A Rare Complication of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in
Young Patients
Svobodová D., Slaný J., 1Klvaňa P., Blažek B., 2Čuřík R.
Klinika dětského lékařství FNsP, Ostrava 1Interní klinika FNsP, Ostrava 2Ústav patologie FNsP, Ostrava |
|
Summary:
The paper presents one of the rather rare complications related to the malignant blood disease in young
patients. The treatment of this extremely serious disease should be accompanied not only with number
of already described complications which are thus expected but also with rare ones, whose control and
treatment is demanding and rather long-term. The immense progress in medical research makes it possible
to cope with a variety of serious diseases including leukaemia in young patients with one-year
intensive therapy and an overall exhaustion of their organisms, where in spite of a perfect therapeutic
protocol new challenges need to be met. The present study describes one of such rare complications,
which appeared in two three-year-old girl patients, accidentally during the same time period: namely
benign oesophagus stenosis. The condition was caused by several factors – first mycotic infection, histologically
proved as Candida Albicans – which in one of the girls lead to septic states and the condition
was generalised with more affected organs. Due to the location of the stenosis in the lower third of
oesophagus, gastrooesophagus reflux played its role, too and last but not least there was a negative effect
of one of the cytostatics – methotrexate – causing mycotic infections (here stomatitis and oesophagitis).
For the proper development and overall well-being of a healthy organism, an optimal, sufficient and
appropriate per oral reception of food is necessary. Satisfying this need becomes even more crucial in
the case of young patient otherwise affected by an immunodeficient condition and an overall impoverishment
of their organism. The oesophagus stenosis presents an obstacle manageable using either
endoscopic methods or surgery. Although in the cases discussed the treatment was very demanding due
to the age of the patients, continuous cytostatic therapy in progress, the primary disease, and the general
anaesthesia – it was finally effective and successful.
Key words:
acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, mycotic infection, gastrooesophagus reflux, immunodeficient
conditions.
|