Publications (3)3.48 Total impact
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Article: Deferasirox therapy in children with Fanconi aplastic anemia.
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ABSTRACT: Thirty-nine children with Fanconi aplastic anemia (FAA) have been followed up in our center between January 2008 and November 2010. Eight of these children (20%) with a transfusional iron overload had been undergoing deferasirox treatment during the study period. In the English literature, transfusional iron overload and the use of an iron chelator in children with FAA has not yet been evaluated. Here, we have presented the effectivity and tolerability of deferasirox in children with FAA and a transfusional iron overload. Before the deferasirox treatment, the mean serum ferritin level was 3377 ± 2200 ng/mL. After a mean 13.6-month treatment duration, the mean ferritin level decreased to 2274 ± 1300 ng/mL (P<0.05). In our series, 3 patients had renal and 3 had hepatic toxicity during the treatment. Two patients had peliosis hepatis and 2 had congenital renal abnormalities before the treatment. There may be differences in the side-effect profiles of deferasirox treatment in patients with FAA. In our series, despite the low number of cases, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity were common side effects instead of gastrointestinal disturbances reported in other studies. Deferasirox is an oral, easily applicable, and effective iron chelator; baseline hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity may increase the development of toxic side effects in children with FAA. Patients with FAA receiving deferasirox treatment should be followed up closely for these side effects.Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 04/2012; 34(4):247-51. · 1.16 Impact Factor -
Article: Pseudotumor cerebri in a Turkish boy with Fanconi anemia.
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ABSTRACT: Pseudotumor cerebri (PC) is a clinical syndrome characterized by increased intracranial pressure with a normal cerebrospinal fluid cell count and protein level in the absence of a space-occupying lesion or apparent obstruction to the cerebrospinal fluid pathway. Although PC is described in patients with various hematological diseases including iron-deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, acquired aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease, and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, there is no case of PC with Fanconi anemia in the English literature. Here, we report a first case of PC in an 11-year-old boy with a diagnosis of Fanconi anemia.Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 03/2012; 34(4):296-7. · 1.16 Impact Factor -
Article: Pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with acute leukemia: a single-center experience.
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ABSTRACT: In English literature, there are only 2 specific series of pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with leukemia. To increase knowledge about pandemic influenza in children with leukemia and better understand the risk factors for severe disease, we have presented the clinical characteristics of 8 children with acute leukemia and pandemic influenza treated at our center. The mean age of the children (4 girls and 4 boys) was 6.7±2.0 years (range, 4 to 10 y). All these children [3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 5 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases] were receiving chemotherapy during the course of infection, except 1 who was found to be H1N1 positive at the same time that she was diagnosed with AML. Among the other 7 patients undergoing chemotherapy, 4 were receiving induction, 1 was receiving consolidation, and 2 were undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. In our series, 1 patient with AML had a fatal course. She had recently received a chemotherapy bloc. Her neutrophil count was 0 during the course of H1N1 infection. She developed acute respiratory distress syndrome within a short time after the symptoms commenced and she died within 4 days. In conclusion, the clinical course of H1N1 infection may be fatal in rare cases of leukemic children receiving chemotherapy. Thus, vaccination is advisable for all leukemic children, especially for those under maintenance chemotherapy, as it might be life saving during such pandemics.Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 01/2012; 34(1):48-50. · 1.16 Impact Factor