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Basophils possess membrane bound IgE molecules, and immunological activation leads to a secretory process with cell degranulation and histamine release. Heterologous anti IgE, concanavaline A, and phytohaemagglutinin are potent non-cytotoxic releasing agents. They operate by a mechanism similar to that of immunological activation. Heavy water is not a histamine releasing inducer but it increases histamine release of the cells. We studied the histamine release reaction of leukaemic basophils in 10 patients and found a physiological response such as that previously reported with normal human basophils. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Seven patients with relapsed acute leukaemia were treated with high-dose melphalan (HDM) followed by the infusion of autologous cryopreserved remission marrow. Toxicity was minimal and all seven patients had a complete response. Four patients are still in unmaintained remission at 14, 13, 10, and 3 months, the first two having received a second course of HDM to consolidate the result. The role of HDM as a form of intensification therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in first remission should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Etoposide and cisplatinum have used separately to treat refractory lymphomas. This report describes 22 patients in whom these two agents were used in conjunction. All had been extensively treated with standard therapies previously. The combination of etoposide and cisplatinum was chosen on the basis of preclinical evidence for synergy and because these agents do not cross-react. Cisplatinum was continuously infused for 5 days at a dose of 15 mg/m2/d. As a push a 100 mg/m2/d dose of etoposide was injected on days 1 and 2 of treatment. This schedule produced good responses in 18 patients, i.e. 15 partial remissions and three complete remissions. The side effects were acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Hypereosinophilia can cause severe cardiac complications. The association between an acute lymphoblastic leukemia and hypereosinophilia was rare. We report a case of a 29-year-old man who presented a heart failure secondary to necrotic myocarditis related to an acute eosinophilic lymphoblastic leukaemia. Exegesis: The patient developed a heart failure and secondary a cardio-embolic stroke, due to a large mobile left ventricle thrombosis. His peripheral blood showed a total white count of 28,500 leucocytes/mm3 with 18,800 eosinophils/mm3. The myelogram cytology showed precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with hypereosinophilia. Conclusion: The possibility of the rapid emergence of cardiac lesions in hypereosinophilic syndromes warrants very close physician vigilance. An Echocardiography and MRI performed at the early stage and in the follow-up allow to detect and to manage these cardiac disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]