Immunophenotypic characterization of acute leukemias in Bahia, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the immunophenotypic profile of acute leukemias in the population of the state of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: This is a descriptive, retrospective study. From 2014 to 2018, 796 new cases of acute leukemia were evaluated. The data were obtained from analysis of reports and records of tests performed by flow cytometry immunophenotyping. All individuals of all age groups diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia were included in the study. Demographic variables and expression of leukemia antigens were evaluated. RESULTS: Most cases were diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia and 42.7% as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Significant differences were found in expression of markers in acute leukemias when age groups were compared, as well as in demographic characteristics. B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was more prevalent than cases of T-cell origin. Assessing the aberrant markers in acute myeloid leukemias, the non-acute promyelocytic leukemia group presented expression of CD7 and CD56 as the most frequent ones. In B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most frequent aberrant markers were CD66c, CD13 and CD33. CONCLUSION: Significant differences were found as to several antigens when comparing adults and children, and these findings may contribute to future studies correlating the phenotypic profile to genetic characteristics and therapeutic response, including specific antigen therapies, which may be better targeted.

Immunophenotypic characterization of acute leukemias in Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective To characterize the immunophenotypic profile of acute leukemias in the population of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Methods This is a descriptive, retrospective study. From 2014 to 2018, 796 new cases of acute leukemia were evaluated. The data were obtained from analysis of reports and records of tests performed by flow cytometry immunophenotyping. All individuals of all age groups diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia were included in the study. Demographic variables and expression of leukemia antigens were evaluated. Results Most cases were diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia and 42.7% as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Significant differences were found in expression of markers in acute leukemias when age groups were compared, as well as in demographic characteristics. B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was more prevalent than cases of T-cell origin. Assessing the aberrant markers in acute myeloid leukemias, the non-acute promyelocytic leukemia group presented expression of CD7 and CD56 as the most frequent ones. In B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most frequent aberrant markers were CD66c, CD13 and CD33. Conclusion Significant differences were found as to several antigens when comparing adults and children, and these findings may contribute to future studies correlating the phenotypic profile to genetic characteristics and therapeutic response, including specific antigen therapies, which may be better targeted.

An Unusual Association of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma With Hyalohyphomycosis.

Infection by human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) causes deregulation of the immune system, which makes the infected individuals more susceptible to infectious diseases. Immune deregulation is even more pronounced in HTLV-1 carriers with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), which results in frequent opportunistic infections. Hyalohyphomycosis is a rare subcutaneous mycosis which is more commonly associated with immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a HTLV-1-infected man with skin tumors, inguinal lymphadenomegaly, and lymphocytosis. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies revealed a T-cell lymphoma intermingled with a granulomatous process with abscesses and hyaline-septated hyphae. The lymph node showed only a T-cell lymphoma. The patient was diagnosed with acute ATLL and hyalohyphomycosis. He was treated with itraconazole for the subcutaneous mycosis and with chemotherapy for ATLL. A few months later, despite the treatment, he died because of progression of ATLL.