an increase in winter and early spring. The average length of hospital stay was 5.7 days. The median cost of each hospitalized case of RVGE ranged between 1417 and 1595 Euros. The present research confirms that rotavirus gastroenteritis represents an important cause of hospitalization in children and is responsible for significant costs for the Public Health Care System. An effective vaccination program could significantly reduce the incidence of hospitalization and the associated costs.

Survival and Complications in Thalassemia

The life expectancy of patients with thalassemia major has significantly increased in recent years, as reported by several groups in different countries. However, complications are still frequent and affect the patients' quality of life. In a recent study from the United Kingdom, it was found that 50% of the patients had died before age 35. At that age, 65% of the patients from an Italian long-term study were still alive. Heart disease is responsible for more than half of the deaths. The prevalence of complications in Italian patients born after 1970 includes heart failure in 7%, hypogonadism in 55%, hypothyroidism in 11%, and diabetes in 6%. Similar data were reported in patients from the United States. In the Italian study, lower ferritin levels were associated with a lower probability of experiencing heart failure and with prolonged survival. Osteoporosis and osteopenia are common and affect virtually all patients. Hepatitis C virus antibodies are present in 85% of multitransfused Italian patients, 23% of patients in the United Kingdom, 35% in the United States, 34% in France, and 21% in India. Hepatocellular carcinoma can complicate the course of hepatitis. A survey of Italian centers has identified 23 such cases in patients with a thalassemia syndrome. In conclusion, rates of survival and complication-free survival continue to improve, due to better treatment strategies. New complications are appearing in long-term survivors. Iron overload of the heart remains the main cause of morbidity and mortality.

Osteoporosis in β-Thalassemia: Clinical and Genetic Aspects

Osteoporosis and osteopenia are frequent complications of thalassemia major (TM) and intermedia (TI). Osteoporosis was found in 23/25 patients with TI and in 115/239 patients with TM. In TM, no association was found with specific polymorphisms in candidate genes (vitamin D receptor, estrogen receptor, calcitonin receptor, and collagen type 1 alpha 1). Osteoporosis in female patients with TM was strongly associated with primary amenorrhea (P < .0001), while in male patients with TM, hypogonadism was not significantly related to bone mineral density (BMD) (P = .0001). Low BMD was also associated with cardiomiopathy (P = .01), diabetes mellitus (P = .0001), chronic hepatitis (P = .0029), and increased ALT (P = .01).

Hereditary thrombocytopenia due to reduced platelet production--report on two families and mutational screening of the thrombopoietin receptor gene (c-mpl)

Hereditary thrombocytopenias represent heterogeneous clinical and genetic syndromes. They include a consistent group of families which are considered as a separate clinical entity, characterized by autosomal dominant transmission, incomplete penetrance in females, chronic thrombocytopenia with early age of onset and frequently increased platelet volume, without any other hematologic abnormality. The molecular defect in these families is still unknown. We describe 2 families in 3 generations (10 patients), and report the first study of the TPO/c-mpl system in autosomal dominant thrombocytopenia. We performed mutational screening of c-mpl coding, flanking introns and promoter regions in 2 probands from the two families by DNA sequencing. The results do not provide evidence of c-mpl sequence alterations in either of the 2 families investigated. Moreover, the normal TPO serum levels detected in 5 patients from each family leads us to exclude the possibility of a defect in TPO production in our families. Finally, the involvement of both c-mpl and TPO genes in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in these two families was excluded by negative results of linkage analysis.

Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous bolus injection of deferoxamine in adult patients with iron overload

We compared 48-hour urinary iron excretion after a twice-daily subcutaneous bolus injection of deferoxamine and after 12 hours of subcutaneous continuous infusion of the drug in 27 patients with iron overload (mean age, 55.7 years). In most patients, the iron overload was due to multiple transfusions administered during chemotherapy or as part of supportive care for a hematologic or oncologic disorder. One patient had sickle cell anemia and 1 had hereditary hemochromatosis and spherocytosis. Similar urinary iron excretion was observed with the 2 methods of administration; mean +/- SD values were 6935.3 +/- 3832.3 microg/48 hours with subcutaneous bolus injection and 6630.4 +/- 3606.9 microg/48 hours with subcutaneous continuous infusion (P =.3). Twenty-six patients (96.3%) chose to continue therapy with bolus injection. The long-term efficacy of bolus injection was evaluated by measuring the serum ferritin concentration at regular intervals for a follow-up time of 20.1 +/- 4.5 months. Ferritin concentration decreased to below 1000 microg/L in 73% of the patients and to below 500 microg/L in 42% and became normal in 26%. Best results were obtained in patients who were no longer receiving blood transfusions when chelation therapy was initiated. Three of 26 patients (11.5%) had mild, transient side effects after bolus injection. Larger prospective, randomized studies must be conducted before deferoxamine bolus injection can be routinely recommended for patients with iron overload. (Blood. 2000;95:2776-2779)

The haemochromatosis mutations do not modify the clinical picture of thalassaemia major in patients regularly transfused and chelated

Iron overload is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with thalassaemia major. In order to establish if the presence of the mutations recently described in the haemochromatosis gene affects the severity of iron overload in thalassaemia patients, we compared the prevalence of mutations C282Y and H63D in 216 young adults regularly transfused and chelated in North-Eastern Italy with the frequency found in a group of blood donors from the same area. For each patient, mean serum ferritin over the last 3 years, liver iron concentration, and the presence of diabetes, hypogonadism and heart disease, were considered. The frequency of the C282Y allele was 1.9% in patients with thalassaemia major and 2.3% in blood donors (P=ns). The frequency of the H63D allele was 16.2% in patients with thalassaemia major and 15.3% in blood donors (P=ns). When age, liver iron concentration and mean yearly serum ferritin levels were compared in patients with and without mutations C282Y and H63D, no significant differences were found. Also, the prevalence of iron-induced complications was not significantly different between patients carrying or not carrying the mutations. The presence of the HH mutations does not seem to influence the degree of iron overload and its consequences in regularly transfused and chelated patients with thalassaemia major.

Frequency of factor V Leiden in juvenile migraine with aura

Patients with migraine are known to be at risk for stroke. It has been reported that in a group of patients with cerebral ischemia and the Leiden mutation of factor V, 67% had classical migraine. We have studied the frequency of this mutation in a group of Italian children and adolescents affected by migraine with aura. The Leiden mutation was detected in 2 (3.5%) of 57 patients and in 8 (3.7%) of 219 controls. The 2 patients carrying the mutation had no peculiar characteristics as compared with the rest of the migrainous population. In our study, the frequency of the Leiden mutation in patients was not different from that of controls. These data contrast with those collected in the Finnish population and in a group of northwestern Italian adult patients, but agree with results previously reported from The Netherlands.

Subcutaneous bolus injection of deferoxamine in adult patients affected by onco-hematologic diseases and iron overload

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Chelation therapy is often necessary for patients who undergo chronic transfusion therapy for myelodysplastic syndromes. In these patients, deferoxamine, the most widely used chelating agent, has been reported to be effective in reducing the iron burden and the transfusion requirement. Unfortunately, compliance with the drug, that is usually administered by slow subcutaneous infusion via a battery operated pump, is often poor, especially in elderly patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

To verify efficacy and tolerability of deferoxamine by subcutaneous bolus injection as compared to the conventional pump-driven slow infusion, eleven patients affected by oncohematologic diseases were given 2 g of deferoxamine diluted in 10 mL of distilled water over twelve hours by continuous infusion, or by bolus injection in two divided doses.

RESULTS

Mean urinary excretion was comparable with the two methods, being 9,183 +/- 4,349 micrograms/48 h after two daily subcutaneous bolus injections and 8,291 +/- 3,970 micrograms/48 h with the slow infusion. The bolus injection was preferred by all eleven patients, who chose to continue chelation therapy by this method.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

The iron excretion induced by bolus injection is not statistically different from that induced by subcutaneous infusion. The side effects are acceptable. Subcutaneous bolus injection of deferoxamine is an acceptable alternative to slow, pump-driven infusion.

Survival and disease complications in thalassemia major

We studied survival and disease complications in 1,146 patients with thalassemia major, born from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1987. At last follow-up, in March 1997, probability of survival to age 20 years was 89% and to age 25 years was 82% for patients born in the years 1970-1974. Patients who died had a serum ferritin level, measured the year before death, significantly higher than those who survived. Diabetes was present in 5.4% of the patients; heart failure in 6.4%; arrhythmias in 5.0%, thrombosis in 1.1%, hypothyroidism in 11.6%, HIV infection in 1.8%. Hypogonadism was diagnosed in 55% of 578 patients who had reached pubertal age: 83.5% of hypogonadic females and 78.6% of males were receiving substitutive hormonal therapy. In conclusion, the survival of patients with thalassemia major is good and improving, but the prevalence of severe complications is still high.

A moderate transfusion regimen may reduce iron loading in beta-thalassemia major without producing excessive expansion of erythropoiesis

BACKGROUND

Hypertransfusion with a baseline hemoglobin of 10 to 12 g per dL is still considered by many to be the mainstay of conservative therapy for beta-thalassemia major. However, this regimen is frequently associated with manifestations of transfusion iron overload, despite regular chelation therapy with subcutaneous desferoxamine.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

To verify whether a transfusion regimen with a target pretransfusion hemoglobin level between 9 and 10 g per dL can allow a significant reduction in blood consumption, while still effectively suppressing erythropoiesis, the records were reviewed of 32 beta-thalassemia major patients, who were maintained at a pretransfusion hemoglobin of 11.3 +/- 0.5 g per dL between 1981 and 1986. These patients were switched at the beginning of 1987 to a transfusion regimen with pretransfusion hemoglobin of 9.4 +/- 0.4 g per dL. The degree of erythroid marrow activity was evaluated in these patients and in 32 subjects with beta-thalassemia intermedia through the simple measurement of serum transferrin receptor.

RESULTS

After the adoption of the moderate transfusion regimen, transfusion requirements decreased from 137 +/- 26 to 104 +/- 23 mL per kg per year of red cells (p < 0.0001), and mean serum ferritin decreased from 2448 +/- 1515 to 1187 +/- 816 micrograms per L (p < 0.0001), with one-half of patients achieving serum ferritin levels lower than 1000 micrograms per L. The proportion of patients having spontaneous pubertal development increased significantly (p < 0.01), as a result of less iron-related gonadotropin insufficiency. At the lower pretransfusion hemoglobin, erythroid marrow activity did not exceed two to three times normal levels in most subjects.

CONCLUSION

As compared with hypertransfusion, moderate transfusion may allow more effective prevention of iron loading, with higher likelihood of spontaneous pubertal development and without producing excessive expansion of erythropoiesis.

A trial of high-dose dexamethasone therapy for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura of childhood.

METHODS

Seventeen patients entered the protocol. Dexamethasone was to be given orally in two divided doses at a dosage of 20 mg/m2 for 4 consecutive days every 28 days for six courses.

RESULTS

One month after the end of the sixth course, six patients (35%) had platelet values within the normal range. One year later, five patients (29%) still have normal platelet values. Five patients discontinued treatment before completion because of lack of response and in one case for important side effects. Duration of the disease before treatment was inversely correlated with response to dexamethasone: 5 of 10 patients who had had thrombocytopenia for 30 months or less went into remission, as opposed to none of the seven who had been sick for a longer period (p = 0.04). Side effects included fatigue or irritability, anxiety, abdominal pain, striae, hirsutism, acne, and weight gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to what is observed in adults, in our patients pulsed dexamethasone therapy did not prove to be uniformly effective. However, in view of its effectiveness in a third of the patients, acceptable side effects, and low cost, we believe that this treatment could be considered in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who do not tolerate the disease well, especially if no more than 3 years have elapsed since diagnosis. Larger studies will be necessary to define which patients will respond to this type of therapy.

Evaluation of a new method of administration of the iron chelating agent deferoxamine

We compared the effectiveness of deferoxamine administered by twice-daily subcutaneous injections with conventional administration by prolonged subcutaneous infusion in 20 patients with thalassemia. Urinary iron excretion was comparable with the two methods but decreased significantly when the total daily dose was administered as a single injection. Local reactions were similar with infusion and injection. Subcutaneous injections of deferoxamine may be considered as an alternative to conventional infusions.

Successful pregnancy after bone marrow transplantation for thalassaemia

Bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling can cure thalassaemia. The risk of chemotherapy-induced sterility, however, represents a deterrent for many patients already at risk of gonadal insufficiency and reduced fertility because of the effects of transfusional iron overload. We report here the first patient transplanted for thalassaemia, after ablative therapy with busulfan and cyclophosphamide, who, despite late pubertal maturation, became pregnant and delivered a full-term, normal infant.

Delayed separation of an appendix-containing umbilical stump

A case of delayed separation of the umbilical cord is reported. Ultrasonography and radiographic examination of the stump showed connection with the bowel. During surgery the cord was found to contain the appendix. The authors hypothesize that this anomaly represents a small omphalocele, resulting from failure of the gut to withdraw completely from the umbilical cord, or, less likely, a hernia.

Clinical manifestations and therapy of transfusional haemosiderosis

Long-term blood transfusions lead to the accumulation of iron that in the absence of chelation therapy causes complications such as liver cirrhosis, growth failure, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes and myocardiopathy. The last still represents the most frequent cause of death in haemosiderotic transfusion-dependent patients. At the moment the only chelator widely used is desferrioxamine (DFX). The drug works best when administered as a continuous infusion, mainly by the subcutaneous route. To patients with severe iron overload, impending organ failure, or poor compliance to chelation, DFX can be administered intravenously, through an externalized central catheter or, preferably, a subcutaneous port. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of DFX in reducing the iron burden, thus preventing the complications, once considered inevitable, of iron overload, and even in reverting some, but not all, of the iron-induced dysfunctions. Practical and psychological support are necessary to ensure satisfactory compliance with a therapy that is cumbersome and difficult. Toxic effects of DFX such as growth failure, hearing impairment and bone abnormalities seem to occur mainly in patients who have received high doses of DFX despite a low iron burden. Visual loss and renal and pulmonary toxicities, on the contrary, seem to be more directly related to high DFX peak doses administered irrespective of the patient's amount of iron overload. After bone marrow transplantation, phlebotomy or erythrocytoapheresis might be necessary to reduce further the iron accumulated during years of transfusions.

Treatment of chronic childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura with intramuscular anti-D immunoglobulins

Seven patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were treated with intramuscular anti-D (anti-D IgG) five times, on an alternate-day basis, or until a platelet count of 100 x 10(9)/l was achieved, and, subsequently, when necessary to maintain platelet counts above 50 x 10(9)/l. Five patients responded to therapy, two of whom entered long-term remission. Although signs of haemolysis were present in all patients, anaemia was never a problem. No patient developed haematomas at the site of injection. We suggest that intramuscular anti-D represents a safe and relatively inexpensive alternative to intravenous gamma globulins (IVGG) for children with severe chronic ITP.

Regulation of erythropoietin production in a case of congenital erythropoietin-dependent pure erythrocytosis

In a patient with congenital erythropoietin-dependent pure erythrocytosis (EDPE) associated with hypersensitivity of erythroid progenitor cells to erythropoietin (Epo), the investigations planned to elucidate the mechanism responsible for hormone hyperproduction revealed that Epo synthesis was (1) independent of normal oxygen-mediated feedback induced by phlebotomy; (2) not modulated by adenosine as a second messenger (the treatment with the adenosine antagonist theophylline in fact left unchanged the serum Epo levels); and (3) uninfluenced by iron therapy. The Epo dose-response curve for growth of erythroid progenitor was similar to that of three age-matched thalassemia patients with increased serum Epo levels, (sEpo) suggesting that the observed erythroid progenitors hypersensitivity to Epo could represent an ex vivo artifact induced by the increased sEpo levels.

Thymic cyst appearing after treatment of mediastinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma

We report the first case of a thymic cyst appearing in the course of treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the anterior mediastinum. The patient was a 9-year-old child in whom an abnormal contour of the left cardiac border persisted after chemotherapy, suggesting residual disease. The mass was found at thoracotomy to be a benign thymic cyst. The lesion was not present 2 years previously, and most likely represented cystic degeneration of the thymus, secondary to lymphomatous involvement. CT scan was not helpful in distinguishing the cystic lesion from residual lymphoma.

Methods for evaluating iron stores and efficacy of chelation in transfusional hemosiderosis

An accurate determination of the total amount and distribution of body iron stores is essential for prognostic purposes and to evaluate the efficacy of chelation therapy. In the clinical setting, a rough estimate of the total body iron burden may be obtained in patients with transfusion-dependent anemias by calculating the amount of blood administered plus the amount absorbed by the gastrointestinal route, which is influenced by the level of Hb and by bone marrow activity. An increase in serum iron and a decrease in total iron binding capacity are early indicators of iron overload, but their sensitivity and specificity are not very high. In normal individuals, serum ferritin correlates well with iron stores, as measured by phlebotomy, and with directly measured liver iron. However, plasma ferritin, being an acute phase reactant, is increased in cases of chronic disease, disseminated malignancy, or inflammatory disorders. Non-transferrin bound iron, i.e. iron that circulates in plasma unbound to transferrin, is potentially toxic since it is capable of taking part in free radical-mediated reactions that result in irreversible tissue damage. This iron can be measured with a HPLC based assay. At present the most accurate way of estimating the iron burden is by direct measurement of iron concentration in tissues. The liver is the most accessible. The measurement is done by atomic absorption spectrometry on ashed or lyophilized samples obtained by needle biopsy, and correlates well with the total amount of blood transfused and with the extent of hepatic fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transient focal leukoencephalopathy following intraventricular methotrexate and cytarabine. A complication of the Ommaya reservoir: case report and review of the literature

A 14-year-old boy, suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia with meningeal involvement, was treated with intraventricular methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside, administered via an Ommaya reservoir (OR). Three months later, right occipital headache, vomiting, and lethargy appeared. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens showed increased proteins and a right frontal slow-wave focus was evident on the EEG recording. The computed tomography scan revealed white matter hypodensity within the right frontal and rolandic regions. After injection of medium contrast, an abscesslike hyperdensity appeared, surrounding both a well-placed cannula tip and the right frontal horn of the lateral ventricle. Brain swelling and shift signs were also evident. Nine cases of focal methotrexate leukoencephalopathy have been previously reported, and in six of these there was a misplaced OR cannula tip. The focal methotrexate leukoencephalopathy seems to be related to the neurotoxicity of the drugs administered, and may also exist with a well-placed OR cannula tip. Immediate removal of the catheter may be associated with a benign evolution.

Survival and causes of death in thalassaemia major

Survival and causes of death were studied in 1087 Italian patients with thalassaemia major who were born on or after Jan 1, 1960. At the age of 15 years, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival after the first decade of life was 80.6% for subjects born in 1960-64, 84.2% for those born in 1965-69, and 96.9% for those born in 1970-74. At the age of 20 years, survival from the age of 10 was 59.1% for patients born in 1960-64, and 70.2% for those born in 1965-69; at 25 years, survival from the age of 10 was 40.7% in the 1960-64 cohort. Overall survival from birth for patients born in 1970-74 was 97.4% at 10 years, and 94.4% at 15 years. The most common cause of death was heart disease, followed by infection, liver disease, and malignancy.

Thiamine-responsive anemia in DIDMOAD syndrome

Two children with the DIDMOAD syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, deafness) developed a megaloblastic and sideroblastic anemia, neutropenia, and borderline thrombocytopenia. Plasma thiamine concentration was low in one patient and normal in the other; in both children, thiamine pyrophosphate in erythrocytes and thiamine pyrophosphokinase activity were lower than the lowest values observed in control subjects. A month after institution of treatment with thiamine, the hematologic findings had returned to normal and the insulin requirements had decreased. Withdrawal of thiamine repeatedly induced relapse of the anemia and an increase in insulin requirements. We propose that an inherited abnormality of thiamine metabolism is responsible for the multisystem degenerative disorder known as DIDMOAD syndrome.

Birth defects in the Seveso area after TCDD contamination

A study on the frequency of birth defects was conducted in the area around Seveso, Italy, which was contaminated by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in July 1976; this has been the largest population ever exposed to dioxin. From Jan 1, 1977, to Dec 31, 1982, a total of 15,291 births (still and live) were examined, and malformations were reported to an ad hoc birth defects registry. In the most highly contaminated area, 26 births were observed. None of these infants had any major structural defect. Two infants had mild defects. The frequencies of major defects detected in the areas of low or very low contamination were 29.9/1000 and 22.1/1000, respectively. A frequency of 27.7/1000 was registered in the control area. Relative risks were calculated for specific categories of birth defects and for grouped malformations. Although the data collected failed to demonstrate any increased risk of birth defects associated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, the number of exposed pregnancies was not big enough to show a low and specific teratogenic risk increase.

Electroretinographic and visual-evoked potential abnormalities in patients with beta-thalassemia major

Various ocular abnormalities have been reported in patients with thalassemia, and have been, for the most part, attributed to the toxic effects of high-dose desferrioxamine (DFO). We have performed an electroretinographic and visual-evoked potential (VEP) study in 31 thalassemic patients who had never received high doses of DFO. The abnormalities found were very similar to those reported in early siderosis bulbi and included a b1-wave of significantly higher amplitude at 1 min and at the alpha point. VEPs showed a N1-P1 amplitude significantly greater than in controls. These findings, which were more marked in older patients, point to an important causative role of iron in their genesis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in thalassemia major

The occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in a 22-year-old man with thalassemia major is reported. As a result of transfusional hemochromatosis, this patient had already developed diabetes, hypogonadism, heart failure, and the sicca syndrome; he was serum and tissue HBsAg negative. Liver iron concentration measured postmortem was found to be 50 times normal. Multiply transfused patients are at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Serial measurements of serum alpha-fetoprotein should permit early detection of the tumor and reduce mortality. Preventive measures include early immunisation against hepatitis B virus and prevention of iron accumulation by intensive use of desferrioxamine. Treatment of hemochromatosis-associated hypogonadism with androgens should be considered with caution.

Triosephosphate isomerase deficiency: 2 new cases

2 new cases of triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency associated with severe haemolytic anaemia in 2 unrelated Italian families are described. Only 1 case was extensively investigated. TPI deficiency was detectable in erythrocytes, leucocytes, platelets and plasma. The mutant enzyme showed normal Km for GAP and increased Km for DHAP, with an higher than normal equilibrium constant, decreased thermostability, and abnormal electrophoretic pattern due to the lack of the fastest moving component. The immunological characterization revealed a lower than normal inactivation by specific antiserum, while the double immunodiffusion pattern and the precipitin curve were normal. Lymphocyte, granulocyte and platelet functions were impaired.

Marrow transplantation for thalassemia

Despite modern therapeutic regimens, thalassemia major remains a severe disease with an uncertain ultimate prognosis. Alternative and more definitive forms of treatment are actively sought; bone marrow transplantation is one of these. As of May 1984, data were available on 51 thalassemic children who had undergone the procedure: 29 of them are free of thalassemia 2 to 30 months after transplantation; 13 have died; 9 are alive with thalassemia after autologous reconstitution. Future developments in the field of transplantation should make the procedure safer and also render it available to the vast population of multiply transfused and hemosiderotic thalassemic patients who will not benefit from the improvement of conventional therapy.

Growth and sexual maturation in thalassemia major

Growth and sexual development were evaluated in 250 adolescents with beta-thalassemia major. Before transfusion hemoglobin concentration had not been less than 9.5 gm/dl in the last 5 years; desferrioxamine had been administered for 7 to 10 years, including by the subcutaneous route for 3 years. Thirty-seven percent of patients were found to be 2 SD below the mean for normal height; after age 14 years the percentage was 62% for males and 35% for females. Eighty-three percent of males and 75% of females had delayed skeletal maturation. Complete lack of pubescent changes was present in 38% of females and 67% of males aged 12 to 18 years. Only 19% of females had experienced menarche; secondary amenorrhea intervened in a third of them. A multiple regression analysis of indicators of pubertal development with age, age at first transfusion, age at splenectomy, number of transfusions, serum transaminase and ferritin, and duration and intensity of chelation therapy failed to identify the factors responsible for the variation observed in sexual maturation among patients with thalassemia.

Penicillin compliance in splenectomized thalassemics

Compliance with penicillin prophylaxis after splenectomy was studied in 42 thalassemic children and adolescents. Urine samples were tested five times per patient for the presence of penicillin by the Sarcina lutea inhibition test. Only 7% of patients were found to be absolute noncompliers, while an additional 14% had a compliance considered to be insufficient. Noncompliers tended to have been splenectomized more than 5 years before, while couples of affected siblings were uniformly full-compliers. No relation was found with age, presence of healthy siblings in the household, chronic disease or previous severe infections. Knowledge of the risks of severe infection after splenectomy was uniformly good. We conclude that compliance with penicillin prophylaxis in splenectomized thalassemics is good (79%) and that close contact between patients and medical staff is important in its promotion.

The sicca syndrome in thalassaemia major

A 20 year old man with beta thalassaemia developed symptoms of the sicca syndrome. His serum contained rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies. A biopsy specimen of labial salivary gland showed large accumulations of haemosiderin within the parenchymal cells of the acini. Although in this case the sicca syndrome could not be definitely distinguished from Sjögren's syndrome, the patient's HLA type was not the one usually associated with Sjögren's syndrome. Histological appearances suggested that the causative factor of the sicca syndrome was iron overload owing to an intensive blood transfusion regimen.

Factitious hypertension with mineralocorticoid excess in an infant

A 2-month-old breast-fed baby is described, who, admitted for a prolongation of the QT interval on ECG, was found to be severely hypokalemic, alkalotic and hypertensive (blood pressure 200/100 mm Hg). Marked generalized hypotonia was present, and length was less than 3% for age. The results of endocrinological evaluation showed profound suppression of the pituitary-adrenal function and of the renin-aldosterone mechanism. CT scan, cavography and pyelography were normal. A pharmacological cause for the symptoms was sought and found: the mother had been using for the care of bruised nipples a cream containing 1% 9-alpha-fluoroprednisolone-21-acetate. Blood pressure remained elevated for 6 months, but became normal after one year, and growth has resumed normally. The possible differential diagnoses are considered, and the risks presented by topical steroids are emphasized.

Internal distribution of excess iron and sources of serum ferritin in patients with thalassemia

Liver and spleen iron concentrations, serum ferritin level and binding of S-ferritin to concanavalin A (Con A) were measured in 12 patients with thalassaemia major or intermedia at the time of splenectomy. All these subjects had increased liver iron concentration, most of them had hepatic fibrosis but none of them had histological evidence of chronic hepatitis. No patient had ascorbic acid deficiency. Serum ferritin concentration was increased in all cases, ranging from 266 to 5504 micrograms/l. In all but 2 subjects most of the protein did not bind to Con A, thus behaving as tissue ferritin. There were highly significant correlations between serum ferritin concentration, amount of blood transfused and liver iron concentration. On the average, iron concentration in the liver was about 3 times that in the spleen. The findings obtained suggest that in patients with thalassaemia major or intermedia most of the iron is deposited in parenchymal tissues and most of the S-ferritin derives by leakage from the cytosol of iron-loaded parenchymal cells. S-ferritin is a valid index of liver iron overload in thalassaemic patients without complications such as viral hepatitis and/or ascorbic acid deficiency.