ABSTRACT
Pica, the compulsive eating of non edible substances, is known by the medical profession for centuries. In the novel by Miguel de Cervantes "Adventures of the famous knight Don Quixote de la Mancha'', there is a history in which "women that by caprice eat soil, plaster coal and other disgusting substances'' are mentioned. This description configures the clinical diagnosis of pica. This fact has not attracted the attention of the critics of Cervantes' novel, up to now. This unequivocal reference of pica suggests that iron deficiency anemia, caused by chronic hemorrhages in adults, was frequent in 1605, when the book was first published.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/history , Medicine in Literature , Pica/history , History, 16th Century , HumansABSTRACT
A known hemophiliac B male (blood coagulation factor IX level of 15%), HIV negative, in whom a Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia developed at the age of 29 years, is presented. The leukemia was diagnosed after an upper digestive tract bleeding, due to a duodenal ulcer. Two years elapsed between the diagnosis of leukemia and the start of busulfan therapy. During that period and after the start of treatment, the hemorrhagic tendency did not increase. The follow up of the patient was almost 8 years, with favorable clinical response to busulfan therapy. The patient survived more than twice the average survival of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with busulfan. A reciprocal influence between chronic myeloid leukemia and hemophilia appears illustrated by this case report.
