[Post-radiotherapy hyperthyroidism: a rare complication of cancer treatment in the child]. / Hyperthyroïdie post-radique: une complication rare du traitement des cancers de l'enfant.

UNLABELLED: Abnormalities of thyroid function, specially hypothyroidism, are common complications of head and neck irradiation for childhood cancer. Hyperthyroidism is rare and can be misdiagnosed. We report two observations of this condition. OBSERVATIONS: The first patient received conventional craniospinal irradiation for a localized medulloblastoma. Three years later, he presented with profuse sweating, irritability and paroxysmal tachycardia. Biologic evaluation revealed a peripheral hyperthyroidism. The patient was treated with antithyroidian hormonal treatment. The second patient received an irradiation for an undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Three years later, she developed a progressive thyrotoxicosis which was attributed to hyperthyroidism after six months of evolution. Hormonal treatment improved the clinical state after several weeks. CONCLUSION: Hyperthyroidism is a rare complication of head and neck irradiation. This condition justifies a periodic and prolonged evaluation of thyroid function.

[Antithrombin deficiency and thrombosis in a young child]. / Déficit en antithrombine et thromboses chez le jeune enfant.

BACKGROUND: Thromboses represent a rare event in children and may be due to a deficiency of antithrombin. CASE REPORT: A 10-year-old boy developed thrombosis due to a congenital quantitative deficiency in antithrombin, confirmed by molecular biology. His father was diagnosed with the same deficiency. The child was first treated with heparin and is now on antivitamin K. He is well 26 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: When a young patient presents with a thrombotic event, a congenital deficiency in one of the inhibitors of coagulation, one of which is antithrombin, should be looked for and the condition treated as soon as possible.

The molecular basis of antithrombin deficiency in Belgian and Dutch families.

The molecular basis of hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency has been investigated in ten Belgian and three Dutch unrelated kindreds. Eleven of these families had a quantitative or type I AT deficiency, with a history of major venous thromboembolic events in different affected members. In the other two families a qualitative or type II AT deficiency was occasionally diagnosed. DNA studies of the AT gene were performed, using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis, followed by direct sequencing of the seven exons and intron-exon junction regions. Six novel point mutations were identified: four missense, one nonsense mutation and a single nucleotide deletion near the reactive site, causing a frameshift with premature translation termination. In two kindreds the underlying genetic defect was caused by a whole gene deletion, known as a rare cause of AT deficiency. In these cases, Southern blot and polymorphism analysis of different parts of the AT gene proved useful for diagnosis. In another kindred a partial gene deletion spanning 698 basepairs could precisely be determined to a part of intron 3B and exon 4. In two type I and in both type II AT deficient families a previously reported mutation was identified. In all cases, the affected individuals were heterozygous for the genetic defect.

[Combined hereditary deficiency in factors VII and X revealed by a prolonged partial thromboplastin time]. / Déficit héréditaire combiné en facteurs VII et X révélé par un allongement du temps de Quick.

BACKGROUND: Congenital factors VII and X deficiency is rare. Association of both deficiencies is exceptional. CASE REPORT: A 3 year-old boy, born to consanguinous Moroccan parents, had a prolonged partial thromboplastin time discovered fortuitously. This finding led to the diagnosis of combined factors VII and X deficiency. His siblings had the same deficiencies. CONCLUSION: Profound deficiencies in factors VII and X are inherited following an autosomal-recessive mode. These deficiencies may be asymptomatic, only discovered by prolonged partial thromboplastin time. They may also be revealed by intracranial bleeding and other severe hemorrhages. Treatment consists of administration of factor VII or PPSB.

[Eruptive fever of rare cause: familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis]. / Une fièvre éruptive de cause rare: la lymphohistiocytose hémophagocytaire familiale.

BACKGROUND: Clinical onset of familial lymphohistiocytosis is non-specific so that the diagnosis of this rare and severe disease is difficult. CASE REPORT: An 8 week-old girl was admitted suffering from fever and rash. She had hepatosplenomegaly. She developed pancytopenia (Hb: 6.6 g/100 ml; WBC: 4500/mm3; platelets: 25,000/mm3) impaired liver function tests (prothrombin: 15%, blood bilirubin: 40 mg/l; SGOT: 160 mU/ml) and hypofibrinogenemia (0.3 g/l) within a few days. Bone marrow examination showed diffuse histiocytic infiltration and erythrophagocytosis, suggesting a syndrome of inappropriate macrophage activation. The age of the patient, parental consanguinity and absence of specific infection led to diagnosis of familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The patient died 18 days after clinical onset. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of this unusual syndrome in infants is strongly supported by parental consanguinity as seen in our case or a positive family history. In this condition, erythrophagocytosis is often a marked feature.