[Exchange transfusion and (or) plasmapheresis: effective measures in severe tropical malaria?]. / Austauschtransfusion und (oder) Plasmapherese: wirksame Massnahmen bei der schweren Malaria tropica?

A 42-year-old man was admitted to hospital with, previously wrongly diagnosed, fulminant falciparum malaria, 14 days after a two-week trip to Kenya. He had a high fever and was jaundiced, with severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia. He was given quinine intravenously and pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Fansidar) by mouth. He developed acute renal failure and increasingly severe cerebral symptoms, at times coma. An exchange transfusion and several plasmaphereses were, therefore, performed. The cerebral symptoms quickly abated during the exchange transfusion, but renal function failed to improve. Because of continuing fever, mefloquin (Lariam) and doxy-cycline (Vibramycin) were also administered. After several dialysis periods the patient improved gradually and was discharged after three weeks in generally good condition with normal renal function.

Biochemical and cytokinetic characterization of leukemic cells: prediction of treatment results and early diagnosis of relapse.

Selected key-steps in the biochemical pathways of DNA-synthesis and cytokinetic parameters were measured in human bone marrow cells: Thymidine kinase (TK), incorporation of nucleosides (thymidine = dTR and deoxyuridine = dUR), % cells in DNA-synthesis-phase of the cell division cycle (%S). 26 normal marrow and a total of 369 marrow specimens from patients with acute leukemia were assayed either at first diagnosis, during remission or at relapse. A significant 5-fold increase of TK was found in leukemic cells, thus, being a suitable marker for follow-up of these patients. The sensitivity to detect a high TK at primary diagnosis of acute leukemia is 83%. An increase of TK during remission can indicate an imminent relapse before an increase of blast cells can be detected in the bone marrow. The incorporation-rates of dTR and dUR were also significantly increased in leukemic cells. Patients who did not achieve complete remission after induction treatment had higher incorporation-rates. In contrast to the enhanced biochemical activity of DNA-metabolism, %S-phase-cells were significant lower in leukemic cell populations. %S-phase cells did not correlate with treatment results. An inhibition of DNA synthesis, estimated by the incorporation rates of dTR and dUR for more than 50% during the first 3-4 days after start of induction treatment corresponds with cytoreduction in the leukemic bone marrow which does not predict complete remission in all cases.

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia and the French-American-British classification.

39 patients suffering from different subtypes of monocytic (M 5) and myelomonocytic (M 4) leukemia were analyzed retrospectively. In 8 cases a 'transitional myelomonocytic variant' was diagnosed; the leukemic cell in these patients is marked by morphological and cytochemical signs of monocytic and granulocytic precursors. As the correct diagnosis of this special subtype may be difficult, its place within the French-American-British (FAB) classification will be discussed.