Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
-
J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Mar 2012
The diagnostic value of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 for early prediction of bacteremia and sepsis in children with febrile neutropenia and cancer.
Early diagnosis of sepsis in children with febrile neutropenia and cancer still remains a challenge for modern medicine because of lack of specific laboratory markers and clinical signs especially at the beginning of the infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 to predict bacteremia and sepsis during the first 2 days in oncohematologic patients with febrile neutropenia. ⋯ These interleukins could be used as a screening tool for the rejection of sepsis or bacteremia on the first day of fever in neutropenic children with cancer.
-
J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Mar 2012
Case ReportsFulminant and fatal course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia due to lactic acidosis and suspected abdominal compartment syndrome.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy and its prognosis has considerably improved over the past 2 decades due to new therapeutic approaches. In some cases, however, it can develop very rapidly and cause possibly fatal complications. We report on the case of an 11-year-old boy with ALL, who rapidly developed severe lactic acidosis and abdominal compartment syndrome. ⋯ Autopsy revealed systemic leukemic infiltrations. We suppose that the mass of tumor cells induced a cascade of metabolic and endocrine reactions, which not only triggered the rapid progression of the disease but were also accountable for the lack of response to treatment. The pathophysiology of abdominal compartment syndrome as a rare and in our case ultimately fatal complication of ALL is described.