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Biomedical subjects

C E Hess

Publications and source records attributed to C E Hess.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Extramedullary hematopoiesis. A cause of severe generalized lymphadenopathy in agnogenic myeloid metaplasia.

Although microscopic evidence of extramedullary hematopoiesis in lymph nodes is a frequent finding in autopsy studies of patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, clinically significant lymphadenopathy is a rare occurrence. In this article we describe an unusual case of severe generalized lymphadenopathy and lymphedema secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis in multiple lymph nodes. With the use of low-dose radiotherapy, both the lymphadenopathy and lymphedema resolved.

Adult↗

Adult respiratory distress syndrome due to malignant histiocytosis.

While a 23-year-old man was being evaluated for a two-month history of night sweats, fever, and weight loss, he had the typical clinical, radiologic, and laboratory findings of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). After a diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis (MH) was established by lymph node biopsy, review of an earlier lung biopsy initially interpreted as nonspecific revealed malignant histiocytes. He failed to respond to combination chemotherapy and died as a result of progressive respiratory failure.

Adult↗

Acute leukemia in adults: cost effectiveness of treatment.

Costs of treating 174 adult patients with acute leukemia were compiled and analyzed over the five-year period 1974 to 1979. The average overall cost per patient was $18,760, and increased over the period of study. Increased total hospital costs were incurred by patients who achieved a favorable response to induction chemotherapy and by those with a diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). To assess the impact of successful treatment on hospital expenditures, total months of survival were compared with total hospital costs to determine cost per month of life. Using this analysis, improved survival, favorable response to chemotherapy, and a diagnosis of ALL were associated with significant decreases in cost per month of life. The long-term survivors (alive greater than or equal to 2 years from diagnosis) best demonstrated this effect, with a mean hospital cost per month of survival from diagnosis of $563, which was significantly less than $6,937 for those who achieved a partial remission, $10,703 for those with treatment failure, and $8,240 for those who were untreated. These costs linked to outcome are comparable to those reported in other disorders that require prolonged and intensive hospital care. With the progressive improvement in response rate and in percentage of long-term survivors that is being observed in adults with acute leukemia, these costs should continue to decrease.

Adolescent↗

Granulopoietic precursors in chronic neutropenia.

11 patients with chronic neutropenia were evaluated. In 6 patients low numbers of CFU-DG were observed. Only 3 of these patients also had low CFU-C numbers, suggesting that these two precursors are not identical. Bone marrow samples from 2 patients were restudied a year later. The number of CFU-DG remained low while CFU-C numbers increased to control range in 1 patient. Studies for serum inhibitors were negative. No cytogenetic abnormalities were observed. This study suggests that abnormalities at different levels in the haemopoietic precursor cell hierarchy can be detected either simultaneously or independently in patients with chronic neutropenia.

Agranulocytosis↗

Decreased complement mediated binding of antibody/3H-dsDNA immune complexes to the red blood cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and hematologic malignancies.

The complement mediated binding of prepared antibody/3H-dsDNA immune complexes to the red blood cells obtained from a number of patient populations has been investigated. Patients with solid tumors have binding activity similar to that seen in a normal group of individuals. However, a significant fraction of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and hematologic malignancies have lowered binding activity compared with normal subjects. Quantitative studies indicate the lowered activity probably arises due to a decrease in complement receptors on the respective red blood cells. The potential importance and implications of these findings are briefly discussed.

Adolescent↗

Double-blind randomized study of prophylactic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in granulocytopenic patients with hematologic malignancies.

In a double blind study, oral prophylactic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was evaluated for its utility in preventing serious infections in patients with hematologic malignancy. Of 58 evaluated granulocytopenic episodes in 47 patients, acute leukemia was the underlying malignancy in 46 episodes. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis resulted in fewer microbiologically documented infections (seven versus 15; p = 0.029). This was primarily the result of a reduction in episodes of bacteremia in the trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-treated group as compared with the placebo-treated group (three versus nine episodes; p = 0.05). The combined frequency of disseminated candidiasis, candidemia, and esophagitis of presumed fungal etiology was greater in the trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-treated group (six) than in the placebo-treated group (two) but not significantly so (p = 0.13). Similarly, there were no significant differences between groups in the overall incidence of infectious complications, number of febrile days, use of parenteral antibiotics, or number of days following randomization to first infectious episode. Throat and rectal surveillance cultures more frequently revealed trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant gram-negative bacilli and yeasts in the trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-treated group. More frequent emergence of yeast isolates from previously culture-negative patients was documented (p = 0.033). Thus, in this study, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis during granulocytopenia reduced the incidence of microbiologically documented infections. However, the emergence of resistant bacteria and of fungi may limit the potential usefulness of this approach.

Adolescent↗

Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and acute aplastic anemia. The simultaneous occurrence in marital partners.

A young husband and wife couple presented simultaneously with aplastic anemia and acute myelomonocytic leukemia, respectively. No etiologic agent or exposure was identified. With appropriate therapy, the wife achieved a complete remission and the husband has had a good response. Potential etiologic environmental factors known to cause both disorders are discussed. A single causative agent may induce stem-cell changes in genetically dissimilar persons and produce a spectrum of pathologic features ranging from aplastic anemia to acute leukemia.

Adult↗

Transcatheter embolic control of iatrogenic hematobilia.

For the patient with hematobilia, a serious complication of liver injury, angiography is the definitive diagnostic procedure. In addition to localizing precisely the source of the hemorrhage, angiography also provides an effective alternative to surgery for the control of hemorrhage. In two cases of iatrogenic hematobilia discussed, the bleeding sites were identified by angiography, and the bleeding was controlled by transcatheter embolization.

Adult↗

Primary splenic neutropenia--revisited.

A patient with acquired, isolated, chronic, severe neutropenia, minimal splenomegaly, and myeloid hyperplasia in the bone marrow is described. Splenectomy resulted in a rise into the normal range of the absolute neutrophil count within 18 hours after ligation of the splenic artery. No other underlying disorders were found, and efforts to demonstrate antineutrophilic autoantibodies before and after splenectomy were unsuccessful. Although this case might be referred to as "primary splenic neutropenia," it is likely that the basic abnormality was intrinsic to the neutrophil. Such cases should be designated "idiopathic neutropenia," since no primary disorder of the spleen can be demonstrated.

Agranulocytosis↗

Left ventricular mural thrombus in a patient with thrombocytosis and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia.

The two factors responsible for the development of left ventricular mural thrombi are endocardial injury secondary to old or recent anterior myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction. Endothelial damage also is thought to be the initial event in the development of arterial thrombi. However, arterial thrombi may develop in patients with thrombocytosis secondary to myeloproliferative disorders in the absence of endothelial injury. A patient had thrombocytosis secondary to agnogenic myeloid metaplasia and a left ventricular mural thrombus developed in the absence of clinical or laboratory evidence of old or coronary angiogram and left ventricular function. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported.

Aged↗

Simultaneous disseminated aspergillosis and zygomycosis in a leukemic patient.

Although the incidence of fungal infections is increasing, infections caused by more than one fungus are rare. We have described the clinical, pathologic, and mycologic findings in a leukemic patient with simultaneous pulmonary infection and systemic dissemination caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus sp.

Adult↗

Hypercalcemia associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is described in whom hypercalcemia occurred in association with elevation of the peripheral lymphocyte count and expansion of total tumor mass. Hypercalcemia was ameliorated with the institution of chemotherapy for the leukemic process and subsequent fall in WBC count and decrease in total tumor burden; hypercalcemia recurred with relapse of the leukemic process. The serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentration, when measured, was inappropriately elevated for the degree of hypercalcemia. The hypercalcemia would appear to be a direct consequence of the leukemia, and possibly involved secretion of a parathyroid hormone-like polypeptide by the CLL cells. Although a possible role for either an osteoclast-activating substance or prostaglandins was not excluded, they would not account for the elevated serum iPTH levels observed.

Aged↗

Staging laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease.

Staging laparotomy was performed at the University of Virginia Medical Center on 111 patients with Hodgkin's disease. The operation included multiple liver and lymph node biopsies and, excepting three patients, splenectomy. The histopathology was reviewed and the 111 patients were classified as follows: nodular sclerosis, 74; mixed cellularity, 28; lymphocyte predominance, 7; and undetermined, 2. There were no deaths. Wound, pulmonary or urinary tract complications occurred in 11 patients. One case of postoperative thrombophlebitis occurred and in another case small bowel obstruction developed, and resolved without reoperation. The pathologic stage (PS) following laparotomy was unchanged from the clinical stage (CS) in 64%, reduced in 20%, and advanced in 16%. The therapy, however, was altered in 38% of the patients. Lymphangiography in 103 patients was interpreted as showing lymph node involvement in 38, equivocal involvement in 11, and no involvement in 54. Among the 92 examinations reported as either positive or negative, 77% were confirmed histopathologically, 21% were falsely positive, and 2% were falsely negative. The spleen was positive for Hodgkin's disease in 39% of cases, and in these patients with positive spleens there was no reason to suspect intra-abdominal involvement preoperatively in 21%.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗