Visceral leishmaniasis mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar, a serious disease resulting from a systemic infection caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania, is potentially fatal to humans. According to data from Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Brazil's Information System for Notifiable Diseases) from 2015 to 2016, 6,489 new cases were recorded in Brazil in 22 of the 27 federative units. In addition to typical clinical findings, VL may be associated with autoimmune phenomena, including simulating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We present the first case of autochthonous VL mimicking SLE in Santa Catarina in southern Brazil.

Mature B cell neoplasms: retrospective analysis of 93 cases diagnosed between 2011 and 2014 in a University hospital in southern Brazil

BACKGROUND: According to the 2008 World Health Organization classification, mature B-cell neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of diseases that include B-cell lymphomas and plasma cell disorders. These neoplasms can have very different clinical behaviors, from highly aggressive to indolent, and therefore require diverse treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the profile of 93 patients diagnosed with mature B-cell neoplasms monitored between 2011 and 2014. METHODS: A review of patients' charts was performed and laboratory results were obtained using the online system of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. RESULTS: The study included 93 adult patients with mature B-cell neoplasms. The most frequent subtypes were multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. There were statistical differences in terms of age at diagnosis, lactate dehydrogenase activity and Ki-67 expression among the subtypes of B-cell lymphoma. According to the prognostic indexes, the majority of multiple myeloma patients were categorized as high risk, while the majority of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients were classified as low risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the profile of patients diagnosed with mature B-cell neoplasms in a south Brazilian university hospital. Of the B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma presented particular features regarding lactate dehydrogenase activity levels, Ki-67 expression, age at diagnosis, and human immunodeficiency virus infection.