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Surveillance blood counts for early detection of relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Ariffin H, Lim HL

Pediatr Blood Cancer, 2005 Aug;45(2):229.
PMID: 15768379
Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
A four-point clinical criteria distinguishes immune thrombocytopenia from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Lum SH, How SJ, Ariffin H, Krishnan S

Med J Malaysia, 2016 02;71(1):28-9.
PMID: 27130741

Immune thrombocytopenia is the most common diagnosis of isolated thrombocytopenia. The dilemma encountered by paediatricians is missing diagnosis of acute leukaemia in children with isolated thrombocytopenia. We demonstrated childhood ITP could be diagnosed using a four point clinical criteria without missing a diagnosis of acute leukaemia. Hence, bone marrow examination is not necessary in children with typical features compatible with ITP prior to steroid therapy. This can encourage paediatricians to choose steroid therapy, which is cheaper and non-blood product, as first line platelet elevating therapy in children with significant haemorrhage.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
Hypercalcaemia: an unusual presenting feature of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Rajagopal R, Lum SH, Jalaludin MY, Krishnan S, Abdullah WA, Ariffin H

Br J Haematol, 2013 Oct;163(2):147.
PMID: 23961807 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.12500
Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
Acute leukaemia masquerading as acute abdomen

S Abdul Wahid F, Cheong SK, Azman Ali R

Hosp Med, 2002 Jun;63(6):372-3.
PMID: 12096671 DOI: 10.12968/hosp.2002.63.6.2011
Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis
Comparison of myeloperoxidase detection by flow cytometry using two different clones of monoclonal antibodies

Leong CF, Kalaichelvi AV, Cheong SK, Hamidah NH, Rahman J, Sivagengei K

Malays J Pathol, 2004 Dec;26(2):111-6.
PMID: 16329563

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is present in azurophilic granules which appear in the promyelocyte stage of differentiation and is expressed in granulomonocytic cells. MPO is usually detected by cytochemistry. The demonstration of peroxidase in at least 3% of bone marrow blasts defines an acute leukaemia as acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML). MPO is important in distinguishing acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). It is difficult to diagnose AML with minimal evidence of myeloid differentiation (AML- M0) by conventional light microscopy. However, these AML-M0 blasts can be detected by monoclonal antibodies. Anti-MPO recognizes the enzymatically inactive precursor forms of MPO. There are a few commercially available monoclonal antibodies against MPO. In this study, we evaluated two monoclonal antibodies against MPO from different commercial sources.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
Relapse of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia presenting as right aural polyp with facial and mandibular nerves palsy

Shiun Chuen C, Md Daud MK, Che Jalil NA, Hazmi H

Med J Malaysia, 2017 10;72(5):318-320.
PMID: 29197892 MyJurnal

A patient presenting with an ear polyp is a common finding in otorhinolaryngology practice. The common causes include chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma. We report an adult female patient with a history of acute leukaemia presenting with chronic otitis media symptoms and right ear polyp. She was subsequently diagnosed as relapse of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia based on histopathological examination. The presentation may be similar to an inflammatory pathology of the middle ear, making it misleading.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
Fulltext Successful treatment of Candida albicans endocarditis in a child with leukemia--a case report and review of the literature

Ariffin H, Ariffin W, Tharam S, Omar A, de Bruyne J, Lin HP

Singapore Med J, 1999 Aug;40(8):533-6.
PMID: 10572495

Candida species is now being increasingly recognised as an important cause of endocarditis especially in immunocompromised patients. A case of Candida albicans endocarditis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is reported. The child did not have a central venous catheter at any time. Treatment consisted of intravenous amphotericin B and fluconazole for 3 weeks followed by oral fluconazole for 2 weeks. No surgical resection was necessary. We highlight here the importance of echocardiography in the management of prolonged febrile neutropenia and discuss the dilemma of continuing chemotherapy in such patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis
Ethnic differences in the frequency of subtypes of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results of the Malaysia-Singapore Leukemia Study Group

Ariffin H, Chen SP, Kwok CS, Quah TC, Lin HP, Yeoh AE

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 2007 Jan;29(1):27-31.
PMID: 17230064

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is clinically heterogeneous with prognostically and biologically distinct subtypes. Although racial differences in frequency of different types of childhood ALL have been reported, many are confounded by selected or limited population samples. The Malaysia-Singapore (MA-SPORE) Leukemia Study Group provided a unique platform for the study of the frequency of major subgroups of childhood ALL in a large cohort of unselected multiethnic Asian children. Screening for the prognostically important chromosome abnormalities (TEL-AML1, BCR-ABL, E2A-PBX1, and MLL) using multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed on 299 consecutive patients with ALL at 3 study centers (236 de novo, 63 at relapse), with the ethnic composition predominantly Chinese (51.8%) and Malay (34.8%). Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was successful in 278 (93%) of cases screened. The commonest fusion transcript was TEL-AML1 (19.1%) followed by BCR-ABL (7.8%), MLL rearrangements (4.2%), and E2A-PBX1 (3.1%). Chinese have a significantly lower frequency of TEL-AML1 (13.3% in de novo patients) compared with Malays (22.2%) and Indians (21.7%) (P=0.04). Malays have a lower frequency of T-ALL (6.2%) compared with the Chinese and Indians (9.8%). Both Malays (7.4%) and Chinese (5.0%) have significantly higher frequency of BCR-ABL compared with the Indian population (P<0.05) despite a similar median age at presentation. Our study suggests that there are indeed significant and important racial differences in the frequency of subtypes of childhood ALL. Comprehensive subgrouping of childhood ALL may reveal interesting population frequency differences of the various subtypes, their risk factors and hopefully, its etiology.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis
Age, sex, haemoglobin level, and white cell count at diagnosis are important prognostic factors in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with BFM-type protocol

Ng SM, Lin HP, Ariffin WA, Zainab AK, Lam SK, Chan LL

J Trop Pediatr, 2000 Dec;46(6):338-43.
PMID: 11191144

The presenting features and treatment outcome for 575 Malaysian children (< or = 12 years of age) with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), admitted to the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 1 January 1980 and 30 May 1995 were evaluated to determine their prognostic significance. Two-year overall survival was achieved in 67 per cent of all patients and 55 per cent of patients were relapse-free at 2 years. All except 10 patients, with identified French-American-British L3 morphology were treated with the modified Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster 78 treatment protocol. Univariate analyses of failure rate conferred age, sex, white cell count and hemoglobin level as potentially significant prognostic factors. All four presenting features retained their prognostic strength in a multivariate analysis. Race, platelet count, morphological subtype, liver/spleen size, lymphadenopathy, central nervous system and mediastinal mass involvement did not show any significant effect on treatment outcome. The 2-year survival rate was significantly different with regard to age, white cell count and hemoglobin level. However, sex was not significantly related to overall survival. These prognostic factors may have implications on future stratification of risk-adjusted initial treatment in the management of childhood ALL. Our analysis of Malaysian children is similar to what could be predicted based on previous studies in other populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis
A prospective study of ocular manifestations in childhood acute leukaemia

Reddy SC, Menon BS

Acta Ophthalmol Scand, 1998 Dec;76(6):700-3.
PMID: 9881556

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of ocular manifestations in childhood acute leukaemia at the time of presentation.
METHODS: Eighty-two children with acute leukaemia were examined for ocular lesions within two days of diagnosis before starting chemotherapy. The detailed ocular examination of both eyes was carried out by the ophthalmologist irrespective of the presence or absence of eye symptoms in all cases.
RESULTS: Only 3 out of 82 children presented with eye symptoms (3.6%). However, ocular changes were found in 14 children (17%); ten with lymphoblastic and four with myeloid leukaemia. The ocular lesions observed were proptosis, intraretinal haemorrhages, white centered haemorrhages, cotton wool spots, macular haemorrhage, subhyaloid haemorrhage, vitreous haemorrhage, papilloedema, cortical blindness, sixth nerve palsy, and exudative retinal detachment with choroidal infiltration.
CONCLUSION: In view of the high prevalence of asymptomatic ocular lesions in childhood acute leukaemia, routine ophthalmic examination should be included as a part of evaluation at the time of diagnosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis
Retinopathy in acute leukaemia at initial diagnosis: correlation of fundus lesions and haematological parameters

Reddy SC, Jackson N

Acta Ophthalmol Scand, 2004 Feb;82(1):81-5.
PMID: 14738490

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of retinal changes in newly diagnosed acute leukaemia patients, and to establish the relationship between retinal lesions and haematological parameters in these patients.
METHODS: A total of 127 patients with acute leukaemia (myeloid and lymphoid), of both genders, aged between 13 and 77 years, were examined by an ophthalmologist for retinal changes using direct/indirect ophthalmoscopy within 2 days of diagnosis before starting chemotherapy.
RESULTS: Retinal lesions were seen in 62 cases (49%), with intraretinal haemorrhages being the most common lesion (42%). A high white blood cell count was significantly associated with intraretinal haemorrhages (p = 0.04) and white-centred haemorrhages (p = 0.001), while a low platelet count was significantly associated with intraretinal haemorrhages (p = 0.03) in acute myeloid leukaemia patients.
CONCLUSIONS: A high white blood cell count may be considered as important as a low platelet count in the pathogenesis of leukaemic retinopathy.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
Clinical features and treatment outcome of children with myeloid antigen coexpression in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study of 151 Malaysian children

Ng SM, Ariffin WA, Lin HP, Chan LL, Chin YM

J Trop Pediatr, 2000 Apr;46(2):73-8.
PMID: 10822932

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence of myeloid antigen coexpression and its prognostic significance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Malaysia. A retrospective study was conducted of all ALL cases (< or = 12 years old) diagnosed and treated in University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 1 January 1992 and 30 May 1995, with available immunophenotype data. Presenting features and treatment outcome of 39 B-lineage ALL patients with myeloid antigen coexpression (My+B) were compared with 112 B-lineage ALL patients without myeloid antigen coexpression (My-B) for similarity in demographic, clinical and laboratory features and their treatment outcome. My+B and My-B patients were treated with a uniform treatment protocol. Myeloid antigen coexpression was defined as more than 30% isolated leukemic cells positive for CD13 and/or CD33. The ages at diagnoses ranged from 2 months to 12 years. Median age was 4 years. The incidence of myeloid antigen coexpression was 23 per cent. Univariate analyses showed that presenting features were similar between My+B and My-B with regard to age, sex, race, FAB morphology, white cell count, hemoglobin level, platelet count, liver/spleen size, central nervous system or mediastinal involvement, presence of lymphadenopathy, and proportion of blast cells detected in the marrow. Treatment outcome were not significant between the two groups. The 2-year event free survival was achieved in 44 per cent of My+B and 57 per cent of My-B (p = 0.11). The 2-year overall survival rates were 62 per cent for My+B vs. 77 per cent for My-B (p = 0.08). This study demonstrates that myeloid antigen coexpression is fairly common and constitutes 23 per cent of childhood ALL within the Malaysian population and that it is not an adverse risk factor in childhood ALL.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis*
Fulltext Multiplexed automated digital quantification of fusion transcripts: comparative study with fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) technique in acute leukemia patients

Akhter A, Mughal MK, Elyamany G, Sinclair G, Azma RZ, Masir N, et al.

Diagn Pathol, 2016 Sep 15;11(1):89.
PMID: 27632978 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-016-0541-z

The World Health Organization (WHO) classification system defines recurrent chromosomal translocations as the sole diagnostic and prognostic criteria for acute leukemia (AL). These fusion transcripts are pivotal in the pathogenesis of AL. Clinical laboratories universally employ conventional karyotype/FISH to detect these chromosomal translocations, which is complex, labour intensive and lacks multiplexing capacity. Hence, it is imperative to explore and evaluate some newer automated, cost-efficient multiplexed technologies to accommodate the expanding genetic landscape in AL.

Matched MeSH terms: Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis