Next Article in Journal
Photobiomodulation Therapy Combined with Static Magnetic Field (PBMT–SMF) on Spatiotemporal and Kinematics Gait Parameters in Post-Stroke: A Pilot Study
Next Article in Special Issue
Proteomic Alterations in Follicular Fluid of Human Small Antral Follicles Collected from Polycystic Ovaries—A Pilot Study
Previous Article in Journal
Identification, Culture and Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Life
Volume 12
Issue 2
10.3390/life12020185
life-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Case Report

Visceral Leishmaniasis Associated with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

by
Magda Zanelli
1,*,
Alessandro Tafuni
2,
Francesca Sanguedolce
3,
Maurizio Zizzo
4,
Andrea Palicelli
1,
Edoardo Simonetti
5,
Nando Scarpelli
5,
Martina Quintini
6,
Daniele Rosignoli
7,
Sara Grasselli
8,
Alberto Cavazza
1,
Giovanni Martino
6,9,† and
Stefano Ascani
9,†
1
Pathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
2
Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
3
Pathology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
4
Surgical Oncology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
5
Department of Onco- Hematology, Hospital of Spoleto, USL Umbria 2, 06049 Spoleto, Italy
6
Hematopathology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica—C.R.E.O., University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy
7
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy
8
Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
9
Pathology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera “Santa Maria” di Terni, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Life 2022, 12(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020185
Submission received: 26 December 2021 / Revised: 21 January 2022 / Accepted: 25 January 2022 / Published: 27 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

Infections often complicate the course of hematological diseases and may represent a diagnostic challenge. In particular, visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis may be missed in lymphoma patients, as lymphoma-related immunosuppression can lead to a misleadingly negative Leishmania serology and to atypical clinical manifestations, including the lack of fever, considered a common symptom in leishmaniasis. Herein, we report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with a long history of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia presenting with increasing fatigue and diarrhea, in the absence of fever. Leishmania serology was negative. Bone marrow biopsy performed with the clinical suspicion of transformation to high-grade lymphoma disclosed intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies resembling Leishmania amastigotes within the cytoplasm of macrophages, and CD1a immunohistochemical expression helped to confirm the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Liposomal amphotericin B was administered with complete symptom resolution. The correct identification of Leishmania is critical as visceral leishmaniasis represents a severe disease with an often fatal outcome, particularly in frail patients, unless promptly recognized and adequately treated. A review of the literature of visceral leishmaniasis cases occurring in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients is performed.
Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemia; kala-azar; Leishmania; CD1a; pancytopenia chronic lymphocytic leukemia; kala-azar; Leishmania; CD1a; pancytopenia

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zanelli, M.; Tafuni, A.; Sanguedolce, F.; Zizzo, M.; Palicelli, A.; Simonetti, E.; Scarpelli, N.; Quintini, M.; Rosignoli, D.; Grasselli, S.; et al. Visceral Leishmaniasis Associated with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature. Life 2022, 12, 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020185

AMA Style

Zanelli M, Tafuni A, Sanguedolce F, Zizzo M, Palicelli A, Simonetti E, Scarpelli N, Quintini M, Rosignoli D, Grasselli S, et al. Visceral Leishmaniasis Associated with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature. Life. 2022; 12(2):185. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020185

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zanelli, Magda, Alessandro Tafuni, Francesca Sanguedolce, Maurizio Zizzo, Andrea Palicelli, Edoardo Simonetti, Nando Scarpelli, Martina Quintini, Daniele Rosignoli, Sara Grasselli, and et al. 2022. "Visceral Leishmaniasis Associated with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature" Life 12, no. 2: 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020185

APA Style

Zanelli, M., Tafuni, A., Sanguedolce, F., Zizzo, M., Palicelli, A., Simonetti, E., Scarpelli, N., Quintini, M., Rosignoli, D., Grasselli, S., Cavazza, A., Martino, G., & Ascani, S. (2022). Visceral Leishmaniasis Associated with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature. Life, 12(2), 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020185

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop