Hemofilia adquirida tratada con anti CD20, un anticuerpo anti linfocito B / Acquired hemophilia a treated with rituximab. Report of one case

We report a 54-year-old male presenting with a history or recurrent nose bleeds and ecchymoses. The coagulation study showed a prolongedpartial thromboplastin time, a factor VIII of 8 percent and a high inhibitor titer (193 Bethesda units). A diagnosis of acquired hemophilia A was reached. The patient was initially treated with cyclophosphamide for seven months without response. Therefore rituximab in doses of 375 mglm²Iweek for four weeks was started. After starting treatment, the patient had a hematoma in the psoas muscle with a concomitantfactor VIII ofless than 5 percent, thatwas treated with local measures. Thereafter, aprogressive reduction in inhibitor titers was observed, until its disappearance atfive months of treatment. Factor VIII levéis normalized and the patient has not experienced abnormal bleeding episodes. The patient remains in remission after 67 months offollow up. Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against theprotein CD 20 is an effective treatment in acquired hemophilia A.

Enfermedad injerto contra huésped (EICH): caso clínico con expresión en mucosa bucal / Gran versus host disease with oral involvement: report of one case

Gran versus Host Disease (GVHD) is a common complication in allogenic bone marrow transplants and in some cases, it involves the oral mucosa. Therefore, the appropriate diagnosis and timely treatment is essential to prevent ¡ocal complications which interfere with normal oral functions and facilitate infection spread. We report a 17 years old woman with GVHD associated to ¡ichenoid and ulcerative ¡essions in the oral mucosa, which responded to the topical administration of a 0.1 percent tacrolimus ointment.

Autotrasplante (AT) de progenitores hematopoyéticos en mieloma múltiple: Experiencia clínica / Autologous transplant (AT) with peripheral-blood stem-cell rescue for multiple myeloma: A clinical experience

Background:Multiple myeloma is rarely curable. Advances in high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation have improved overall survival and event-free disease periods, but relapses are inevitable. Aim: To report our experience with AT in multiple myeloma, between 1994 and 2003. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 20 patients (12 women), with a mean age of 51.1 years. VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) was used as initial therapy in 19 patients. High dose cyclophosphamide (11 patients) and variations of VAD regimen (7) associated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor were used for peripheral-blood stem cell harvest. The conditioning regimen consisted of melphalan 200 mg/m2 followed by the reinfusion of peripheral-blood stem cells 24 hours later. The median number of CD34 cells infused was 3,3x106/kg. Three patients were subjected to a second auto graft and one to a non-myeloablative transplant. Mean follow up was 35.5 months. Results: Mucositis and febrile neutropenia were common complications. The median number of days for neutrophyl engraftment was 9 (range 8-11) and for platelets, 10 (range 7-13). No patient died. Complete remission was obtained in 60% (12/20), progession-free survival was 30 months and overall median survival, 47 months. Conclusions: The AT with high-dose melphalan is a safe procedure in our hospital, without mortality and engraftment in all the patients. Complete remission and progression free survival were similar to those reported abroad but the overall median survival was lower.

Púrpura de Schönlein-Henoch grave en un paciente con mieloma múltiple / Severe Henoch- Schönlein purpura in multiple myeloma: report of case

A Multiple Myeloma (MM), IgG-l stage III-A was diagnosed in a 41-year-old-man. After VAD cycles IgG decreased from 7.5 to 2.4 g/dL. were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and 10 µg/Kg G-CSF. Three days after the collection of peripheral stem cell, the patient had fever, nausea, vomiting, liquid stools, shoulder and knee arthralgia and dehydration. Upper GI endoscopy showed esophageal candidiasis and ulcerative necrotic lesions both in stomach and duodenum; the biopsy confirmed necrosis. Simultaneously, the appearance of purpura with maculopapular lesions of diverse sizes appeared in the feet progressing to the limbs and trunk. Hematuria and proteinuria were also observed. Skin biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Renal biopsy showed focal and segmental glomerulonephritis. Serum ANCA, cryoglobulins, anti-HCV and RF were negative, and serum monoclonal IgG was 1290 mg/dL. Daily treatment with iv methylprednisolone pulses for 3 days improved skin lesions and digestive involvement. Macroscopic hematuria and proteinuria improved after two months of steroid treatment

Intoxicación aguda con metotrexato usado con fines abortivos: descripión de 2 casos / Acute intoxication with methotrexate, used as an abortive: report of two cases

Acute intoxication with methotrexate, used as an abortive, has not been described in Chile. We report two female patients, aged 15 and 24 years old, who presented with mucositis, erythrodermia, pancytopenia, and elevation of hepatic enzymes. Plasma methotrexate levels confirmed the clinical diagnosis and both patients were treated with high leucovorin doses and management of associated complications. In one patient, pregnancy continued, giving birth to a newborn with cranial, face and limb malformations. The second patient had a late rescue with leucovorin and was discharged with a persistent sensory motor neuropathy. Considering the severity of complications and that patients may deny its use, when there is reasonable clinical suspicion of methotrexate intoxication, leucovorin treatment should be started