Can SARS-CoV-2 induce hematologic malignancies in predisposed individuals? A case series and review of the literature

Abstract Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may present with extrapulmonary manifestations, including hematologic changes. Previous studies suggest that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) can interact with the renin-angiotensin system, ultimately causing increased production of angiotensin II. By reporting the cases of previously healthy young adults diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy after experiencing COVID-19, we raise the hypothesis that the SARS-Cov-2 infection could act as a trigger for leukemogenesis in predisposed individuals. Methods This was a case series performed through extraction of relevant clinical information from the medical records of three patients admitted to our Hematology unit between August 2020 and September 2020. Main Results Considering the relatively rapid development of cytopenias following recovery from COVID-19, it cannot be ruled out that SARS-Cov-2 played a role in leukemogenesis in those patients. Based on previous in vitro studies, the renin-angiotensin system imbalance induced by SARS-CoV-2 could potentially promote in vivo leukemogenesis through several mechanisms. Conclusion Despite the advances in pathophysiological and clinical characterization of COVID-19, the consequences of the pandemic to the incidence of hematologic diseases are still to be elucidated. In this context, future dissection of the status of the local bone marrow renin-angiotensin system in leukemogenesis is a clinically relevant basic research area.

Sarcoma Granulocítico Cutâneo de Apresentação Concomitante ao Diagnóstico de Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda / Cutaneous Granulocytic Sarcoma Concomitant to the Diagnosis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia / Sarcoma Granulocitico Cutaneo de Presentacion Concomitente al Diagnostico de Leucemia Promielocitica Aguda

Introdução: O sarcoma granulocítico (SG) é um tumor extramedular raro, composto por células mieloides imaturas. Ocorre em 2% a 14% dos pacientes com leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA). A associação com leucemia promielocítica (LPA) é ainda mais rara, especialmente como manifestação no momento do diagnóstico. O presente estudo expõe o caso de um paciente com SG cutâneo de apresentação concomitante ao diagnóstico de LPA. Relato do caso: Paciente do sexo masculino, 30 anos, encaminhado ao Departamento de Hematologia por febre, odinofagia, intensa adinamia, hiporexia, perda de 5 kg, sudorese noturna, além de dispneia progressiva ao longo de um mês. Realizou exames laboratoriais com evidência de anemia grave, prosseguindo investigação etiológica com mielograma, que evidenciou 84% de blastos, e imunofenotipagem compatível com LPA, PML-RARA positivo (90%). Apresentava ainda lesões ulceradas em região genital e coxa direita, cuja biópsia evidenciou proliferação de células redondas suspeita para infiltração por LMA/SG. A imuno-histoquímica confirmou SG. O paciente foi submetido à quimioterapia, com boa resposta ao tratamento e melhora das contagens sanguíneas. As lesões cutâneas evoluíram com cicatrização. Após terceira consolidação, o PML-RARA negativou. Conclusão: Este relato de caso descreve uma apresentação rara de uma doença hematológica maligna, o SG, também conhecido como cloroma, na pele. Uma estratégia de diagnóstico incluindo imagens, histopatologia, imuno-histoquímica e exames laboratoriais foi necessária para confirmá-lo. O diagnóstico oportuno é essencial para que o tratamento adequado seja instituído logo, beneficiando o paciente em sobrevida e qualidade de vida

Introduction: Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare extramedullary tumor, made up by immature myeloid cells. It occurs in 2% to 14% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The association with promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is even more rare, especially as manifestation at the time of diagnosis. The present study exposes the case of a patient with cutaneous GS concomitant with a diagnosis of APL. Case report: Male patient, 30 years old, referred to the Hematology Department due to fever, odynophagia, intense adynamia, hyporexia, loss of 5 kg, night sweating, in addition to progressive dyspnea over one month. Laboratory exams were run with evidence of severe anemia, proceeding to etiological investigation with myelogram, which showed 84% of blasts, and immunophenotyping compatible with promyelocytic leukemia (APL), PML-RARA positive (90%). Also, presented ulcerated lesions in the genital region and right leg, whose biopsy showed proliferation of suspected round cells for infiltration by AML/GS. Immunohistochemistry confirmed GS. The patient underwent chemotherapy, with good response to the treatment and improvement of blood counts. Skin lesions evolved with healing. After the 3rd consolidation, PML-RARA was negative. Conclusion: This case report describes a rare presentation of a malignant hematological disease, GS, also known as skin chloroma. A diagnostic strategy including images, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and laboratory tests were needed for confirmation. Timely diagnosis is essential, so that appropriate treatment is instituted soon, benefiting the patient regarding survival and quality of life

Introducción: El sarcoma granulocítico (SG) es un tumor extramedular poco frecuente, compuesto por células mieloides inmaduras. Ocurre en 2% a 14% de los pacientes con leucemia mieloide aguda (AML). La asociación con leucemia promielocítica (LPA) es aún más rara, especialmente como manifestación en el momento del diagnóstico. El presente estudio expone el caso de un paciente con SG cutáneo que presenta un diagnóstico de LPA. Relato del caso: Paciente masculino de 30 años, remitido al Servicio de Hematología por fiebre, odinofagia, adinamia intensa, hiporexia, pérdida de 5 kg, sudoración nocturna, además de disnea progresiva a lo largo de un mes. Realizó exámenes de laboratorio con evidencia de anemia severa, continuando investigación etiológica con mielograma, que mostró 84% de blastos, e inmunofenotipificación compatible con LPA, PML-RARA positivo (90%). También presentaba lesiones ulceradas en región genital y muslo derecho, en las que la biopsia mostró proliferación de células redondas sospechadas para infiltración por LMA/SG. La inmunohistoquímica confirmó SG. El paciente fue sometido a quimioterapia, con buena respuesta al tratamiento y mejoría de los hemogramas. Las lesiones cutáneas evolucionaron con la curación. Después de la tercera consolidación, el PML-RARA fue negativo. Conclusión: Este reporte de caso describe una presentación poco común de una enfermedad hematológica maligna, el SG, también conocido como cloroma, en la piel. Se necesitaba una estrategia de diagnóstico que incluyera imágenes, histopatología, inmunohistoquímica y pruebas de laboratorio para confirmarlo. El diagnóstico oportuno es fundamental para que pronto se instaure el tratamiento adecuado

Association of oxidative stress and DNA damage with grafting time in patients with multiple myeloma and lymphoma submitted to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / Associação do estresse oxidativo e dano ao DNA com o tempo de enxertia em pacientes com mieloma múltiplo e linfomas submetidos a transplante autólogo de células-tronco hematopoéticas

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to investigate the association between oxidative stress and DNA damage with grafting time in patients submitted to autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). The study included 37 patients submitted to autologous HSCT diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM) and lymphoma (Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s). Biomarkers of oxidative stress and DNA damage index (DI) were performed at baseline (pre-CR) of the disease and during the conditioning regimen (CR), one day after the HSCT, ten days after HSCT and twenty days after HSCT, as well as in the control group consisting of 30 healthy individuals. The outcomes showed that both groups of patients had an hyperoxidative state with high DI when compared to baseline and to the control group and that the CR exacerbated this condition. However, after the follow-up period of the study, this picture was re-established to the baseline levels of each pathology. The study patients with MM showed a mean grafting time of 10.75 days (8 to 13 days), with 10.15 days (8 to 15 days) for the lymphoma patients. In patients with MM, there was a negative correlation between the grafting time and the basal levels of GPx (r = -0.54; p = 0.034), indicating that lower levels of this important enzyme are associated with a longer grafting time. For the DI, the correlation was a positive one (r = 0.529; p = 0.030). In the group with lymphoma, it was observed that the basal levels of NOx were positively correlated with grafting time (r = 0.4664, p = 0.032). The data indicate the potential of these biomarkers as predictors of toxicity and grafting time in patients with MM and Lymphomas submitted to autologous HSCT.

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi investigar a associação entre estresse oxidativo e dano ao DNA com o tempo de enxertia em pacientes submetidos ao transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas autólogo (TCTH). Participaram do estudo 37 pacientes submetidos ao TCTH autólogo com diagnóstico de mieloma múltiplo (MM) e Linfomas (Hodgkin e não Hodgkin). Biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo e índice de dano ao DNA (ID) foram determinados no estado basal (Pré-RC) das doenças e durante o regime de condicionamento (RC), um dia após o TCTH, dez dias após o TCTH e vinte dias após o TCTH e no grupo controle composto por 30 individuos saudáveis. Os resultados demonstraram que os dois grupos de pacientes apresentaram um estado hiperoxidativo com elevado ID quando comparados ao estado basal e ao grupo controle e que o RC exacerbou essa condição. No entanto, após o tempo de acompanhamento do estudo, esse quadro foi reestabelecido ao estado basal de cada patologia. Os pacientes do estudo com MM apresentaram uma média do tempo de enxertia de 10,75 dias (8 a 13 dias), e de 10,15 dias (8 a 15 dias) para o grupo Linfoma. Nos pacientes com MM houve uma correlação negativa entre o tempo de enxertia e os níveis basais de GPx (r=-0,54; p=0,034), indicando que níveis mais baixos de GPx estão relacionados a um maior tempo de enxertia, e para o ID, a correlação foi positiva (r=0,529; p=0,030). No grupo com Linfoma, observou-se que os níveis basais de NOx correlacionaram-se positivamente com o tempo de enxertia (r= 0,4664; p=0,032). Os dados apontam para o potencial desses biomarcadores como preditores da toxicidade e do tempo de enxertia em pacientes com MM e Linfomas submetidos ao TCTH autólogo

T-cell/myeloid mixed-phenotype acute leukemia with monocytic differentiation and isolated 17p deletion

Mixed phenotype acute leukemia is a rare subtype of leukemia that probably arises from a hematopoietic pluripotent stem cell. The co-expression of two of myeloid, B- or T-lymphoid antigens is the hallmark of this disease. Herein, the case of a 28-year-old female patient is reported who presented with hemoglobin of 5.8 g/dL, white blood cell count of 138 × 109/L and platelet count of 12 × 109/L. The differential count of peripheral blood revealed 96% of blasts. Moreover, the patient presented with lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and bone marrow infiltration by monocytoid blasts characterized as 7% positivity by Sudan Black cytochemical staining. Immunophenotyping revealed the involvement of blasts of both T- and monocytic lineages. The cytogenetic analysis showed an isolated 17p deletion. Thus, the diagnosis of T-cell/myeloid mixed phenotype acute leukemia was made with two particular rare features, that is, the monocytic differentiation and the 17p deletion as unique cytogenetic abnormalities. The possibility of concomitant expressions of T-cell and monocytic differentiation antigens in the same blast population is hard to explain using the classical model of hematopoiesis. However, recent studies have suggested that myeloid potential persists even when the lineage branches segregate toward B- and T-cells. The role of an isolated 17p deletion in the pathogenesis of this condition is unclear. At present, the patient is in complete remission after an allogeneic stem cell transplantation procedure...