RESUMO
Tuberculosis (TB) can present with various forms and can occasionally be mistaken for malignancy. Hereby, we report a 53-year-old man diagnosed and treated for Burkitt's lymphoma in 2009 who achieved a complete remission confirmed by a computed tomography (CT) scan. During the follow-up 2 years later, he complained of left hip pain that warranted investigation with magnetic resonance imaging and whole-body (18)F-fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT which showed a benign lesion in the left hip associated with multiple lymph nodes in the chest and abdomen not amenable for biopsy. A follow-up PET/CT scan a few months later showed intense tracer uptake in the lymph nodes with size progression and appearance of new lymph nodes suspicious of lymphoma relapse. The patient was asymptomatic, and all investigations including viral and connective tissue disease studies were negative. Also the tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON were negative. Lymph node biopsy was planned; however, the patient presented a few days earlier with fever, headache and photophobia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination confirmed meningitis with lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. The CSF Gram stain, culture, viral and acid-fast bacilli were negative. CSF flow cytometry and cytopathology confirmed polyclonal lymphocytosis and suggested reactive causes. CSF TB culture grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mediastinal lymph node biopsy also confirmed TB lymphadenitis. Four antituberculosis drugs were started. One year later, a PET/CT scan showed regression of all the involved lymph nodes. This case highlights the importance of excluding TB in patients with suspected malignancy, especially if they belong to endemic regions, and the increasing role of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT in the early detection of extrapulmonary TB.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disorder mediated by autoantibodies directed against ADAMTS13. This provides a rationale for the use of rituximab in this disorder. We report our experience and the outcome of 10 cases of TTP (9 refractory and 1 relapsing) successfully treated with rituximab in combination with plasma exchange (PE) and other immunosuppressive treatments. METHODS: The diagnosis of TTP was based on clinical criteria and supported by severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 activity and presence of inhibitors in seven cases. Rituximab was started after a median of 18.6 sessions of PE (range: 5-35) at the dose of 375 mg/m(2)/week for 4-8 weeks. RESULTS: Complete remission was achieved in all patients after a median time of 14.4 days of the first dose (range: 6-30). After a median follow-up of 30 months (range: 8-78), eight patients were still in remission and two developed multiple relapses, treated again with the same therapy, and achieved complete responses; they are alive, and in complete remission after a follow-up of 12 and 16 months. CONCLUSION: Rituximab appears to be a safe and effective therapy for refractory and relapsing TTP. However, longer follow-up is recommended to assess relapse and detect possible long-term side effects of this therapy.
RESUMO
Acquired pure megakaryocytic aplasia is a rare hematological disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia with absent or markedly reduced megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. We report a case of a 25-year-old male diagnosed as acquired pure megakaryocytic aplasia. Treatment with prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin failed, but he was successfully treated with cyclosporine, with complete remission after 90 days and normal platelet count maintained thereafter.
