[A man with a primary diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the bone]. / Een man met aanhoudende pijn in zijn knie.

A 63-year-old man suffered from persistent pain in the left knee that did not respond to local injections with bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetonide. The first X-ray of the knee did not show any abnormalities, but eight months later a lytic lesion in the left tibia was seen on X-ray. A PET/CT scan and histopathologic analysis of a biopsy revealed a primary diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the bone.

[Erythema after subcutaneous heparin treatment]. / Erytheem na subcutane heparinetoediening.

BACKGROUND: Heparin-induced skin lesions are common. The majority are delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to heparin or other components of the injection fluid. Differentiation from heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) skin lesions is important. The Warkentin 4T's score is helpful for assessment of the risk of HIT. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 36-year old female was treated with injections of tinzaparin for a deep vein thrombosis. After 16 days, she developed progressive thrombocytopenia and a skin lesion at one of the injection sites. She was diagnosed with "skin lesion consistent with HIT and caused by the use of low-molecular-weight heparin". The platelet count returned to normal and the severity of the skin lesion improved after replacement of tinzaparin with fondaparinux. CONCLUSION: In patients with skin lesions suspected of being caused by the use of heparin, a complete blood count needs to be made as quickly as possible. With a 4T's score ≥ 4, it is recommended that a skin biopsy and a laboratory HIT-test are performed. Heparin should be replaced by alternative anticoagulants by way of precaution.

Low protein Z levels but not the protein Z gene G79A polymorphism are a risk factor for ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Protein Z (PZ) is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein that plays a role in both pro-and anticoagulant pathways, but its exact physiological function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the G79A PZ gene polymorphism in intron F, PZ levels and the occurrence of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We performed a case-control study in 118 Caucasian patients with first ever ischemic stroke or TIA confirmed by CT, and 113 age-and sex-matched population controls. Venous blood samples for PZ levels were collected 7 to 14 days and 3 months after stroke onset. Estimates of relative risk (odds ratios) were adjusted for vascular risk factors. RESULTS: The adjusted relative risk of ischemic stroke associated with PZ levels in the lowest quartile versus the highest quartile was 3.0 (95% CI: 1.1-8.7) at 7-14 days, and 5.1 (95% CI: 1.2-21.9) at 3 months after the stroke. PZ levels in the convalescent sample were significantly lower than in the acute sample. In the convalescent sample, odds ratios increased with lower quartiles of protein Z level (test for trend p=0.02). Thirty-nine patients (33%) and 32 (28%) controls were heterozygous for the G79A PZ gene polymorphism and 4 (3%) patients and 4 (4%) controls had the AA-genotype. The PZ levels were significantly lower in subjects with the AA-genotype and intermediate in heterozygote subjects. The odds ratio of ischemic stroke associated with A-allele carriers versus GG-homozygotes was 1.2 (95% CI: 0.7-2.1). CONCLUSION: No association between the G79A PZ gene polymorphism and the occurrence of stroke was observed. However, low PZ levels are independently associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.

Thrombotic and infectious complications of central venous catheters in patients with hematological malignancies.

Central venous catheters (CVCs) have considerably improved the management of patients with hematological malignancies, by facilitating chemotherapy, supportive therapy and blood sampling. Complications of insertion of CVCs include mechanical (arterial puncture, pneumothorax), thrombotic and infectious complications. CVC-related thrombosis and infections are frequently occurring complications and may cause significant morbidity in patients with hematological malignancies. CVC-related thrombosis and infections are related and can therefore not be seen as separate entities. The incidence of symptomatic CVC-related thrombosis had been reported to vary between 1.2 and 13.0% of patients with hematological malignancy. The incidence of CVC-related bloodstream infections varies between 0.0 and 20.8%. There is need for a specific approach regarding diagnosis and treatment of CVC-related thrombosis and infection with specific attention to the preservation of the catheter. Since data on CVC-related infections and thrombosis in hematological patients have been obtained mainly from retrospective studies of small sample size, prospective, randomized studies of prophylactic measures concerning CVC-related thrombosis and infection are warranted.

Effective and safe use of recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) in elderly mild haemophilia A patients with high-titre antibodies against factor VIII.

Three patients with mild haemophilia A who developed high-titre antibodies against factor VIII at high age are reported. These patients had only a limited number of exposure days of FVIII concentrates in the past. The patients had to undergo surgery or presented with recurrent bleeding episodes. Treatment with recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa) was effective and safe. Despite the high age and the presence of coronary heart disease in one of the patients, no adverse events or thrombotic complications occurred. These cases illustrate that the physician should always be alert on the development of inhibitors, also in elderly patients with mild haemophilia, in whom FVIII inhibitors had never been detectable before and that treatment with rFVIIa was effective and well-tolerated.