Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome which results in uncontrolled systemic proliferation of benign macrophages in all reticuloendothelial organs producing worsening peripheral blood cytopenia(s); hypercytokinemia leading to hepatic injury producing hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia; and if not diagnosed and treated early may lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), multiorgan dysfunction, and death in nearly all individuals. It is postulated that hepatic injury/dysfunction starts early in the course of the disease which may mimic nonspecific hepatitis like prodrome to fulminant hepatic failure; possibly requiring liver transplant. While HLH as an entity is being increasingly recognized nowadays across wide specialties (both pediatric and adults); hepatic involvement in this setting has been poorly characterized. This chapter is aimed to highlight on the diagnosis and classification of HLH with a special emphasis on the pathophysiology of hepatic dysfunction, histomorphology of liver; and the current concept and controversies on the role of liver transplantation in this clinical setting.
Part of the book: Hepatitis A and Other Associated Hepatobiliary Diseases
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by florid myelo-megakaryocytic proliferation involving peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen. These results are due to balanced reciprocal translocation between long arm of chromosome 9 and 22 that produces a truncated chromosome 22 (Philadelphia chromosome) leading to fusion of BCR-ABL1 genes causing enhanced autonomous activation of tyrosine kinase and downstream cellular proliferation pathway. While targeted therapy with novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has revolutionized the outcome in such patients, occurrence of additional cytogenetic abnormalities, emergence of TKI resistance, and idiosyncratic marrow suppression following higher generation TKI therapy have posed newer management challenges in CML. This chapter is aimed to highlight the recent updates in the disease biology, stepwise diagnostic work-up, and management guidelines in CML with a brief highlight on the prospect of stem cell transplantation in such condition.
Part of the book: Leukemia