Frequency and type of chromosomal abnormalities in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients in Kuwait: a six-year retrospective study

To characterize the frequency of genetic profiles in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] patients in Kuwait. This review presents the general cytogenetic characteristics of 164 pediatric patients diagnosed as having ALL in a 6-year period. Chromosomal and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were made on bone marrow aspirates at diagnosis and during different stages of the disease. Recurring aberrations, observed in 123 [75%] patients, included hyperdiploidy [n = 68, 41%], tetraploidy [n = 12, 7.3%], hypodiploidy [n = 2, 1.2%], TEL-AMU fusion [n = 11, 7%], mixed-lineage leukemia rearrangement [n - 6, 3.6%], t[9;22] [n - 4, 2.4%], t[1;19] [n - 3, 1.8%], t[8;14] or t[8;22] [n = 2, 1.2%], +21 [n - 2, 1.2%], del[6] [n = 2,1.2%] and miscellaneous abnormalities [n = 9,5%].The highest observed numerical chromosome abnormality was high hyperdiploidy in 89 patients [54%] with abnormal karyotype while the TEL-AML fusion was the highest observed structural abnormality. This study showed that clonal anomalies detected in pediatric ALL have shown correlations between specific abnormalities and clinicobiological characteristics of the patients

Guillain-Barre syndrome in a case of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. A case report

To report a case of severe Guillain-Barr‚ syndrome in a 32-year old female patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who was on chemotherapy. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: The patient received chemotherapy including vincristine and steroids according to the Medical Research Council United Kingdom Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia-12 [MRC UKALL-12] protocol. On the 21st day of the first induction course she developed acute fulminant quadriparesis with total areflexia. The clinical features, nerve conduction and the cerebrospinal fluid studies were consistent with acute Guillain-Barr‚ syndrome. She was treated with a 5-day course of intravenous immunoglobulins [IVIG] that resulted in only partial improvement. A second course of IVIG was given 2 weeks later that improved her condition slowly and steadily over a period of 12-16 weeks; the patient was able to walk with minimal support. The fulminant neuropathy was most likely due to the association between Guillain-Barr‚ syndrome and leukaemia rather than vincristine neurotoxicity. IVIG was an effective and non-invasive treatment for Guillain-Barr‚ syndrome associated with the malignancy