ABSTRACT
The acidified glycerol lysis test (AGLT) is highly sensitive for hereditary spherocytosis (HS). In all 50 patients of the Children's Hospital of the Medical Academy Magdeburg suffering from HS the 50% lysis time was found to be pathological between 19 and 110 seconds. However, pathological results of this test were also found in autoimmune haemolytic anaemias. AGLT was negative in non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemias and normal controls. In conclusion, the AGLT is a rapid, simple and inexpensive screening procedure for spherocytes in blood.
Subject(s)
Glycerol , Neonatal Screening , Spherocytosis, Hereditary/prevention & control , Acid-Base Equilibrium/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hemolysis/physiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Osmotic Fragility/physiology , Spherocytosis, Hereditary/blood , Spherocytosis, Hereditary/diagnosis , SplenectomyABSTRACT
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura characterised by an increased bleeding tendency is a well-known clinical entity in childhood. From 1983 to 1992 68 patients suffering from ITP were treated at the Children's Hospital of the Medical Academy of Magdeburg. 11 patients with mild or without clinical symptoms and platelet counts of more than 20 Gpt/l did not receive any treatment; all children recovered spontaneously. 38 patients with severe haemorrhagic manifestations and thrombocytes less than 20 Gpt/l were treated with corticosteroids and had a sustained remission. 10 patients who had responded to corticosteroids initially and subsequently relapsed were given other treatments (Anti-Rhesus-antibodies, HDIVG). All patients achieved a continuous remission. A chronic disease was observed in 8 patients; 3 of them were splenectomised. One child died due to massive gastrointestinal bleeding.
Subject(s)
Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/diagnosis , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Male , Platelet Count , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/blood , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/therapy , SplenectomyABSTRACT
From January 1974 to June 1990 33 children suffering from Wilms' tumor were treated at the Department of Pediatrics of the Magdeburg Medical Academy. The cumulative five year survival rate was 0.87. The treatment regimen depended on age of patient, stage and histological subclassification of tumor. In spite of an impressive reduction of therapy during the observation period the survival rate of patients remained high. Since 1989 the Nephroblastoma study No 9 of the European International Society of Pediatric Oncology has been applied to improve furthermore the treatment by a preoperative chemotherapy in all patients.
Subject(s)
Kidney Neoplasms/therapy , Wilms Tumor/therapy , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Child , Child, Preschool , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Infant , Kidney Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Kidney Neoplasms/mortality , Male , Nephrectomy , Radiotherapy Dosage , Survival Rate , Ultrasonography , Wilms Tumor/diagnostic imaging , Wilms Tumor/mortalityABSTRACT
Adult height in 20 patients, successfully treated for childhood leukemia, led to reduced height less than 2 standard deviations (S.D.). The loss in projected final height of 0.8 S.D. was mainly due to intensity of maintenance therapy of protocol LSA2L2 (14). In contrast, less intensive maintenance therapy (6-MP and MTX) of protocol BFM 81 (13) showed a transient growth spurt. Final height equals projected target height. Neither 18-Gy nor gold-198 intrathecally compromised final height.
Subject(s)
Body Height/physiology , Growth/physiology , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/physiopathology , Child , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/physiopathology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/therapy , Male , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Leukemia/physiopathology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/physiopathology , Pituitary Gland, Anterior/physiopathology , Radiotherapy/adverse effects , Acute Disease , Adolescent , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Child , Child, Preschool , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Growth Disorders/etiology , Humans , Leukemia/drug therapy , Leukemia/radiotherapy , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/drug therapy , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/radiotherapy , Male , Pituitary Gland, Anterior/drug effects , Pituitary Gland, Anterior/radiation effects , Pituitary Hormones, Anterior/blood , Prospective Studies , Puberty , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
To assess effects of chemo- and radiotherapy on the endocrine system 31 children with acute leukaemia and NHL (3 AML, 24 ALL, 4 NHL) were investigated. Children were treated according to modified BFM protocols. 25 patients were before, 5 during and one after puberty (2 to 16 y.). Before treatment, during induction therapy, during cranial irradiation, 4-6 weeks later and during maintenance therapy the following hormone values were estimated: TSH and prolactin basal and 30 min. after TRH (5 micrograms/kg i.v.), LH and FSH basal. Final investigations included total T4 and T3. In conclusion, chemo- und radiotherapy lead to transient elevations of TSH and prolactin in a few patients, but without proof for permanent disorders. Due to the fact all 3 patients with hyperprolactinaemia showed high prolactin levels (700 to 770 mU/l) already before treatment it is unlikely therapy was the main cause of these observed alterations. Although basal LH and FSH values were in normal ranges for age the increasing values after cranial irradiation in prepubertal children may reflect a possible initiation of early maturation, reported by others. Furthermore a retrospective growth study was performed in children treated with 2 different protocols. Protocol LSA2L2 used in the past before 1981 resulted in a permanent reduction of the height. In contrast, the mean SDS for height in children treated with protocol VII declined only during the intensive period of treatment. A catch-up growth occured already during maintenance therapy. Prophylactic cranial irradiation with 18 Gy in our patients under protocol LSA2L2 did not affect growth during the first 5 years after diagnosis.
