Risk factors for diabetes insipidus in langerhans cell histiocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes insipidus (DI) is the most frequent central nervous system (CNS)-related permanent consequence in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), which mostly requires life-long hormone replacement therapy. In an attempt to define the population at risk for DI, 1,741 patients with LCH registered on the trials DALHX 83 and DALHX 90, LCH I and LCH II were studied. RESULTS: Overall 212 of 1,741 patients (12%) was reported to have DI. In 102 of 1,741 patients (6%) DI was present at diagnosis of LCH. One thousand one hundred eighty three of 1,539 patients without DI at diagnosis had follow up information. One hundred ten of these (9%) later developed DI. The risk of developing DI was 20% at 15 years after diagnosis. Multisystem disease patients at diagnosis carried a 4.6-fold risk for DI compared to single system patients. Craniofacial lesions, in particular in the "ear," "eye," and oral region were associated with a significantly increased risk for DI (relative hazard rate, RHR 1.7), independent of the extent of disease. No influence of the duration of therapy could be determined, but the duration of initial disease activity (RHR 1.5) and the occurrence of reactivations (RHR 3.5) significantly increased the risk for DI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multisystem disease and craniofacial involvement at diagnosis, in particular of the "ear," "eye," and the oral region carry a significantly increased risk to develop DI during their course. This risk is augmented when the disease remains active for a longer period or reactivates.

Secuelas pulmonares del tratamiento de la enfermedad de Hodgkin / Pulmonary sequelae of therapy for Hodgkin´s disease

En las últimas décadas se ha producido un incremento en la sobrevida de las enfermedades malignas pediátricas. En la enfermedad de Hodgkin (EH) esta ha alcanzado el 90 por ciento, sin embargo la morbilidad secundaria al tratamiento persiste. Objetivos: determinar la incidencia de enfermedad pulmonar secundaria al tratamiento de la EH en pacientes pediátricos que reciben el protocolo COPP/ABV. Material y métodos: desde el año 1996 gasta el 2000 se diagnosticaron 55 pacientes con diagnóstico de EH que fueron enrolados en este protocolo. Se incluyeron en el estudio 22 pacientes con estudio funcional respiratorio completo. Los pacientes se dividieron en cuatro estadios y estos en A o B de acuerdo a si presentaron síntomas o no al momento del diagnóstico. Las drogas utilizadas fueron Vincristina, Ciclofosfamida. Procarbazina, Prednisona, Doxorrubicina, Bleomicina y Vinblastina. En todos los pacientes se realizaron pruebas de función pulmonar completas. Resultados: se estudiaron 22 pacientes con EH desde el punto de vista respiratorio. Once varones, edad x 12.1 (r6.1 -16.4); 3 pacientes fueron estadio 1.7 estadio II, 2 estadio III y 10 estadio IV. Todos recibieron quimioterapia (QMT) y 13 además radioterapia (RDT). La CVF estubo disminuida en forma significativa en 1/22 luego del 4º ciclo, en 4/22 la DLCO disminuyó más del 20 por ciento, y la CPT presentó caída en 1/22. De los pacientes que recibieron RDT, 10 completaron los estudios funcionales, 6/10 presentaron disminución de la CVF y 4/10 de la DLCO y la CPT. Conclusión: la quimioterapia y la radioterapia producen morbilidad pulmonar. Nosotros creemos necesario monitorear la toxicidad pulmonar mediante pruebas de función pulmonar seriadas en los niños con EH.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: retrospective evaluation of 123 patients at a single institution.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate clinical characteristics at diagnosis and outcome of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). From October 1987 to March 1996, 133 patients with confirmed LCH were admitted to Hospital JP Garrahan in Buenos Aires (123 evaluable). Median age was 5 years (range 15 days to 18 years). Initial organ involvement included bone 114 patients, ear 34, skin 30, liver 18, lung 14, lymph nodes 14, spleen 12, diabetes insipidus 9, and bone marrow 2. Nineteen patients had organ dysfunction, pulmonary 14, hematological 14, and hepatic 12. Two groups were defined: Group A included patients with single system disease (uni- or multifocal) and group B multisystem (with or without organ dysfunction). In group A (n = 82), 24 patients were treated with chemotherapy (prednisone and vinblastine), 21 with surgery, 15 received radiotherapy, and 22 were only observed. Patients of group B (n = 41) were treated with chemotherapy consisting of prednisone and vinblastine, DALHX 83, or LCH1-based chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 3 years (range 1 month-8 5/12 years) 93% of patients of group A and 39% of group B survive free of reactivation. In group B, 22% had a reactivation and 39% died of progressive disease. Sequelae were detected in 35 patients (28%), which included diabetes insipidus in 17, hearing loss in 13, bony sequelae in 11, sclerosing cholangitis in 6, and lung fibrosis with bullae in 6. Two patients had a subsequent malignant disease. A total of 17 (14%) patients died and 16 of them belonged to the group B: 13 died of progressive disease, 2 due to sclerosing cholangitis (with sepsis in one case and encephalitis in the other one), 1 with progressive disease and associated myelofibrosis, and 1 patient of group A with active disease and brain stem tumor. Patients who had organ dysfunction had a reactivation free survival of 32%. All these patients survived with sequelae. Logistic regression analysis showed that organ dysfunction and hematological involvement had significant predictive values in relation to death. Patients of group A had an excellent survival rate, whereas in those of group B a high mortality was found, especially in the subgroup of patients with organ dysfunction. Lahey's criteria should be revised. Sequelae were also more common in this group.

Comparison of two consecutive trials for treatment of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Two consecutive trials for the treatment of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were evaluated, carried out by the same cooperative groups. Group A: From June, 1973 to December, 1975, 50 evaluable patients under 16 years of age participated in a study that included vincristine and prednisone plus surgery and/or radiotherapy as induction. This was followed by 2400 rad of cranial radiotherapy plus 5 doses of intrathecal methotrexate-dexamethasone and anti-leukemia (6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide) or anti-lymphoma (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) maintenance treatment. Group B: From January, 1976 to December, 1980, 55 evaluable patients participated in a consecutive study that added Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and cyclophosphamide to the former induction regimen. Central nervous system (CNS) prevention was performed with 5 doses of intrathecal methotrexate-dexamethasone. Maintenance treatment was the same. Prognostic factors as stage and primary site were comparable in both groups. A total of 33 (66%) of 50 children of Group A and 48 (87%) of 55 children of Group B achieved complete remission (P less than 0.005). Disease-free survival at 60 months was 27% in Group A and 49% in Group B; for Stage I-II, 30% in Group A and 85% in Group B (P less than 0.025); for Stage III-IV 28% in Group A and 36% in Group B (not significant). In Group A, 9.1% and in Group B, 8.3% had primary CNS relapse. Both maintenance schedules had the same relapse rate. It was concluded that: (1) the addition of Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide to vincristine-prednisone in Group B produces a higher rate of complete remission in Stage III-IV, a higher rate of disease-free survival in Stage I-II, and a higher survival rate in all stages; (2) CNS prevention with intrathecal methotrexate-dexamethasone is equally effective as cranial radiation plus intrathecal methotrexate-dexamethasone; and (3) anti-leukemia and anti-lymphoma maintenance are equally effective in the context of this study.

Comparison of central nervous system prophylaxis with cranial radiation and intrathecal methotrexate versus intrathecal methotrexate alone in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis with cranial irradiation plus 5 doses of intrathecal methotrexate (i.t. MTX) reduces the incidence of CNS relapse to 7%-15%. However, increased evidence of CNS delayed toxicity started to be recognized as CT scan abnormalities and neuropsychologic alterations, mainly in children. Two questions were analyzed in the present report: (1) Will further doses of i.t. methotrexate and dexamethasone (i.t. MTX-DMT) decrease the incidence of CNS relapse in patients treated early in remission with cranium irradiation plus i.t. MTX-DMT even more? (2) Is i.t. MTX-DMT given during induction and maintenance equally as effective as cranium irradiation plus i.t. MTX-DMT? A randomized study was designed to answer the first question. Incidence of primary CNS relapse in i.t. MTX-DMT-treated patients with a WBC count less than 50,000 was 11% (15 of 135 patients) and was 11% (17 of 150) in the untreated group. In patients with a WBC count greater than 50,000, it was 16% (6/37) in the treated group and 19% (6/31) in the control group. No difference was observed according to treatment in both prognostic groups. Patients in this study were retrospectively compared with a consecutive protocol in which patients received 3 doses of i.t. MTX-DMT alone during induction plus 3 doses weekly during the first month of remission and every 3 mo thereafter. The incidence of primary CNS leukemia at 60 mo in patients with a WBC count less than 50,000 was 20% in the irradiated group and 32% in the group with i.t. MTX-DMT alone. This difference was not significant. However, the relapse-free survival at 60 mo was 26% and 41%, respectively, (p less than 0.0005). The incidence of primary CNS relapse in patients with a WBC count more than 50,000 at 48 mo was 28% in the irradiated group and 42% in the nonirradiated group. The difference was not significant. The duration of complete remission was similar, remaining at 15% and 16% of patients disease-free at 48 mo, respectively. We conclude that (A) after cranial irradiation plus i.t. MTX-DMT X 5, the use of additional doses of i.t. MTX-DMT is not of further benefit in preventing CNS relapse; (B) the use of i.t. MTX-DMT alone compares similarly with cranial irradiation plus i.t. MTX-DMT in the incidence of CNS relapse; and (C) relapse-free survival and survival in patients with a WBC count less than 50,000 were significantly longer in those without cranial irradiation.

Changes with the menstrual cycle in psychophysiological and self-report measures of activation.

This study investigated changes in levels of central autonomic nervous system activity, using objective and self-report measures at two hormonally contrasting phases of the menstrual cycle. The subjects were 36 women who were divided into two groups, one tested in the premenstrual phase and one in the intermenstrual phase. The findings, which would need further confirmation, suggest that the levels of activation in both the central nervous system and in the autonomic nervous system are different in the two phases. Also, the two systems appear to vary independently of each other within the cycle. Cortical levels of activation are higher intermenstrually than premenstrually; autonomic levels are higher premenstrually than intermenstrually. The objective and self-report measures were in agreement both as regards the premenstrual/intermenstrual differences in activation levels, and as regards the central/autonomic differentiation. Further clarification of nervous system activity at the different hormonal phases of the cycle may contribute to an understanding of the relationships between endocrine, physical, psychological and behavioural variables through the menstrual cycle.

Chemoimmunotherapy with levamisole in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were in two consecutive protocols and in complete remission (CR) with maintenance therapy, were randomized to receive or not receive levamisole. A total of 15 of 55 low-risk patients of protocol 10-LLA-72 with levamisole had relapses, compared with 25 of 54 not receiving levamisole; 67 and 49%, respectively, remain in CR at 48 months (P less than 0.025). In protocol 1-LLA-76, 14 of 91 low-risk patients on levamisole and 25 of 93 patients receiving levamisole had relapses; 78 and 61%, respectively, remain in CR at 36 months (P less than 0.05). Seventeen of 39 high-risk patients (children with a leukocyte count higher than 50,000 and adults) receiving levamisole had relapses compared with 37 of 61 not on levamisole. The DNCB skin test showed at 18 and 24 months a 74 and 85% positivity in the levamisole groups vs. a 38 and 35% positivity in the control group (P less than 0.025). We conclude that levamisole prolongs the duration of CR and survival in low-risk patients with ALL.

Infections in children with malignant disease in Argentina.

During six-month period, 102 consecutive episodes of fever in 68 children (ranging from 1 month to 14 years of age) with malignant diseases were prospectively evaluated. Sixty-five had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, nine had acute myeloblastic leukemia, nine had malignant lymphoma (four Hodgkin and five non-Hodgkin), five had chronic myeloid leukemia, four had rhabdomyosarcoma, three had CNS tumors, two had neuroblastoma, one had Wilms, and four had other malignant tumors. Forty cases (39.2%) showed severe neutropenia (500 neutrophil/m3) during the episode. S. aureus, E. coli, and S. pyogenes were in 53% of the 75 microbiologic isolates. Twenty-two percent of the viral studies were positive. Mycologic studies were all negative, except one case with C. Albicans. Pneumonia (33 cases), cellulitis (15 cases), pharyngitis (12 cases), and varicella (11 cases) were the most common final diagnosis. Seventy-one percent of the episodes were etiologically documented (by bacterial isolate, characteristic serology, and/or typical clinic picture); 19% of the febrile episodes were probable infections, and 10% were fever of uncertain cause. Ninety percent of the cases responded well to therapy, and mortality of this series was 7%. Gentamicin, Carbenicillin, and Methicilin were the more common antibiotics employed. We conclude that in our population 1) infection is a frequent cause of morbidity in children with malignant diseases; 2) the most common cause of the febrile episodes is bacterial infection; 3) S. aureus, E. coli and S. pyrogenes are the most frequent bacterial isolates, and P. aeruginosa is infrequent; 4)viral infections are relatively frequent in this group of children; and 5) with adequate management, the mortality is low.

Evaluation of intensification and maintenance programs in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

This cooperative prospective study was designed to answer the following questions in cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia induced to achieve complete remission with the combination of vincristine and prednisone (if by day 29 the bone marrow was not M1, daunorubicin was added to the former regimen) and who received preventive CNS therapy with 2400 rad of cobalt-60 to craniocervical region and simultaneously intrathecal methotrexate and dexamethasone: 1) Is a short intensification with cytosine-arabinoside and cyclophosphamide immediately after complete remission useful? 2) Does the use of weekly doses of 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate have the same maintenance effect as daily 6-mercaptopurine and twice weekly methotrexate? and 3) Do further 3 month-doses of intrathecal methotrexate and dexamethasone help to decrease still more the incidence of meningeal leukemia? From October 1972 to December 1975, 473 previously untreated patients entered this study and 465 (390 children and 75 adults) are evaluated in this paper. Of them, 373 (80%) achieved complete remission (children 84% and adults 61%). Out of 109 "high risk" children (one or more of the following characteristics at diagnosis: marked organomegaly, mediastinal widening, leukocytosis above 50000/mm3 and CNS involvement) 83 (76%) and out of 281 "standard risk" children (all the others) 244 (87%) achieved complete remission. The median duration of complete remission according to different prognostic factors was as follows: "high risk" children 10 months, adults 24 months and "standard risk" children 25 months. Duration of complete remission of the "standard risk" children in relation to with or without intensification, daily or weekly maintenance and additional intrathecal therapy or none, showed no significant difference; however, those who received intensification, daily maintenance and further intrathecal therapy behaved slightly better. Median survival for all the cases of this study was as follows: adults 10 months, "high risk" children 12 months and "standard risk" children 26 months. At 36 months, 13% of "high risk" children, 25% of adults and 39% of "standard risk" children are still alive. We conclude that the variables studied in this protocol did not show significant extension of complete remission, however the sum of them seems to offer some advantage. Moreover, what appears clear is the importance of prognostic factors which must be taken into account in future studies.

Remission maintenance therapy for meningeal leukaemia: intrathecal methotrexate and dexamethasone versus intrathecal craniospinal irradiation with a radiocolloid.

Thirty-two patients with meningeal leukaemia who achieved meningeal remission with intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) plus dexamethasone (DMT) were entered in a randomized study of two maintenance treatments: (a) I6 patients received intermittent intrathecal doses of MTX plus DMT, and (b) I6 patients received intermittent intrathecal doses of radioactive chromic phosphate (CROP). The population and clinical characteristics of the cases assigned to each maintenance regimen were similar. The duration of meningeal remission was 55-600 + d (median 550 d) for the MTX and DMT group and 56-555 d (median 360 d) for the CROP group. There was no statistical difference (P greater than 0.05) between the curves of the two groups. Intrathecal CROP seems to be as effective as intrathecal MTX plus DMT as maintenance treatment for intrathecal MTX plus DMT induced meningeal remission. Further uses of this compound should be explored but it seems to be dangerous to administer it by lumbar puncture.