Gallbladder cancer during pregnancy treated with surgery and adjuvant gemcitabine: A case report and review of the literature

Background

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common biliary tract cancer. Prognosis remains poor with 5-year overall survival rates less than 5% in advanced stages. GBCs are diagnosed more frequently in women, supposedly due to endocrine factors.

Case

A 35-year-old woman, diagnosed with a non-metastatic GBC in the 22nd week of gestation, underwent a complete surgical resection 5 weeks later. Adjuvant gemcitabine was administered without complications, temporarily discontinued in the 32nd week to allow childbirth. The patient was disease-free for more than 3 years with ongoing remission at the last visit in July 2022. During the follow-up period, the child had no developmental, cognitive, or other health issues.

Conclusion

Malignant tumors occur in about 0.1% of pregnant women, many are treated with chemotherapy. In oncology, the need to deliver optimal treatment in these patients represents a major concern. Both surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy of locally advanced GBC can be performed safely, with certain considerations, in the second trimester of pregnancy.

FDG-PET/ CT for initial staging and response assessment in Castleman disease - retrospective single-center study of 29 cases

BACKGROUND

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder including unicentric and multicentric forms which can further be divided into four histopathologic variants (hyaline vascular, plasma cell, mixed, and plasmablastic). Multicentric CD typically behaves as an aggressive, relapsing entity with generalized lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms. PET/CT following 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose administration (FDG-PET/CT) represents an imaging modality commonly used in malignant lymphomas for staging purposes and response assessment. However, literature data on its role in CD have been limited.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine patients, 18 men and 11 women, dia-gnosed in 1998-2016 were enrolled in our retrospective study. All patients underwent FDG-PET/CT during initial staging and/or as part of response assessment. We measured the maximum diameter of a lesion and established an index value corresponding to the ratio of the maximum standardized uptake value for the observed lesion and for the liver. The information about imaging examinations, patients, and disease extensions was put in a registry and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Unicentric and multicentric CD was dia-gnosed in 17 and 12 patients, respectively. Median age at the dia-gnosis was comparable between the two groups (51 and 58 years, respectively; P = 0.352). The majority of patients with multicentric CD (83%) were men. In women, the unicentric form prevailed (82 vs. 18%) while the difference between the two forms was of borderline significance in men (44 vs. 56%; P = 0.064). Most of the patients (88%) with unicentric CD had the hyaline vascular pathology type. On the contrary, the plasma cell type was predominant in multicentric CD (42%). The most commonly included anatomic sites included the retroperitoneum (52%) and the thorax (43%). Inguinal node involvement developed only in patients with multicentric CD. In repeatedly examined patients, FDG-PET/CT demonstrated a progressively decreasing size and metabolic activity of a selected lymph node.

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT represents a suitable modality for initial staging and response monitoring of CD, especially in patients with a multicentric form.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

[Localized Amyloidosis Involving the Nasal Cavity]

BACKGROUND

Amyloidosis is a disease characterized by deposits of abnormal protein known as amyloid in various organs and tissues. It can be classified into systemic or localized forms, the latter of which is less frequent. Deposition of amyloidogenic monoclonal light chains leads to the most common type of this disease called light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography/ computed tomography hybrid imaging (FDG-PET/ CT) demonstrates tracer uptake usually in all patients with localized amyloidosis as opposed to the systemic form.

CASE

Herein, we present a case of an otherwise healthy 56-year-old women diagnosed with a nasal polyp on the right side. The biopsy results were consistent with amyloidosis. FDG-PET/ CT imaging revealed a pathological, metabolically active lesion measuring 11 × 9 mm with a maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) of 3.47. No other distant pathological changes were identified. After a radical resection, the patient has been regularly followed-up with clinical and imaging methods (MRI, FDG-PET/ CT), both of which repeatedly showed normal findings with disease-free survival of 27 months. Thus, FDG-PET/ CT imaging plays an important role not only for obtaining the right diagnosis but also in the follow-up of patients after surgical resection. In accordance with the literature, this case report confirms that FDG-PET/ CT imaging holds promise as an auxiliary method for distinguishing between localized and systemic forms of amyloidosis.

Castlemans disease - surgical treatment, case reports

The authors describe their experience with surgical treatment of benign rare lymph proliferation - Castlemans disease (CD). It occurs in unicentric and multicentric forms. The very low incidence of the disease makes it very difficult to design larger prospective studies. Cases of two leading localizations of the unicentric form of CD - intrathoracic and retroperitoneal with special emphasis on the preoperative diagnosis and imaging options are described. This article underlines the curative potential of surgical treatment where a complete resection of the affected lymph node leads to eradication in almost 100% of the cases. The discussion is focused on the forms of CD - different localization, clinical symptoms and course of disease. It discusses the differential diagnosis, particularly difficult in the multicentric form, emphasizing the need to exclude malignant lymphoma. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is presented, mentioning its association with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection and HHV-8 (Human herpers virus 8) infection and the importance of overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines. The importance of surgical therapy for the unicentric form of CD is highlighted as compared to the multicentric form, where the surgeon´s task involves taking a biopsy - required for an accurate diagnosis.Key words: Castlemans disease - lymphoproliferation - lymphadenopathy - surgical treatment.

[Anakinra treatment in Schnitzler syndrome - results of the first retrospective multicenter study in six patients from the Czech Republic]

BACKGROUND

Schnitzler syndrome is a very rare, acquired, autoinflammatory disease of mostly adult onset with characteristic combination of chronic recurrent urticaria and monoclonal immunoglobulin M or G gammopathy predisposing the patients to malignant lymphoproliferation. In this work, we analyzed the results of bio-logical therapy with anakinra on a national level aiming to supply data for effective pharmaco-economic estimates, lay the grounds of nationwide patient registry, raise awareness among professional public and optimize provided health care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The retrospective study (10/ 2006- 9/ 2013) included six males with definite Schnitzler syndrome verified by the new Strasbourg criteria. All patients were pretreated with antihistamines, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids. Four patients underwent two or more treatment lines including intravenous bisphosphonates, 2- chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine), interferonα, PUVA photochemotherapy, cyclosporine A, thalidomide, bortezomib, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, colchicine and methotrexate. Anakinra monotherapy was initiated in standard dosing (100 mg subcutaneously daily).

RESULTS

Complete and partial remissions were achieved in five (83%) and one patients (17%), respectively. Complete remission was characterized by urticaria and pain regression (within hours), normalization of inflammatory markers (with--in days) and bone metabolism improvement assessed by the markers of osteoblastic osteoformation and osteoclastic osteoresorption in one case (within weeks). With normalized inflammatory markers (including interleukin6 and interleukin18), arthralgia and sporadic exacerbations of urticaria and fevers persist in the patient in partial remission with proven Q703K polymorphism in NLRP3 gene. The median treatment followup was 30.5 months (37.2 ± 31.2 (n = 6)). The dosing interval was prolonged in one case of complete remission to 48 hours. No serious adverse reactions occurred during anakinra application.

CONCLUSION

In Schnitzler syndrome, anakinra represents an effective, verified and safe medication with potentionally longterm administration not compromising its original efficacy and subjective tolerance. Anakinra, blocking autonomous inflammatory reaction of the organism via interleukin1 pathway, is a generally accepted first line treatment that should be made available in standard dosing for all Schnitzler patients.

Individual goal-directed intraoperative fluid management of initially hypovolemic patients for elective major urological surgery

BACKGROUND

The impact of different approaches to fluid management during intraoperative volume resuscitation in patients undergoing major elective surgery is poorly defined. We compared volume effectiveness of crystalloid and colloid substitution aimed to maintain the cardiac index (CI) between 2.6 and 3.8 l/min/m(2) as measured by transesophageal Doppler (TED).

METHODS

A total of 115 urological patients were enrolled in the prospective randomized trial and then randomized into 2 groups, one with volume therapy based on crystalloids (n = 57) and the other with colloids (n = 58). A TED probe was inserted and then hemodynamic optimization (therapy with Ringer's solution or hydroxyethyl starch 6 % 130/0.4 and administration of vasoactive drugs) was started according to TED variables to maintain the CI between 2.6 and 3.8 l/min/m(2).

RESULTS

We observed high incidence of CI < 2.6 l/min/m(2) after induction of anesthesia (75 %) in both groups. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics, ASA classification, length of surgery, estimated blood loss and the CI during surgery. To maintain the CI within the requested interval, significantly different amounts of crystalloids were needed as compared to colloid (median: 5000 ml vs 1500 ml). In the CRY group, more patients were treated by vasodilatators (40.4 vs 20.7 %).

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirmed that crystalloids and colloids are effective in correcting flow-related perfusion abnormalities. The significant difference between volumes of crystalloids and colloids proved their different characteristics such as unequal distribution between compartments. The expansion of therapeutic algorithm by using vasoactive drugs allows us to avoid adverse events resulting from fluid overload (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 35).

Impact of anakinra treatment on cytokine and lymphocytes/ monocytes profile of an Erdheim-Chester patient

BACKGROUND

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cells histiocytosis associated with intense immune activation. In our clinical center, an ECD patient was treated with anakinra, IL1RA (interleukin1 receptor antagonist), resulting in clinical improvement and major decrease of pathological fatigue. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in cytokine profile and shift of immune cells estimated by flow cytometric analysis of ECD patient before, during initial stages of anakinra treatment as well as after treatment ceased in comparison to healthy donors.

METHODS

Singleplex reactions of 19 individual cytokines from serum of ECD patient were measured by FACS array. Flow cytometric analyses were performed on peripheral blood cells.

RESULTS

The most striking result is substantial decrease of IL6 immediately after anakinra treatment started suggesting a major role of IL1 pathway in ECD pathophysiology. As for flow cytometric analysis, increased number of CD16+ monocytes before treatment is a new finding.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that IL6 may be a marker of early treatment response of ECD patients treated with anakinra.

[Castleman disease: retrospective single-center study of therapeutic results in 10 patients]

BACKGROUND

Castleman disease is a non-clonal lymphoproliferative disorder with 2 clinical (unicentric, multicentric) and 4 histomorphological (hyaline vascular, plasma cell, mixed, plasmablastic) forms which combine creating a pleomorphic picture of this rare entity. In our work, the largest documented cohort in the Czech Republic was analyzed focusing on diagnostics and particularly on therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The retrospective study (1998-2013) included 10 patients, 6 males, 4 females. Patients with unicentric form (3) underwent surgical sanitation. Patients with multicentric form (7) were followed-up only (2) or extirpation of the largest mass was carried out (1) or a systemic therapy was administered (4) which comprised the following regimens: R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), CTD/CAD/CVD (cyclophosphamide, thalidomide/adriamycin/bortezomib, dexamethasone), further including monotherapies with tocilizumab, thalidomide and lenalidomide and in one case (associated POEMS syndrome, i.e. polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, skin changes) autologous stem cell transplantation after melphalan conditioning was performed. During treatment response monitoring, all patients underwent PET/CT examination (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography).

RESULTS

The remission rate was 50% (3 unicentric forms with remission lasting 51, 8 and 9 months, resp.; 2 multicentric forms with remission lasting 3 months during thalidomide therapy and 12 months after lenalidomide therapy), stable disease was observed in 40% of cases (multicentric forms, 2 without any treatment followed-up for 171 and 24 months, resp.; 1 after systemic therapy followed-up for 23 months; 1 after two extirpations with stable lymphadenopathy for 15 years, where the first operation was 27 years ago). In one patient (10%), the associated POEMS syndrome progressed rapidly with fatal consequences (4 months follow-up).

CONCLUSION

Unlike unicentric forms completely curable by excision, multicentric forms are often treatment-refractory. Concerning high cost-effectiveness, good tolerability and documented efficacy also in rituximab-resistant cases, we prefer immunomodulatory drugs (particularly thalidomide) for managing multicentric Castleman disease in our center.

[PET-CT documented fast onset of treatment response to cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with multicentric Castlemans disease. Case description and treatment information overview]

Castlemans disease (also called angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia) can take two forms with different prognosis: the localized form can usually be treated by a surgical intervention and has therefore a favourable prognosis. On the other hand, the multicentric form has an unfavourable prognosis and requires systemic treatment. Classic manifestations of multicentric Castlemans disease are multiple sites of lymphadenopathy, sometimes hepatomegaly and also splenomegaly or serous cavity effusions. Typical pathological laboratory levels measured in patients with this disease include an increased CRP level, anaemia of chronic diseases, and many patients have an increased total protein concentration, in some cases exceeding even 100g/ l. It is caused by a high concentration of polyclonal immunoglobulins. Typical clinical symptoms include fluctuating subfebrile or febrile temperatures, increased night sweats and fatigue usually related to anaemia. In some patients, the disease is manifested as vasculitis, frequently also affecting cerebral arteries, i.e. leading to cerebrovascular accidents. The aetiology of this disease is unclear; it is a polyclonal lymphocyte proliferation, often with differentiation into plasma cells. It is not a clonal malign disease; however, it can transform into a clonal lymphoproliferative disease. Even though it is not a malign disease in the histomorphological sense, the disease symptoms are so acute that systemic treatment is required. In the past, the treatment method of this disease used to be based on corticoids and cytostatics; however, such treatment was not always successful in achieving its objective, i.e. complete remission. In the past few years, an improvement of treatment results was accomplished by adding a new drug to the basic medication, i.e. to cytostatics and dexamethasone. Many publications describe the benefi t of adding a third drug from the IMiDs group (immunomodulatory drugs), such as thalidomide or lenalidomide. These drugs affect the formation of cytokines and block the angiogenesis, which in turn positively influences the speed of the treatment response. The second new drug that has helped in combination with classical treatment is the anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab. The third new drug to add this list is the monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor, tocilizumab. This paper describes a rapid treatment response after combined treatment with cyclophosphamide 500mg/ m2 i.v. infusion 1st and 15th day in a 28- day cycle, dexamethasone 20mg p.o. cycle day 1- 4 and cycle day 15- 18, and thalidomide 100mg daily. In the course of the two-month treatment, the accumulation of fl uorodeoxyglucose during the PET-CT imaging has normalized; the originally pathologically enlarged nodes have become smaller, the originally elevated CRP level has normalized and the originally signifi cantly lower haemoglobin level has risen. This is the second patient with multicentric Castlemans disease in the last three years who showed a rapid response to treatment with thalidomide combined with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone. Therefore, we consider such treatment suitable for newly diagnosed patients with multicentric Castlemans disease.

Extensive Al amyloidosis presenting with recurrent liver hemorrhage and hemoperitoneum: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous hepatic bleeding is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of primary systemic amyloidosis. Although the liver is a common site of amyloid deposition, clinical presentation is usually mild or absent.

CASE

We report a case of a female patient, who had been repeatedly surgically revised because of liver rupture and hemoperitoneum. Initially, the computed tomography finding was interpreted as liver hemangioma. However, based on liver biopsy, the diagnosis had to be changed to primary systemic amyloidosis, and the patient was referred to our hematooncology department. Due to a considerably advanced disease, the patient was eligible only for palliative chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone, which could not deflect the course of rapidly progressing liver destruction.

CONCLUSION

The cause behind ruptured and bleeding liver does not always need to be hemangioma but rather amyloidosis. In cases of advanced disease and in patients with contraindications for aggressive treatment, the outlook for complete hematological and organ treatment response is very limited. An early diagnosis is of utmost importance. Although liver biopsy brings the definite results, screening for monoclonal protein in serum or urine, leading to a search for AL amyloidosis, may be sufficient for diagnosis. The presence of some of the warning signs (B-symptoms such as fevers or subfebrile temperatures, fatigue, weight loss; and paraneoplastic laboratory findings such as elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) should raise suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disease.

[Heart transplantation and the subsequent treatment of AL amyloidosis]

Severe damage to the heart caused by AL amyloid deposits is a contraindication of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Severe heart damage caused by AL amyloid results in frequent life-threatening complications, even during the course of the classical chemotherapy treatment and it often makes keeping to the treatment schedule impossible. Scheduling heart transplantation before the treatment of AL amyloidosis will significantly improve the patients overall condition and enable them to undergo the intensive AL amyloidosis treatment with the hope that a long-term complete remission may be achieved.

CASE DESCRIPTIONS

Transplantations of heart damaged by AL amyloid deposits were conducted in three patients; two men, age 48 and 54, and one woman, age 63. In the interval of 3-6 months from the heart transplantation before the scheduled AL amyloidosis treatment was initiated, an examination of bone marrow, the concentration of monoclonal immunoglobulin and free light chains was carried out. Both men had more than 10% of plasma cells in the bone marrow after the heart transplantation and the concentrations of the λ free light chains were pathologically increased. During the first-line therapy, autologous haematopoietic stem cells were harvested from peripheral blood after mobilizaton with granulocyte growth factor (filgrastim) at the dose of 5 µg/kg twice a day. During the administration of filgrastim until the end of the haematopoietic stem cell harvest, the combined immunosuppressive treatment was reduced and a corticosteroid dose was compensatory increased. The prophylactic antiviral drug valganciclovir was discontinued during the haematopoietic stem cell harvest. High-dose chemotherapy (melphalan 100 mg/m2) with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation followed. In the interval from administering melphalan until the rise in neutrophil count over 2 x 109/l, antiviral prophylaxis was discontinued again, the immunosuppressive drug doses were reduced and corticoid doses were slightly increased. High-dose chemotherapy with melphalan at the of 100 mg/m2 was tolerated without major complications and without mucositis; however, in neither of the male patients did it lead to a complete haematological remission. Consequently, the second-line therapy followed using bortezomib combined with dexamethasone and also with cyclophosphamide or doxorubicin. One of these two patients reached a complete haematological remission after the bortezomib therapy; the values of free light chains were normal, immunofixation was negative, and clonal plasma cells were absent in the bone marrow. In the case of the other patient, the bortezomib therapy only induced partial remission. In this case, the third-line therapy followed, applying a combination of lenalidomide, dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide. This therapy significantly reduced the values of free light chains; however, their ratio remained pathological. To conclude, the latter response can be described as a very good partial remission. Both men currently show no signs of disease activity and are in a good clinical condition 28 and 30 months after the heart transplantation. The third heart transplantation, due to severe heart damage by AL amyloid deposits, was conducted in a woman aged 63. An examination of this woman three months after the heart transplantation showed that the original pathological values of free light chains became normal. The woman had approx. 8% of clonal plasma cells before the heart transplantation. Three months after the heart transplantation the bone marrow contained only 3% of polyclonal plasma cells. In this case, the immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids after the heart transplantation probably induced a complete haematologic remission. The woman is in a complete AL amyloidosis remission seven months after the heart transplantation.

CONCLUSION

It was beneficial to perform the heart transplantation first and to initiate the AL amyloidosis treatment no sooner than three months after the heart transplantation in patients with severe heart damage caused by AL amyloid deposits. If the patients are in a good clinical conditions, autologous haematopoietic stem cells can be harvested after the heart transplantation and high-dose chemotherapy can be offered to the patients. If this intensive treatment does not induce remission, it is necessary to apply additional alternative treatments.

[The effect of lenalidomide on rare blood disorders: Langerhans cell histiocytosis, multicentric Castleman disease, POEMS syndrome, Erdheim-Chester disease and angiomatosis]

Lenalidomide has been licenced for the treatment of multiple myeloma and, in 2012, it is used as a standard treatment of relapses of the disease. Literature contains a number of publications on the effects of lenalidomide in myelodysplastic syndrome, in malignant lymphomas and chronic B lymphocytic leukaemia. The effects of the drug in rare diseases, however, have not been investigated so far. In this paper, we summarize our experience with lenalidomide in rare blood disorders. We observed an excellent effect of lenalidomide in multifocal aggressive, repeatedly relapsing Langerhans cell histiocytosis where it led to complete remission. This patient was treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and with CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, etoposide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy and high dose BEAM chemotherapy with autologous transplantation of haematopoietic tissue for an early disease relapse. Following another early relapse, the patient was treated with lenalidomide (25 mg). Treatment with lenalidomide induced complete remission on PET-CT. The patient was consolidated during the remission with a reduced intensity conditioning regimen and allogeneic transplantation of haematopoietic tissue. Following allogeneic transplantation, the patient has been in full remission for 10 months. We further showed an excellent effect of lenalidomide in multicentric Castleman disease with generalized involvement of lymphatic nodes, B symptoms and vasculitis. The patient was first treated R-CHOP chemotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone). Due to a lack of efficacy, this was changed to the CVD combination (cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, dexamethazone). This treatment delivered complete remission but was complicated by thalidomide-associated neuropathy. Due to persistent neuropathy, thalidomide could not be used to manage further relapse and thus lenalidomide (25 mg, 11 cycles) was used. The patient has been in complete PET-CT remission for 7 months following this treatment. We observed partial efficacy in Erdheim-Chester disease. We used 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine as part of initial treatment that delivered partial regression of brain infiltrates only; fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in the bones has not changed. Lenalidomide 25 mg was used as second line treatment. This led to complete regression of CNS infiltrates on MRI but fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in bone lesions did not change. Regression of clinical signs and regression of fibrosis of retroperitoneum was achieved with an ongoing treatment with anakinra. A patient with multiple angiomatosis affecting the abdominal cavity, mediastinum and vertebrae and digestive tract had been stabilized with zoledronate (4 mg once every 2 months) and thalidomide (100 - 200 mg/den) for several years. However, several years of this treatment led to severe neuropathy. Consequently, we attempted to substitute thalidomide for lenalidomide. However, 10 mg of lenalidomide alone was not sufficiently effective and thus low dose of 50 mg of thalidomide was added. Combined treatment with zoledronate, lenalidomide 10 mg/day and thalidomide 50 mg/day stabilized the condition for 9 months. Due to relapsed gastrointestinal bleeding the treatment had to be changed after 9 months to thalidomide 100 mg/day and Sandostatin 0.1 mg twice daily s.c. A patient with osteosclerotic myeloma and POEMS syndrome was initially treated with CAD chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, adriamycine and dexamethazone) that was followed by tandem high dose chemotherapy (melphalan 100 mg/m2) and autologous transplantation. Treatment with thalidomide was given due to insufficient efficacy but was not tolerated. Lenalidomide was administered as the fourth line treatment. Even though literature describes remission of POEMS syndrome following lenalidomide, four cycles did not lead to remission in our patient.

CONCLUSION

We showed an effect of lenalidomide in Langerhans cell histiocytosis and in Castleman disease. The treatment led to regression of brain infiltrates in a patient with Erdheim-Chester disease. A dose of 10 mg of lenalidomide daily in combination with 50 mg of thalidomide stabilized a course of angiomatosis. Lenalidomide did not deliver the required treatment response in a patient with POEMS syndrome and multiple previous therapies.

[Our experience in treatment of multicentric plasma-cell Castleman disease associated with vasculitis manifestations - case report and literature review]

Castleman disease is a rare idiopathic non-neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorder with 2 clinical (unicentric and multicentric) and 3 histomorphological (hyaline-vascular, plasma-cell and mixed) forms identified. The case report given here describes the 3-year experience with therapy in a patient, male born 1961, diagnosed with multicentric plasma-cell Castleman disease (HIV and HHV-8 negative) with the finding of generalized lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. During first line treatment (R-CHOP: rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, 3 cycles in total, 12/2008-2/2009) the development of bilateral upper and lower limb edemas with clinical manifestation of vasculitis occurred and a restaging computed tomography (CT) examination revealed a stable finding of the lymphadenomegaly. Greater success was achieved with thalidomide regimen (CTD: cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, dexamethasone, 10 cycles, 3/2009-1/2010) leading to reduction in the size of the hypervascularized lymph nodes (almost by 50%) as well as their radiopharmaceutical (fluorodeoxyglucose) uptake as seen on a combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) scan imaging. Thalidomide was given daily at doses between 100 and 200 mg. We returned to the CTD regimen again in April 2010 after a short period of monoclonal antibody tocilizumab treatment (400 mg intravenous in 2-week intervals with 50% dose reduction due to a limited supply of the drug, 5 doses in total) during which edemas reoccurred with a CT scan finding of stable lymphadenomegaly. However, the renewed regimen with thalidomide was stopped after 2.5 cycles due to adverse effects of thalidomide (neuropathy) and corticoids (Cushing syndrome). In September 2010, after enrollment in the Celgenes Compassionate Use Program we were able to start treating the patient with the derivative of thalidomide, lenalidomide, at a dosage of 25 mg on days 1-21 in a 28-day cycle, 15 cycles in total (10/2010-12/2011). The monotherapy with lenalidomide was very well tolerated by the patient without any effects of myelotoxicity, thromboembolism or relapses of edemas and vasculitis, additionally now with apparent improvement of fatic disorder and the patients motor abilities. Thus, lenalidomide represents an attractive alternative agent for patients with Castleman disease after rituximab and cytostatics failures. It has a favourable safety profile and could be therefore considered for administering in first line treatment.

[Cladribine is highly effective in the treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis and rare histiocytic disorders of the juvenile xanthogranuloma group]

Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) is metabolised and phosphorylated in a cell up to 2-chloroadenosine triphosphate which is the actual effective form of the drug. The greatest accumulation of 2-chloroadenosine triphosphate is in the most active cells, where activating (phosphorylation) enzyme, deoxycytidine kinase, has the highest activity, whereas inactivating enzyme (dephosphorylation), cytoplasmic 5-nucleotidase, has the lowest activity. A very good ratio of the both enzymes for high effectiveness of cladribine is in resting and proliferating lymphocytes. Therefore, cladribine is an effective medication for hairy cell leukemia, Waldenström macroglo-bulinemia but also for chronic -B-lymphocytic leukemia. However, such high concentrations of 2-chloroadenosine triphosphate are reached in some cells of histiocytic lines, in monocytes and also in Langerhans dendritic cells. That's why cladribine is highly effective medication in treating Langerhans cell histiocytosis and also in treating diseases of the juvenile xanthogranuloma group. In the paper we present a survey of published experience with cladribine in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The effectiveness of cladribine in the childhood form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is investigated only in 1 multicentric clinical study, other data are taken from single case reports or small series studies. Cladribine was used in 60 adult patients altogether and in 51 of them (85%) treatment response (CR + PR) was achieved. In the group of childhood patients cladribine was used in 182 cases and treatment response (CR + PR) was reached in 110 (60.4%) thereof. One possible explanation for a higher number of therapy responses in adults is lower Langerhans cell histiocytosis aggressiveness in adults than in children. Another explanation is the fact that therapy responses in adults are summarized only from case reports and smaller cohorts, whereas in children, case reports and also results of a prospective randomized clinical study are included. Diseases of the juvenile xanthogranuloma group are much more rare than Langerhans cell histiocytosis and so the number of publications is smaller. In total, 7 publications describe therapy response of cladribine in some of the juvenile xanthogranuloma forms (Erdheim-Chester disease, disseminated juvenile xanthogranuloma and localized form of plane xanthoma type). Cladribine was also effective in CNS infiltration by Langerhans cell histiocytosis cells or juvenile xanthogranuloma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Cladribine is a highly effective medication used in treating Langerhans cell histiocytosis. It is very good tolerated in monotherapy. Therefore, it is suitable for initial therapy of adults with multifocal or multisystem form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Furthermore, it has the use in treating relapses after some other initial therapy. According to published experience, it is an effective drug for diseases of the juvenile xanthogranuloma group (Erdheim-Chester disease, diffuse juvenile xanthogranuloma and also Rosai-Dorfman disease).

[Teleangiectasia hereditaria haemorrhagica--Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. Case study and treatment experience]

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasy is an inborn disease with autosomal dominant transmission. Nose bleeding usually occurs during the 2nd decade of life as the first sign of the disease. Later, during the 3rd or 4th decade of life, typical subtle, pinhead-sized (1-2 mm in diameter) vascular arteriovenous malformations occur. These are usually found on the oral mucosa and in the stomach and small intestine. During later stages of the disease, nose as well as gastrointestinal bleeding causes severe anaemia requiring transfusions. Advanced stages of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasy are associated with a development of ateriovenous vascular malformations in the liver, lungs and possibly the brain. Vascular ateriovenous malformations in the liver cause hyperkinetic circulation that may lead to heart failure. Blood within the pulmonary ateriovenous malformations bypasses filtration in the pulmonary capillary circulation and thus infected microtrombi may pass from the inferior vena cava to, for example, the brain. At first, local treatment - stopping epistaxis - is used. Symptomatic embolisation treatment and, sometimes, liver transplantation are used in advanced forms of the disease with anaemisation, despite iron substitution, and clinically significant ateriovenous malformations. Angiogenesis-inhibiting substances have been shown effective in patients with an advanced disease. Older clinical studies confirmed benefits of combined oestrogen-progesterone treatment, later also treatment with raloxifene or antioestrogens. Many post-2000 publications showed thalidomide and bevacizumab to be effective in this indication. Treatment with bevacizumab has led not only to increased haemoglobin concentrations but, through regression of ateriovenous malformations, provided control of hyperkinetic circulation. Discussion section provides an overview of treatment modalities. The main text describes a case of a 56 years old female patient with hypochromic anaemia despite maximum oral iron substitution. The patient lost blood through repeated epistaxes as well as continuous mild bleeding into gastrointestinal tract. The patient also had confirmed large ateriovenous malformations in the liver. Interferon alpha was used as the first line of treatment. The patient unexpectedly developed fast and pronounced myelosuppression. The number of neutrophils fell down from 1.15 x 109/l to 0.6 × 109/l as soon as after 3 injections of interferon alpha at a starting dose of 1.5 million units 3 times a week. Therefore, interferon alpha was discontinued. Blood count returned to normal following interferon discontinuation. The patient was started on thalidomide in December 2011. The patient reported lower incidence of epistaxes and smaller blood loss than before treatment as soon as during the first month of therapy. Regular administration of thalidomide reduced intensity and frequency of epistaxes in this patient.

[Eyelids with yellow granulomas and cough - periocular xanthogranuloma associated with adult-onset asthma. A case study and an overview of clinical forms of juvenile xanthogranuloma and its therapy]

Histiocytic diseases caused by proliferation and accumulation of phagocytosing macrophages (foamy macrophages) have many clinical forms. These are classified under "juvenile xanthogranuloma" within the WHO classification of blood disorders. Localized forms with benign course include normolipaemic xanthomatosis, xanthogranuloma and necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. Disseminated forms in children take a form of so called "disseminated juvenile xanthogranuloma" or Erdheim-Chester disease in adults. We describe a case of a patient who, at 53 years of age, first noticed yellow granulomas on her eyelids. The disease progressed gradually and, at 59, affects the eyelids as well as their closest surroundings. According to MR and PET-CT, the disease gradually infiltrated the inside of the orbit, orbital fat as well as extraocular muscles and started to cause exoftalmus of one of the eyes. Propagation of the xanthogranuloma into the orbit and infiltration of extraocular muscles might impair eye function. Over the last year, the patient complained of cough. Pulmonary function evaluation confirmed recent asthma bronchiale. These findings correspond to periocular xanthogranuloma associated with adult-onset asthma. No other abnormities have been shown in this patient. Exoftalmus was observed in 2011 after 6 years of monitoring with very slow progression of eyelid and extraocular infiltration. Therefore, prednisone was initiated in 2011, leading to cessation of exoftalmus. It is not known at present whether this is a permanent improvement with a suppression of histiocytary proliferation or whether this was a temporary improvement due to suppression of inflammatory changes in the xanthogranuloma with no effect on histiocytary proliferation. Progression during therapy with corticosteroids would warrant cytostatic treatment. The discussion section provides an overview of diseases caused by foamy histiocytes with illustrations and an overview of experiences with their treatment.

[Interleukin-1 receptor blockade with anakinra provided cessation of fatigue, reduction in inflammation markers and regression of retroperitoneal fibrosis in a patient with Erdheim-Chester disease - case study and a review of literature]

We describe a case of an Erdheim-Chester disease patient. First line chemotherapy treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine did not reduce fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in pathological lesions. The patient had continuously increased CRP values of 17-20 mg/l. The disease continued to cause subfebrile temperatures and significant fatigue that made the patient to spend most of the daytime in bed. To manage the permanently increased inflammation markers, we decided to start treatment with anakinra, successfully used in some other autoinflammatory diseases (e.g. Schnitzler syndrome). We have now been able to evaluate the first 6 months of treatment. Daily subcutaneous administration of anakinra (KineretTM 100 mg daily) led to normalization of CRP values, cessation of subfebrile temperatures and, importantly, significant reduction of fatigue. Time periods the patient was able to spend out of the bed increased significantly. Consequent to the reduced fatigue, the patient was able to perform basic household tasks he was unable to undertake without treatment. After 3 months of treatment, fatigue of the same intensity returned following a short interruption of therapy. The CRP values went up again to 12 mg/l. CRP value returned back to norm and fatigue ceased after re-initiation of daily Kineret injections. Objective treatment response was assessed by measuring the degree of fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in pathological bone lesions. PET-CT was performed before and 3 and 6 months after anakinra initiation. Intensity of accumulation did not change significantly after the first 3 months of therapy but decreased after 6 month therapy. Follow up CT of abdominal cavity was performed at the end of the 6th month of treatment. Presented CT images from before and 6 months after the treatment evidence an obvious reduction in fibroid changes in the retroperitoneum. Daily administration of anakinra to a patient with active Erdheim-Chester disease significantly reduced intensity of fatigue and improved quality of life, led to a reduction in inflammatory markers and regression in retroperitoneal fibrotization.

[The role of PET-CT in decision making on the treatment of localized nodular form of pulmonary AL-amyloidosis]

Depending on the extent of organism affected, there is a systemic (amyloid is deposited in the interstitial space of multiple tissues and organs) and localized (amyloid is deposited in one or a few solitary lesions) form of amyloidosis. Localized forms of amyloidosis have a significantly better prognosis than the systemic ones. The respiratory tract might be affected by diffuse interstitial involvement, associated with systemic AL-amyloidosis, as well as localised involvement of respiratory tract (localised laryngotracheobronchial amyloidosis) or pulmonary parenchyma called nodular form of localized pulmonary amyloidosis. Tracheobronchial form may affect larynx and bronchial tree, and forms plaques or nodules in the epithelium of the respiratory tract. Nodular form causes spherical or irregular lesions in the pulmonary parenchyma, indistinguishable from pulmonary parenchyma metastases. We describe a two-year follow up of a patient with nodular form of pulmonary amyloidosis. The patient had multiple lesions in both lungs, clearly visible on HRCT (High Resolution Computer Tomography) that intensively accumulated fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) during the first PET-CT. At the time of diagnosis, the largest lesion SUV for FDG accumulation was 8.2. Histochemical analysis showed that amyloid consisted of the light λ chains, i.e. AL-amyloid. Investigations to detect a systemic form of amyloidosis, if present, were negative. The patient had no monoclonal immunoglobulin either in the urine or serum (negative immunofixation) and had normal levels of free light chains in the serum. Her symptoms were previously suggestive of the Sjögrens syndrome. However, the rheumatologist consulted at the time of diagnosis of the nodular form of pulmonary amyloidosis did not find any signs of an active systemic connective tissue disorder. CRP was repeatedly normal. When systemic AL-amyloidosis was excluded, we decided to only monitor lesion development with no treatment intervention. The patient had 3 PET-CTs. CT showed that no lesions enlarged, some lesions decreased in size slightly. It should be emphasized that follow-up PET-CTs did not show increased FDG accumulation. We assume that the increased FDG accumulation in pulmonary lesions seen during the first PET-CT was due to the activity of the cells that formed this amyloid and that this activity spontaneously ceased, leading to normalization of FDG accumulation in pulmonary nodules. PET-CT is useful for monitoring of the development of pulmonary nodular amyloidosis. Normalization of originally increased FDG accumulation in amyloid lesions suggests cessation of the process of amyloid formation and is a positive prognostic sign.

[Chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) markers in a patient with multiple angiomatosis during treatment with anti-angiogenics: interferon α, thalidomide and lenalidomide]

BACKGROUND

Multiple angiomatosis is a rare disease with angiomatous formations in multiple organs and tissues and associated with a risk of fatal bleeding.

CASE DESCRIPTION

In this patient, the bones, pleural and peritoneal cavities and digestive tract were involved. The patient had long-term been administered zoledronate that provided relief from bone pain as early as after the second dose. The effect of antiangiogenics was evaluated on CT and MRI. Since angiomatous proliferation is associated with chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and anaemisation, blood count and fibrinogen as well as D-dimer and soluble fibrin monomer concentrations are also used to assess treatment response.

RESULTS

Before treatment, D-dimer levels were in excess of 20 μg/mL, fibrinogen 1.4 g/L and soluble fibrin monomers were at measurable levels. During treatment with interferon α at a dose of 6 million units 3 times a week with the dose reduction after 10 month, the median fibrinogen concentration increased to 1.5 (1.2-2.0) g/L, the median D-dimer levels declined to 17.2 (13.4-20.0) μg/mL and fibrin monomers were still detectable. Thalidomide therapy (100 mg/day) provided reduction in the median D-dimer levels to 6.07 (4.71-10.21) μg/ml and increase in median fibrinogen concentration to 1.9 g/L; soluble fibrin monomers were unidentifiable. CT imaging suggested significant reduction of angiomatous mass. Progressing neuropathy required dose reduction of thalidomide to 50 mg/day, leading to D-dimer increase. Lenalidomide 10 mg/day provided an increase in median D-dimer concentration to 10.8 (10.8-17.35) and decline in the level of haemoglobin to a median of 124 (135-117) g/L. Soluble fibrin monomers became detectable again. Therefore, a low dose of lenalidomide 10 mg/day was combined with thalidomide 100 mg and, subsequently, 50 mg/day. Treatment with lenalidomide 10 mg and thalidomide 50 mg provided median D-dimer levels of 9.32 and the disease has remained stable for 9 months.

CONCLUSION

Thalidomide 100 mg/day stabilized multiple angiomatosis better than interferon alfa. Thalidomide 50 mg/day was insufficient to maintain disease stability. Lenalidomide at a dose of 10 mg was tolerated really well but this dose was insufficient to maintain low D-dimer levels and normal haemoglobin concentrations. The combination of lenalidomide 10 mg and thalidomide 50 mg daily stabilized the disease for 9 months.

[Lenalidomide induced therapeutic response in a patient with aggressive multi-system Langerhans cell histiocytosis resistant to 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine and early relapsing after high-dose BEAM chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation]

Adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) usually follows a favorable course. Very rarely, however, multi-system (multi-organ) LCH difficult to manage either with traditional first line treatment (vinblastine, mercaptopurine, prednisone or etoposide) or 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine occurs. In these patients, other treatment modalities have to be used. We describe a patient with LCH manifesting with generalized lymphadenopathy and infiltrating the pulmonary parenchyma and skin. The disease activity was always associated with B-symptoms (weight loss, subfebrile states, night sweats). Histological investigations repeatedly showed higher proliferation activity than that usual in adult patients with LCH. Expression of Ki-67 proliferation marker was up to 30% and there were 8-10 cells in mitosis in the microscope viewing field. Therefore, therapy started with the application of stimulation regimen (cyclophosphamide 2 g/m2 on day 1 and etoposide 200 mg/m2 on days 1-3) followed by collection of peripheral blood stem cells. Then, treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, the first 3 cycles as monotherapy of 5 mg/m2 SC on days 1-5 in 28-day cycles, the next 3 cycles in combination with cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 on days 1-5 and methylprednisolone 250 mg on days 1-5, was used. However, the disease relapsed 2 months after completion of the therapy. This early relapse was treated with 4 cycles of CHOEP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone). Following the 4th cycle of CHOEP, high-dose BEAM chemotherapy (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) with autologous stem cell transplantation were administered. According to the follow-up PET-CT examination, this treatment resulted in complete disease remission. However, the disease relapsed again in the lymph nodes, lungs, skin and bones 5 months after the high-dose chemotherapy. The progression was documented on PET-CT scanning. Lenalidomide 25 mg daily for 21 days in 28-day cycles with dexamethasone 20 mg once a week were administered as the 4th line treatment. After the 4th cycle of lenalidomide, PET-CT was performed, where the CT component suggested a significant reduction (more than 50%) in the size of the lymph nodes and the PET component showed substantial reduction in fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in the affected lymph nodes as well as in the bone lesions. HRCT showed disappearance of pulmonary nodules. During the treatment, CRP levels declined and hemoglobin rose from 110 to 141 g/l, i.e. partial remission was achieved after 4 cycles. Etoposide (100 mg IV) was added to lenalidomide and dexamethasone on days 22, 23 and 24 of the above mentioned 28-day cycle. The added etoposide further intensified treatment response. In all, 11 cycles of this chemotherapy were given, resulting in complete remission confirmed by follow-up PET-CT. The achieved remission was consolidated using allogeneic bone marrow transplantation after FLAMSA reduced intensity conditioning without amsacrine. Four months after allogeneic transplantation, the patient has been relapse free. Herein we presented treatment response of highly aggressive LCH to lenalidomide. The used four cycles led to partial remission only and with the combination of lenalidomide, dexamethasone and etoposide the treatment response was further intensified to complete remission.

[Six-year follow-up of a patient with multiple angiomatosis involving skeleton, thoracic and abdominal cavities and the gut wall]

BACKGROUNDS

Multiple angiomatosis is a rare disease causing angiomatous lesions in multiple organs and tissues with a risk of life-threatening haemorrhage.

OBSERVATION

A young man was diagnosed with multiple angiomatosis at the age of 28 after two years of back and abdominal pain. Laparotomy revealed multiple spongy lesions mostly within the retroperitoneal space. Also, an involvement of the gut wall, bones and mediastinum was evident. After 6 years of treatment, the disease has been stabilized. Bone pain ceased with a significant contribution of zoledronate. Using CT and MR imaging, the effectiveness of antiangiogenic drugs was evaluated. Furthermore, treatment response was evaluated using laboratory values for coagulation and blood count, as angiomatous proliferation is known to be associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and anaemia.

RESULTS

Baseline laboratory examination revealed elevated D-dimer (more than 20 µg/mL), low fibrinogen (1.4 g/L), and the presence of fibrin monomers. After treatment with 6 mil. IU of interferon-alpha thrice weekly, there was only partial improvement in D-dimer (17.2 µg/mL) and fibrinogen (1.5 g/L) concentrations but fibrin monomers remained positive. After thalidomide (100 mg daily), D-dimer decreased to 6.1 µg/mL and fibrinogen levels increased to 1.9 g/L with the disappearance of fibrin monomers. CT scanning showed significant regression of angiomatous lesions. Progressive neuropathy was the reason to lower the dose of thalidomide by half and this caused D-dimer to rise again. Switching to lenalidomide 10 mg daily led to an increase in D-dimer to 10.8 µg/mL and decrease in haemoglobin concentration to 124 g/L. Fibrin monomers became positive again. Combined therapy with thalidomide (50 mg/day) and lenalidomide (10 mg days 1-21 in 28-day cycles) has led to stabilisation of the disease. Median concentration of haemoglobin increased to 131 (84-141) g/l. The median of D-dimer decreased to 9.3 (8.0-17) µg/mL.

CONCLUSION

Thalidomide in the dose of 100 mg daily led to better stabilisation of the disease than interferon-alpha. However, lowering the dose because of adverse effects failed to be effective sufficiently. Lenalidomide 10 mg daily was well-tolerated but insufficient to improve D-dimer and haemoglobin concentrations. Therefore, for further treatment we have decided to use the combination of lenalidomide and thalidomide in doses of 10 mg and 50 mg, respectively because both drugs have desirable antiangiogenic activities with different adverse effect profiles. On this therapy, the patients disease has been stable for 9 months.

[Treatment of Langerhans cells histiocytosis by cladribin reached long-term complete remission in 9 out of 10 adult patients]

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of cladribine depends on the ratio of activating (deoxycytidine kinase) and inactivating (5-nucleotidase) enzymes. Not only is this ratio high in resting lymphocytes but also in Langerhans cells as well in some other histiocytic cells. Therefore, cladribine shows high effectiveness in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). In 2003, the first report on excellent results with cladribine in first line treatment of patients with multisystem or multifocal LCH was published. That is why we use cladribine for adult patients with relapsing form of LCH and also for first line treatment of multifocal and multisystem LCH at our department.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Since 2001, we have treated altogether 10 adults (9 male and 1 female) with cladribine. The median age at diagnosis was 31.5 years (range: 5-45). The multiorgan form of the disease was present in 8 patients, and 2 patients had the multifocal skeletal form with aggressive disease course. Cladribine at a dose of 5 mg/m2 SC per day was given as a 5-day course at 28-day intervals. In cases of insufficient effectiveness, in two patients after the 3rd cycle with cladribine monotherapy, we proceeded to combination therapy with cladribine of 5 mg/m2 per day, cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 per day and dexamethasone 20 mg per day, all on days 1-5. We planned 6 cycles at the most.

RESULTS

The median of cladribine cycles was 5 (range: 4-6). Altogether, 10 patients finished therapy; out of them 9 are in complete remission with the follow-up median of 26 months (range: 16-94). Treatment failure was noted only in 1 patient - in 60 days after therapy cessation the disease progressed and required further treatment (CHOEP, high-dose BEAM chemotherapy with autologous transplantation followed by Revlimid treatment and allogeneic transplantation). Treatment response - disappearance of infiltrate in the pituitary infundibulum - was observed in 2 patients with LCH affecting the pituitary infundibulum.

CONCLUSION

Cladribine is a suitable medication for multiorgan and multifocal forms of LCH. In our group of ten evaluated patients, cladribine therapy resulted in 90% of long-term complete remissions. Three patients had CNS involvement and in all three patients, treatment responses have been achieved.

Benefits of individual imaging methods for diagnosis and monitoring of activity of multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma pathogenesis, pathology, symptoms and imaging techniques used in clinical diagnostic algorithm, the indications and the differences between currently available imaging methods.

DESIGN

The article describes advantages and disadvantages of basic X-ray imaging and recommended skeleton screening, as the method of first choice, followed by description of the most frequently affected areas and Mirels score. The present golden standard magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, its potential and also recommended MR indications. Concerning computer tomography (CT) imaging, mainly comparison between CT and MR and X-ray imaging its indications and benefits as the interventional instrument are mentioned. The arcticle also focuses on the role of skeleton scintigraphy with Tc-pyrophosphate, which is not recommended today, and the role of positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) in the assessment of the therapy effectiveness and prognosis for patients, its future and present limitations. The next commonly used radioisotope imaging with 99Tc-sestamibi (MIBI) and its comparison to other methods, especially to the FDG-PET and recommended indications for both techniques. Last aim is description of specification of bone tissue density with Dual Energy X-ray Absorption scanning method (DEXA).

CONCLUSION

These imaging methods are commonly used as additional diagnostic tests in initial diagnostic -work-up and in follow-up due to frequent relapses of multiple myeloma.

[MR-documented remission of pituitary stalk infiltration in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis following treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine]

In adult patients, Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) manifests most frequently with one or more osteolytic lesions or, alternatively, with pulmonary involvement with nodules and cysts or with skin lesions. Infiltration ofthe central nervous system is a rather rare sign of LCH. The LCH cells have an unexplained affinity to hypothalamus and to pituitary stalk and, consequently, central diabetes insipidus is the most frequent clinical sign of brain involvement in LCH. We describe treatment of 2 adult patients with LCH in whom central diabetes insipidus was the first sign of LCH and MR confirmed pituitary stalk infiltration. The first man was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus and pituitary stalk infiltration at 33 years of age. LCH was confirmed 2 years later by histology of verrucous lesions on the skin of perianal area. The disease affected the skin and CNS. The patient was treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (5 mg/m2 s.c. for 5 consecutive days of a 28-day cycle). No pituitary infiltration was evident on an MR image after the 4th cycle. Residual perianal infiltration was irradiated. The patient has been in complete remission for 44 months following treatment completion, although vasopressin and testosterone substitution is required. The second man was also diagnosed with diabetes insipidus and pituitary stalk infiltration at 33 years of age. Pulmonary involvement was identified with high resolution CT(HRCT) and high CD1a and S-100 positive elements with bronchoalveolar lavage. This patient further had external auditory canal infiltrations causing chronic discharge from the ears. The patient was treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine as above. A follow up MR after the 4th cycle showed reduction in the infiltration diameter from 5.5 to 3.0 mm. Therefore, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine 5 mg/m2 s.c. was combined with dexamethasone 20 mg p.o. during the 5th and 6th cycle. The MR image after treatment completion showed remission of the pituitary stalk infiltrate. External auditory canal infiltration diminished as did the nodules in pulmonary parenchyma. Nevertheless, vasopressin substitution is still required. The patient has been in complete remission for 8 months from the completion of the treatment. Pituitary stalk infiltration disappeared after the treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in 2 patients; after 4 cycles in the first and after 6 cycles (with an addition of dexamethasone during the last 2 cycles) in the second.

[Successful treatment of Erdheim-Chester disease by 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine-based chemotherapy. Two case studies and a literature review]

INTRODUCTION

Erdheim-Chester disease is an extremely rarely occuring condition and thus an optimal treatment is not known. Two new cases have been diagnosed in our centre in 2008 and 2009. Both patients had diabetes insipidus, B symptoms (subfebrile to febrile states) and pain in long bones of lower limbs.

CASE STUDIES

Imaging showed high accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose as well as Tc-pyrophosphate in long bones of lower as well as upper limbs, aortic wall thickening with periaortic fibrosis and perirenal fibrosis. In addition, one of the patients had multiple lesions in the brain. 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine 5 mg/m2 s.c. and cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 administered on days 1 to 5 in 28-day cycles were selected for the treatment of both patients. Dexamethasone 24 mg/day for 5 days was added to this treatment in the second patient. Six cycles of the treatment were planned. Both patients were prescribed bisphosphonates--zoledronate and clodronate, respectively. Treatment effect was assessed with PET-CT and MR. Following treatment completion, brain infiltrates were reduced to a small residuum in the first patient who did not anymore complain of leg pain. However, there was no reduction in fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in bone lesions and thus treatment response was assessed as partial remission. This patient is currently receiving a second line treatment and treatment follow-up is 26 months from the diagnosis. Repeated PET-CTs in the second patient showed a significant reduction in accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in all pathological lesions. Febrile states and pain in long bones as well as pathological fatigue ceased after the treatment. Increased CPR and fibrinogen gradually returned to their normal levels. This response is assessed as complete remission. This patient's follow-up is 16 months from the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Administration of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (5 mg/m2 s.c.) + cyclophosphamide (150 mg/m2 intravenously) and dexamethasone (24 mg/day) led to partial remission in one patient; nearly complete remission of CNS infiltrates but persistent elevation of fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in bone lesions. Complete remission with a significant reduction in accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in all disease lesions with normalization of originally increased inflammatory markers and disappearance of all symptoms of the disease was achieved in the second patient.

[Ventilator-associated pneumonia]

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as pneumonia occurring in a patient after intubation with an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy tube lasting for 48 hours or more. It is also one of the most common and fatal infections of patients in ICUs. The diagnostic process in VAP is still underestimated and precise criteria for diagnosis are inconsistent. Delayed diagnosis and subsequent delay in starting appropriate therapy are associated with worse outcomes in patients with VAP. Appropriate dose, adequate route of administration and reasonable length of antibiotic therapy together with de-escalation are the fundamental principles of therapy. Supportive care is also an integral part of the treatment. Implementing preventive procedures according to the local ICU standards is needed for reducing the incidence of VAP effectively.

[Partial regression of CNS lesions of Erdheim-Chester disease after treatment with 2-chlorodeoxadenosine and their full remission following treatment with lenalidomide]

INTRODUCTION

Erdheim-Chester disease is a very rare syndrome affecting adult population. It typically causes hyperostosis of long bones, retroperitoneal fibrosis and widening of the aortic wall. Patients frequently suffer from disease-associated fevers and pain in the lower limbs. No guidelines are available for the treatment of this rare ailment. Therefore, we describe our experience with lenalidomide in a patient with poor treatment response to 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.

CASE

Diabetes insipidus and neurological problems developing over 4 years were the first signs of the disease. The disease was diagnosed from histology of the bone marrow extracted from the ilium. At diagnosis, the patient had multiple infiltrates in the brain, widened wall of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, fibrotic changes to retroperitoneum and typical hyperostosis of the long bones of lower limbs with high accumulation of technetium pyrophosphate as well as fluorodeoxyglucose. First line treatment involved 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine 5 mg/m2 s.c. for 5 consecutive days every 28 days. There was no clear treatment response identifiable on the MR scan of the brain following the third cycle and thus 4th-6th cycle consisted of 2-chlorodexyadenosine 5 mg/m2 + cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 + dexamethasone 24 mg day 1-5 every 28 days. After the 6th cycle, MR showed partial regression of the brain lesions. PET-CT showed an increased accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in bone lesions. Second line treatment involved lenalidomide 25 mg/day days 1-21 every 28 days. Lenalidomide tolerance was excellent; the number of neutrophils and thrombocytes was within the physiological range throughout the treatment period. Follow-up MR showed complete remission of the brain lesions, while follow-up PET-CT showed further increase in fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in the bones of lower limbs.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine-based regimen provided partial remission of Erdheim-Chester disease lesions in the brain, while treatment with lenalidomide resulted in complete remission of these lesions. Fluorodeoxyglucose continues to accumulate in the long bones of lower limbs. We are unable to elucidate the reasons for complete remission of the disease in the brain as per the MR and its progression in the long bones according to PET-CT. Further testing of lenalidomide in the treatment of this disease is required to support further use of this perspective treatment option.

Exogenous surfactant as a component of complex non-ECMO therapy of ARDS caused by influenza A virus (2009 H1N1)

During the pandemy caused by novel influenza A virus (subgroup H1N1), a significant number of patients became critically ill from respiratory failure. In the most severe cases of primary pneumonia, patients develop refractory hypoxemic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with typical computed tomographic findings of multi-lobar alveolar opacities and extremely reduced pulmonary airspace. To reduce the risk of injurious ventilation and promote survival, some authors recommend the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Unfortunately, ECMO is expensive, associated with serious complications, and available at very few centers. Other therapeutic options are clearly needed. Here we report three patients with severe influenza pneumonia who recovered following treatment with porcine surfactant (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 6). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.

[Schnitzler syndrome: diagnostics and treatment]

BACKGROUNDS

The most important diagnostic criteria for Schnitzler syndrome include chronic urticaria, the presence of monoclonal IgM immunoglobulin, marked inflammation (leukocytosis, elevated CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate), subfebrile temperatures or fevers and bone and joint pains. It is a rare idiopathic disease that may lead to potentially life-threatening complications such as development of secondary amyloidosis or transformation into malignant lymphoproliferation. Schnitzler syndrome should be included in differential diagnostics of chronic urticaria and fevers of unknown origin. The diagnostic algorithm is based on clinical presentation and serum and urine electrophoreses to detect monoclonal components. Blockade of interleukin-1 (IL-1), key cytokine in the pathogenesis of the disease, dominates current therapeutic protocols. Anakinra (Kineret), recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist, is the most widely used treatment option. According to literature, disease remission was obtained in all treated patients. Therefore, anakinra represents a significant diagnostic possibility to differentiate Schnitzler syndrome from e.g. monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) associated with urticaria of different aetiology. Biological therapy with rilonacept (Arcalyst) and canakinumab (Ilaris) represents a new treatment alternative for patients, allowing prolonged dosing intervals of 1 and 8 weeks, respectively (compared to 24 hours with anakinra). The review article also presents findings of various imaging methods (conventional radiography, computed tomography, traditional bone scintigraphy) and photographs of patients with Schnitzler syndrome before and after anakinra therapy.

DESIGN

The aim of the review is to draw attention to the existence of this rare autoinflammatory and potentially premalignant condition, present a simple diagnostic algorithm and provide an overview of therapeutic options for the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Malign potential of Schnitzler syndrome, possible development into systemic amyloidosis and the fact that patients are frequently referred to oncology clinics for differential diagnostics of monoclonal gammopathy, are the main reasons why clinical oncologists should be aware of Schnitzler syndrome.

[Regression of an osteolytic lesion in a patient with multiple myeloma treated with clodronate after a successful therapy with bortezomib-based regimen]

BACKGROUNDS

Osteolytic lesions are a common manifestation of multiple myeloma, though their healing is rare in these patients. Generally, during a complete remission, lesions only stop progressing; radiologically evident recalcification is exceptional.

CASE

Herein we report a case of a male patient born in 1941 and diagnosed in 2005 with IgA multiple myeloma presenting with multiple osteolytic bone lesions. Administration of 4 cycles of VAD chemotherapy (vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone) with subsequent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and maintenance treatment with interferon alpha had resulted into a very good partial remission. In 2009, the disease relapsed with enlargement of osteolytic lesions evident on skiagrams. The largest lesion, reaching 24 x 10 mm in size, was located in the left femur. A complete remission of the disease was achieved with CVD senior regimen (cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, dexamethasone, 8 cycles in total). Bisphosphonates (zoledronate, ibandronate and, from 2007, clodronate) were administered as a long-term supportive therapy. A one-year follow-up skiagram of the left femur revealed over 50% regression of the osteolytic lesion (10 x 5 mm) documented in a set of pictures herein.

CONCLUSION

A complete remission of the disease after an administration of bortezomib (Velcade)-based regimen in a long-term clodronate (Bonefos)-treated patient with relapsed multiple myeloma is radiographically apparent by clear healing signs of the osteolytic bone lesion.

[Schnitzler syndrome: case report, the experience with glucocorticoid and anakinra (Kineret) therapies and monitoring of systemic cytokine response]

Schnitzler syndrome is a rare idiopathic disease characterized by chronic urtica, presence of monoclonal IgM immunoglobuline and further, less common symptoms. This case report describes another case of this disease affecting a male adult born in 1963. The first symptoms, eruptions of non-pruritic urticarial rash, appeared in this patient at the age of 43. In addition, bone pains (mainly tibias) and joint pains (mainly knees) were present. Later on however, severe attacks of fever, chills and shaking together with bone and joint pains were added to during which new urticarial eruptions appeared. Primarily, the man was followed up without any substantial therapeutic results at a department of dermatovenerology, subsequently, due to a finding of monoclonal IgM kappa immunoglobulin (serum concentration 1.9 g/l) he was referred to our department for the reason of gammopathy being a differential diagnosis. On a CT scan hyperostosis in claviculae and pelvic bones was identified. Also on the CT, an increase in cortical thickness was described in the long bones of the lower extremities, where areas of technetium pyrophosphate accumulation were identified on a bone scintigraphy. These areas were found in the chest and sacral regions as well. From the blood exams, the proinflammatory status of the organism was apparent (CRP 35.9 mg/l, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 92 mm/h, leukocytes 12.4 x 10(9)/l). After excluding other differential diagnoses, the patient was diagnosed with Schnitzler syndrome. As regards therapy, we made initial use of the effect of corticoids which abated the symptoms, however, these were causing serious adverse reactions in the form of iatrogenous Cushing's syndrome. The therapy took a turn only after biologic therapy with anakinra (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) had started, which minimized the Schnitzler symptoms with very good drug tolerance. In the work we measured serum levels of interleukins for disease activity monitoring. The most sensitive were interleukins IL-6 and especially IL-18 the levels of which were the highest at the time of clinical exacerbation of the disease, whereas the levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor) were during all measurements below the limit of detection. Concerning the growing numbers of the reports on successful biological therapy with anakinra and our positive experience, we propose that the therapeutic response to anakinra should be included within the diagnostic criteria of Schnitzler syndrome, which is significant above all in differential diagnosis thereof.

[Castleman disease]

BACKGROUNDS

Castleman disease is a rare non-clonal lymphoproliferative disorder with the etiopathogenesis not yet thoroughly clarified. Clinically, either unicentric (localized) or multicentric (generalized) forms are recognized while, histopathologically, hyaline-vascular, plasma-cell and mixed variants of the disease exist. These types vary one from another in their clinical courses and, importantly, in methods of therapeutic management. While the unicentric hyaline-vascular form usually manifests as benign growth of a single lymph node and treatment response to complete surgical excision reaches up to 100%, the multicentric plasmocellular variant is an aggressive disease with generalized symptoms, laboratory abnormalities and the need for systemic therapy.

AIM

The paper provides an overview of information on Castleman disease from its clinical and histopathological signs to diagnostic and therapeutic options. It deals with the role of cytokines and HHV-8 virus infection in the disease pathophysiology and is supplied with ample pictorial documentation of radiographic findings including ultrasonography, computed tomography and hybrid imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) in combination with simultaneously taken full-body computed tomography (CT) scans, the so called PET/CT. We also present photographs of histological specimens taken from an HIV and HHV-8 negative patient with the plasmocellular multicentric form.

CONCLUSIONS

Consequent to its low incidence, Castleman disease is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed with a delay. Therefore, it is always necessary to include this rare condition in differential diagnostics of lymphadenopathy, microcytic anemia as well as B-symptoms (night sweats, fevers and weight loss). In conclusion, we also stress the significance of full-body PET/CT scanning during staging and treatment response evaluation.

[Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis--evaluation of the disease activity and treatment response using PET-CT (SUV(max) Pulmo/SUV(max) Hepar index). Description of own experience and literature review]

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) manifests with dyspnoea and a cough with no significant expectoration, with spontaneous pneumothorax being the first symptom in some patients. The disease is caused by multiple granulomas in terminal bronchioles, visible on high resolution CT (HRCT) as nodules. During the further course of the disease, these nodules progress through cavitating nodules into thick-walled and, subsequently, thin-walled cysts. LCH may affect the lungs only or multiple organs simultaneously. Pulmonary LCH may continually progress or remit spontaneously. Treatment is indicated in patients in whom pulmonary involvement is associated with multi-system involvement or when a progression of the pulmonary lesions has been confirmed. To document the disease progression, examination of the lungs using HRCT is routinely applied. Increasing number of nodules suggests disease progression. However, determining the number of nodules is extremely difficult. Measuring radioactivity of the individual small pulmonary loci (nodules) using PET is not possible due to the high number and small size of the nodules. Our centre has a register of 23 patients with LCH; the pulmonary form had been diagnosed in 7 patients. A total of 19 PET and PET-CT examinations were performed in 6 of these patients. PET-CT was performed using the technique of maximum fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in a defined volume of the right lung--SUV(max) Pulmo. In order to compare the results of examinations performed using the same and different machines over time as well as in order to evaluate pulmonary activity, the maximum fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in a defined volume of the right lung (SUV(max) Pulmo) to maximum fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in a defined volume of the liver tissue (SUV(max) Hepar) ratio (index) was used. The disease progression was evaluated using the SUV(max) Pulmo/SUV(max) Hepar index in the six patients with pulmonary LCH. The index value was compared to other parameters characterising the disease activity (HRCT of the lungs, examination of pulmonary function and clinical picture). The SUV(max) Pulmo/SUV(max) Hepar index correlated closely with other disease activity parameters. The traditional PET-CT examination is useful in detecting the LCH loci in the bone, nodes and other tissue but not in the presence of diffuse involvement of pulmonary parenchyma. Measuring the maximum fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in a defined volume of the right lung and expressing this activity as the SUV(max) Pulmo/SUV(max) Hepar index appears to be a promising approach. Our initial experience suggests that the results obtained using this method correlate well with other parameters that characterise activity of pulmonary LCH. However, this is a pilot study and further verification is required.

[Lymphoma-like course in aggressive adult multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis and the benefit of PET/CT imaging in evaluation of diffuse metabolic activity of lung parenchyma]

The case report given here describes an unusual case of a 35-year-old otherwise healthy male diagnosed with aggressive form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis initially taking course under the form of lymphoma with expressed B symptoms (night sweats, fever and weight loss) and generalized peripheral lymphadenopathy. Also present were productive cough and perianal itching. The diagnosis was determined from lymph node and perianal skin biopsies. Furthermore, by a typical finding on HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography), pulmonary involvement was confirmed the gradual development of which we succeeded to document through a series of several HRCT and PET/CT scans from its initial florid phase characterized by disseminated nodularities up to the terminal phase with the decline of activity and development of cystic formations. After the collection of peripheral blood stem cells, the planned patient's therapy started which in all consisted of three monotherapy cycles with cladribine followed by three cycles of combined chemotherapy (cladribine + cyclophosphamide + methylprednisolone) and complemented with curative radiotherapy of the perianal area. This treatment put the disease into complete remission. However, in two months the initial B-symptoms occurred again, along with the pulmonary symptomatology, perianal pruritus and newly also hip bone pains. The suspected LCH relapse was proved histologically by lymph node biopsy and confirmed at a restaging PET/CT examination which also showed disease dissemination into the hip bones. Consequently, an aggressive form of the disease with early relapse had been the case, which was indicated for administering 4 cycles of CHOEP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + vincristine + etoposide + prednisone) as salvage regimen completed in March 2010 with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after high-dose BEAM (carmustine + etoposide + cytarabine + melphalan) chemotherapy. Thus, the generalized involvement of nodes doesn't always need to be malignant lymphoma or metastatic dissemination of a tumour but also LCH may be the case. The presence of B symptoms may very likely stand for an aggressive form of the disease course. Histological evaluation of the proliferative characteristic (given by Ki-67 immunohistochemical proliferative index marker and also morphologically by the number of mitosis) may draw attention to an aggressive form of this disease. However, therapy with cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) which proves beneficial in classic forms of LCH, in cases of highly aggressive forms of LCH doesn't need to have the same effect as in LCH with low proliferative activity, which conforms to the present experience in the treatment of indolent and aggressive lymphomas. In our study, the hybrid PET/CT imaging proved high sensitivity in evaluating the activity of the disease, including its early relapse. We are presenting here a new method for description and evaluation of diffuse increased activity of pulmonary parenchyma by means of PET/CT examination and for using this method within the framework of monitoring the curative response.

[Different courses of recurrent or multisystem Langerhans cells histiocytosis in adults--description of 22 cases from one centre]

Since its establishment in 1990, a total of 22 patients with confirmed Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) have been monitored and treated at the Clinic of Internal Medicine Haemato-Oncology in Brno. In 5 patients, the disease was diagnosed in childhood and 2 of these 5 patients had late neurodegenerative changes in the CNS with a typical picture on MR and a typical PET-CT imaging fluorodeoxyglucose hypometabolism in the cerebellar area. In 5 patients from the cohort of 22, the disease had unifocal form, dominant in the area of skeleton with no recurrence after the treatment. However, in 12 patients, the disease affected a number of organs simultaneously (multifocal form of LCH). The aim of the description below is to characterise the monitored cohort of 22 patients and describe the very different courses of multifocal forms of LCH in 12 patients.

A response to infection in patients with severe sepsis--do we need a "stage-directed therapy concept"?

Excessive forms of the response of organism to infection play an important role in the pathogenesis of severe sepsis. They may consist of either local pro-inflammatory response with a massive release of cytokines into the systemic circulation, or may be presented as an excessive systemic anti-inflammatory response. In the first case, the result is a systemic pro-inflammatory state, characterised by natural stages of the inflammatory response, in which dysfunction of macrocirculation is followed by microcirculation derangement and mitochondrial alteration at the end. These mechanisms are responsible for the development of remote organs failure. The result in the second case is a deactivation of local immunocompetent cells, which results in the risk of uncontrollable growth of microorganisms, especially in organs with an impaired antimicrobial barrier. This may explain the clinically observed recurrence of septic episodes, when a resolution of infection at one site is later replaced with an outbreak of sepsis from another site. A number of therapeutic interventions aimed on the management of causes and consequences of systemic pro-inflammatory state was clinically tested (e.g. antibiotics, goal directed hemodynamic support and inhibitors of coagulation) with surprisingly different effectiveness. The cause of this difference may lie, apart from the frequently discussed inhomogeneity of the studied patient population, also in an incorrect timing of the therapeutic interventions, which does not respect natural stages of the inflammatory response (Fig. 1, Ref. 40).

Negative fluid balance in patients with abdominal compartment syndrome--case reports

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as a sustained increase of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) above 20 mmHg followed by the development of organ dysfunction. Treatment of ACS is still a question to be discussed and surgical decompression is usually preferred. According to recent data, massive crystalloid resuscitation of shock plays a key role in the development of secondary ACS in trauma patients. As mentioned previously, a high volume of infused crystalloids and a positive fluid balance were associated with ACS development in trauma patients as well as in septic patients. Moreover, we observed that a treatment strategy based on the achievement of a negative fluid balance resulted in a dramatic decrease in IAP and an improvement in haemodynamics and ventilation. This approach has been indicated as an interesting option for non-surgical treatment, with a caution that such intervention may exacerbate gut hypoperfusion. In this report we present two patients with secondary ACS development following abdominal surgery in which the achievement of a negative fluid balance showed a similar effect. Moreover, the fluid removal procedure also seemed to be associated with an improvement in splanchnic perfusion, as measured by gastric tonometry.