TY - JOUR
T1 - Splenic reticuloendothelial function in children with cancer
AU - Buchanan, George R.
AU - Holtkamp, Christine A.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Southwestern Medical School, and the Children's Medical Center. Supported in part by the Children's Cancer Fund of the Children's Medical Center of Dallas. Submitted for publication May 3l, 1984; accepted July 13, 1984. Reprint requests: George R. Buchanan, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235.
PY - 1985/2
Y1 - 1985/2
N2 - We studied splenic function in children with cancer by quantitation of pitted, or pocked, erythrocytes (pocked RBC count), that is, the percentage of erythrocytes containing one or more membrane-bound vesicles, as determined by phase interference microscopy. The mean pocked RBC count in 93 normal children and adults was 0.49% (range 0% to 2.0%), with only 2.4% of normal subjects having values >1.5%. Mean pocked RBC count in 28 children after splenectomy was 37% (range 3.2% to 81%). Among 181 children with cancer (525 specimens), the mean pocked RBC count was 1.06% (range 0% to 12.6%). Fifty-nine (32%) patients had one or more values >1.5%, and 25 (13.8%) children had measurements >3.0%, a level previously suggested to have clinical significance. Elevated pocked RBC counts (>1.5%) occurred in more than one third of children with Wilms tumor and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and in both patients with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia. Elevations in pocked RBC counts were not related to specific chemotherapy regimens or to disease activity. Mild splenic reticuloendothelial hypofunction occurs in many children with cancer and may contribute to the risk of infection in these patients.
AB - We studied splenic function in children with cancer by quantitation of pitted, or pocked, erythrocytes (pocked RBC count), that is, the percentage of erythrocytes containing one or more membrane-bound vesicles, as determined by phase interference microscopy. The mean pocked RBC count in 93 normal children and adults was 0.49% (range 0% to 2.0%), with only 2.4% of normal subjects having values >1.5%. Mean pocked RBC count in 28 children after splenectomy was 37% (range 3.2% to 81%). Among 181 children with cancer (525 specimens), the mean pocked RBC count was 1.06% (range 0% to 12.6%). Fifty-nine (32%) patients had one or more values >1.5%, and 25 (13.8%) children had measurements >3.0%, a level previously suggested to have clinical significance. Elevated pocked RBC counts (>1.5%) occurred in more than one third of children with Wilms tumor and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and in both patients with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia. Elevations in pocked RBC counts were not related to specific chemotherapy regimens or to disease activity. Mild splenic reticuloendothelial hypofunction occurs in many children with cancer and may contribute to the risk of infection in these patients.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0022-3476(85)80294-8
DO - 10.1016/S0022-3476(85)80294-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 2982005
AN - SCOPUS:0021951441
SN - 0022-3476
VL - 106
SP - 239
EP - 242
JO - The Journal of pediatrics
JF - The Journal of pediatrics
IS - 2
ER -