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Biomedical subjects

R V Pierre

Publications and source records attributed to R V Pierre.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ph1-negative chronic granulocytic leukemia: a nonentity.

Clinical, hematologic, and prognostic differences between Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive and Ph1-negative chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) have been described. However, Ph1-negative disease may be a mixture of other entities. The authors identified 24 patients given the diagnosis of Ph1-negative CGL after evaluation by the Hematology Department of the Mayo Clinic between January 1976 and August 1984. Each patient was Ph1-negative, and a bone marrow examination was interpreted as CGL. Initial peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were available for review in 22 patients. Their disorders were reclassified as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (13 patients), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in transformation (1 patient), preleukemic syndrome (3 patients), and undifferentiated chronic myeloproliferative disease (5 patients). Median survival for the 22 patients was 17 months.

Bone Marrow↗

Q fever. A clinicopathologic study of five cases.

Bone marrow and liver biopsy specimens from five patients with documented Q fever were reviewed. Eight bone marrow and two liver specimens had been obtained from eight days to two months after the onset of symptoms in the five patients. Three had Q-fever hepatitis; one had Q-fever endocarditis. The classic "doughnut" granulomas of Q fever were present in either the liver or initial bone marrow biopsy in all four of the untreated patients. It was recognition of the classic granulomas that prompted serologic studies for Q fever in three of the four patients.

Adult↗

The efficacy of direct, 24-hour culture, and mitotic synchronization methods for cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow in neoplastic hematologic disorders.

Bone marrow aspirates from 90 patients suspected of having a hematologic disorder were processed by using different cytogenetic methods to determine if any procedure was more likely to reveal a chromosomally abnormal clone or produce better-quality metaphases. All specimens were processed by a direct technique and 24-hr culture without mitogens; 50 specimens were also processed by an amethopterin mitotic synchronization method. In each case, the microscope slides were coded by the processing technologist and analyzed by two other experienced cytogenetic technologists. The results were not known to any of the investigators until all 90 specimens were analyzed. With the exception of one specimen, in which a chromosomally abnormal clone was identified only in the direct preparation, no apparent differences were found in the karyotypes among the three methods. Also, the differences in the quality or number of metaphases found among the three methods were not statistically significant; however, 24-hr unstimulated cultures produced more metaphases than the mitotic synchronization procedure. The greatest source of discordance was caused by one test yielding either no metaphases or an uncertain result when the other tests produced a successful study. We suggest that in routine practice at least two different methods should be used, and it may be best if at least one of these methods is a direct technique.

Bone Marrow↗

Deletions of chromosome 13 in malignant hematologic disorders.

Thirteen patients with a hematologic disorder and an interstitial deletion of part of a chromosome #13 were evaluated to determine if any specific clinical manifestations are associated with these cytogenetic anomalies. Our results suggest that these anomalies occur in approximately 1.7% of patients with a chromosomally abnormal clone and a hematologic disorder. They may occur as the sole chromosome anomaly (8 of our patients) or with other abnormalities (5 of our patients). The breakpoints are not always the same, but band 13q14 always seems to be lost. At the time of chromosome analysis, 5 patients had a history of myelofibrosis or agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, 2 had acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, 2 had a myelodysplastic syndrome, one had polycythemia vera, one had sideroblastic anemia, one had acute lymphocytic leukemia, and one had an undifferentiated myeloproliferative disorder.

Adult↗

Cytogenetic studies in 174 consecutive patients with preleukemic or myelodysplastic syndromes.

Routine cytogenetic studies were done in 174 consecutive patients with preleukemic or myelodysplastic syndromes (PL/MDS): 5 had the 5q - syndrome, 2 had refractory cytopenia, 43 had refractory anemia, 38 had refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts, 69 had refractory anemia with excess blasts, 6 had refractory anemia with excess blasts in transition, and 11 had chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Successful chromosome studies were accomplished in 167 patients (96%); 64 (37%) had a chromosomally abnormal clone. Abnormal clones were most common among patients who had refractory anemia with excess blasts (45%), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transition (60%), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (45%); they were least common among patients with refractory anemia (32%) and refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (21%). The two patients with refractory cytopenia had normal cytogenetic results. Each patient with the 5q - syndrome had a 5q-chromosome, as this is a prerequisite for the diagnosis. The two most common structural abnormalities were deletion of part of a chromosome 5 long arm (17 patients) and deletion of part of a chromosome 20 long arm (8 patients). Nonspecific structural abnormalities of chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 17 were also common. The most common numeric abnormalities were monosomy 5 (7 patients), monosomy 7 (4 patients), loss of the Y chromosome (9 patients), and trisomy 8 (20 patients). No chromosome abnormalities were specifically associated with any PL/MDS classification.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the Coulter Counter model S-Plus IV.

Evaluation of linearity, carry-over, precision, and accuracy of a Coulter Counter model S-Plus IV prototype showed that they meet the manufacturer's specifications. The instrument also was compared with an earlier model. Correlations of the lymphocyte and granulocyte values in the three-part differential count with manual eye-count and a Technicon Hemalog D90 results were very close to the correlation of eye-count to Hemalog D90 results. The percentage of mononuclear cells showed acceptable correlation to the manual eye-count when monocytes were combined with blasts, eosinophils, and basophils. The medical effectiveness of the three-part differential was determined by comparison with manual eye-counts in 1,084 samples. The false positive and false negative values were 7.38% and 7.84%, respectively. The instrument has acceptable limits of operation. When combined with analysis of histograms by trained personnel, the three-part differential count is capable of screening for abnormalities that require further analysis.

Blood Cell Count↗

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of 50 patients with a myeloproliferative syndrome and deletion of part of the long arm of chromosome 5.

Of 50 consecutive patients (30 female and 20 male; median age, 70 years) with a myeloproliferative disorder and a 5q- chromosome, 12 (24%) had refractory anemia, 16 (32%) had refractory anemia with excess blasts, 13 (26%) had acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, six (12%) had the 5q- syndrome, and three (6%) had an unclassifiable myeloproliferative disease. Twenty-five patients had only a 5q- anomaly (group 1), and 25 had a 5q- plus additional chromosome abnormalities (group 2). Four types of 5q- anomalies were recognized: a del(5)(q13q33) occurred in 39 patients, a del(5)(q31q35) in nine, a del(5)(q22q33) in one, and a del(5)(q13q35) in one. The survival distribution for patients in group 1 was significantly better (P = .012) than for those in group 2. Cox-model analyses indicated that having a 5q- chromosome and other abnormalities is significantly (P less than .01) associated with poor survival even after adjustment for the effects of other important factors such as type of disease, age, and sex. The two groups had similar distributions of most variables, including age, sex, and disease types. However, patients in group 1 had a significantly higher platelet count and mean corpuscular volume than those in group 2. Only two patients in group 1 had had prior chemotherapy, but nine in group 2 had had either prior chemotherapy or radiation or both, and one patient in group 2 had had heavy exposure to pesticides.

Adult↗

The routine differential leukocyte count vs automated differential counts.

The clinical use of the proposed performance standards for differential leukocyte counts is determined by multiple factors. Their use must be considered according to the specific use of the differential count, the sources of variability in differential counting, the relation between specific use and sources of variability, the role of analytic errors in the detection of nonspecific changes, the use of qualitative vs quantitative data, the sensitivity and specificity of the routine eye count, the role of disease or specific cell prevalence in determination of predictive value, the effect on use of automated instruments for screening, and whether abnormal specimen flagging can be done. The routine eye-count differential method, as performed by a well-trained technologist or technician, seems to lack both sensitivity and specificity. Because of the magnitude of technique- and method-related and biologic sources of variability, the 100- or 200-cell eye-count differential method is not a good screening method for detection of hematologic illnesses, particularly those that are uncommon. The automated differential leukocyte instruments address many of the technique- and method-related errors and are thus able to equal or exceed the performance of the routine eye-count differential method.

Autoanalysis↗

Hematologic manifestations associated with deletions of the long arm of chromosome 20.

We investigated 20 patients with hematologic disorders who had a clone of cells with a deletion of most of a chromosome #20 long arm (20q-) in the bone marrow. Three patients had polycythemia vera (PV), 6 had acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), 8 had preleukemia (PL), and 3 had other myeloproliferative disorders. In our laboratory, a 20q- chromosome is found in 6% of patients with PV, 3% of patients with ANLL, and 1% of patients with PL. Among the 6 patients with ANLL and a 20q- abnormality, 3 had erythroleukemia. There were no apparent clinical differences among our patients with 20q- chromosomes compared with other patients with similar disorders who did not have a 20q- chromosome. The breakpoint of the 20q- anomaly, in each instance, was in band 20q11, but it occurred near the centromere at 20q1101 in 16 patients and at the distal part of this band at 20q1109 in 4 patients. Three of the 4 patients with a breakpoint at 20q1109 had PL.

Aged↗

Pseudothrombocytopenia: a laboratory artifact with potentially serious consequences.

When a low platelet count is unexpected or is unaccompanied by signs or symptoms of hemorrhage, pseudothrombocytopenia should be suspected. The platelet number and morphologic features should be examined on a smear prepared from blood anticoagulated with EDTA. Platelet counts should be repeated either by obtaining a finger-stock specimen with an ammonium oxalate Unopette and counting by phase microscopy or by collecting both an EDTA- and a sodium citrate-anticoagulated venous sample, performing a platelet count on both test tubes, and examining a blood smear from each test tube. If a Coulter Model S Plus IV or V or the Technicon H6000 is used for performance of platelet counts, examination of the histogram display of the Coulter instrument or the peroxidase X-Y display of the Technicon H6000 should alert the instrument operator to the presence of EDTA-induced platelet clumping and prevent the reporting of a spuriously low platelet count.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗

A progressive neurologic disorder with supranuclear vertical gaze paresis and distinctive bone marrow cells.

Nine patients with a progressive neurologic disorder that was characterized by mental deterioration, supranuclear vertical gaze paresis, and foam cells or sea-blue histiocytes in the bone marrow are described and compared with patients who were previously described as having " neurovisceral storage disease with vertical supranuclear ophthalmoplegia" and "dystonic lipidosis." The clinical manifestations of our patients and those described by others and the pathologic findings and profiles of lipid analysis reported by others are similar to those in patients with Niemann-Pick disease, type C. Sphingomyelinase activities in leukocytes and skin fibroblasts were normal in our patients and in more than half of the reported cases; these findings are also compatible with those in patients with Niemann-Pick disease, type C. Until the biochemical and genetic abnormalities of Niemann-Pick disease, type C are clearly defined, it is justifiable to classify the disorder under discussion as a subgroup of Niemann-Pick disease, type C because it seems to be a heterogeneous group. From the clinical point of view, the diagnosis is difficult to establish in the absence of abnormalities in the bone marrow in patients who are older than 20 years; repeat examinations of the bone marrow are necessary in such patients. Clinicians should be aware of this disorder not only in patients in the first and second decades of life, when this disorder usually becomes symptomatic, but also in patients in the fourth and fifth decades.

Adolescent↗

Malignant histiocytosis: a clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical study of 20 cases.

To better characterize the diagnostic criteria and clinical behavior of malignant histiocytosis, 20 patients treated at the Mayo Clinic during a 25-year period were studied. A wide spectrum of cytologic differentiation was observed, with cells ranging from bland to highly anaplastic; hemophagocytosis was prominent only in conjunction with a bland histologic appearance. In surgical specimens, the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis necessitated the use of immunoperoxidase methods for lysozyme, immunoglobulin light chain, and alpha-antitrypsin content, as well as cytochemical stains for acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase. All autopsies showed that organ involvement had varied somewhat from that reported earlier. The correct diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis was made prior to death in only ten of the 20 cases. The mean survival in the 17 fatal cases was 7.6 months; three of the seven patients treated by aggressive chemotherapy achieved complete remission. Relatively longer survival was correlated with initial confinement to the skin and the absence of cytopenia or liver function abnormalities. Three patients with pulmonary involvement from malignant histiocytosis had apparent inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in the absence of central nervous system disease. The accelerated clinical progression of malignant histiocytosis and its response to current chemotherapeutic regimens make rapid diagnosis and familiarity with the pathologic variations seen in this disorder imperative. Routine utilization of special light-microscopic and immunohistochemical stains is mandatory.

Adult↗

Evidence for secretion of human eosinophil granule major basic protein and Charcot-Leyden crystal protein during eosinophil maturation.

Prior electron microscopic studies have suggested that immature eosinophils degranulate during normal maturation in human bone marrow. This hypothesis was tested by measuring levels of eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP) and Charcot-Leyden crystal (CLC) protein in bone marrow sinusoidal blood. MBP and CLC protein levels were elevated initially in bone marrow sinusoidal blood from normal volunteers when compared with peripheral blood, and levels of both proteins decreased during serial sampling; CLC protein levels remained significantly elevated, while MBP levels declined to equal those of peripheral blood. To investigate whether MBP and CLC protein were secreted during eosinophil maturation, bone marrow cells were cultured in soft agar; MBP and CLC protein levels were measured in culture supernatants by RIA. There was a significant positive correlation between eosinophil colony growth and levels of each protein. Electron micrographs of cells in soft agar colonies provided ultrastructural evidence for secretion of granule products by immature eosinophils. These results support prior observations that eosinophil promyelocytes degranulate during maturation.

Adult↗

A possible specific chromosome marker for monocytic leukemia: three more patients with t(9;11)(p22;q24) and another with t(11;17)(q24;q21), each with acute monoblastic leukemia.

An apparently balanced 9;11 reciprocal translocation with break points most likely at 9p22 and 11q24 was found in 3 patients with acute monocytic leukemia [M5 in the French-American-British (FAB) classification schema]. This translocation was not observed in 6 other patients with M5 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) or in chromosome studies on 143 patients with other types of ANLL. This study supports the previously published suggestion that such 9;11 translocations may be associated with some patients with M5 ANLL. In this report, we have also included a patient with M5 ANLL who had an 11;17 translocation with break points apparently at 11q24 and 17q21. Perhaps this is a variant translocation of chromosome No. 11, which may also be associated with monocytic leukemia.

Aged↗

Three patients with structurally abnormal X chromosomes, each with Xq13 breakpoints and a history of idiopathic acquired sideroblastic anemia.

Structural abnormalities of the X chromosome are rarely found in neoplastic disorders. We describe three patients with a history of idiopathic acquired sideroblastic anemia (IASA); each one had an abnormal clone of cells in the bone marrow, characterized by a structurally abnormal X chromosome. In two of these patients, the predominant karyotype was 47,X,2idic(X)(q13); in the other patient, it was 46,X,t(X;11)(q13;p15). Inasmuch as all three of these cases involved chromosome band Xq13, as did two previously published cases, we suggest that band Xq13 may be more prone to structural rearrangement than other X chromosome bands in hematologic disorders. The common Xq13 chromosome breakpoint and clinical presentation (IASA) among these three patients and the occurrence of an X-linked type of sideroblastic anemia may suggest that an association exists between X chromosome abnormalities and IASA. Perhaps alteration of a gene or chromosome structure in or near band Xq13 predisposes to development of IASA. The fact that two of these patients had preleukemia and the third had overt acute leukemia may imply that patients with IASA and X chromosome abnormalities have a poor prognosis. Cases of IASA without associated X chromosome abnormalities are known; thus, if an association between IASA and an abnormal X chromosome does exist, most likely it involves only some patients with IASA.

Adult↗

Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with basophilic differentiation.

Four cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with primitive basophilic differentiation are presented. In all four cases, study revealed Philadelphia chromosome negativity, and in none were there clinical findings of chronic granulocytic leukemia. In each case, the leukemic blasts contained granules that failed to stain for peroxidase content but stained positively with toluidine blue. The former result could have led to the misclassification of the cases as lymphoid leukemias. Three of the four patients had physical findings that may have been due to circulating histamine excess. The histochemical and clinical features of these cases suggest that certain examples of leukemia with basophilic differentiation represent a distinctive variant of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Acute Disease↗