O linfoma/leucemia de células T do adulto (ATLL) é um tipo raro de linfoma causado pelo vírus T-linfotrópico humano tipo I (HTLV-1). O quadro clínico inclui lesões de pele, adenomegalias, mielopatia/paraparesia espástica tropical, uveíte, doença oftalmológica, leucocitose com linfocitose e linfócitos atípicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar o caso de uma paciente com ATLL, agricultora, com leucocitose, linfocitose, eritema ocular bilateral, linfadenopatia cervical, sem visceromegalias abdominais e com marcadores positivos para linfócitos T (CD45, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD4 e CD25). Embora a ATLL seja uma doença rara, a demora no seu diagnóstico pode levar a sérias complicações e ocasionar a morte do paciente.

The adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare type of lymphoma caused by human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The clinical manifestations include cutaneous lesions, adenopathies, myelopathy/ tropical spastic paraparesis, uveitis, ophthalmological diseases, leukocytosis with lymphocytosis and atypical lymphocytes. The main objective of this study was to report a case of a female patient with ATLL, a farmer with leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, bilateral ocular erythema, cervical lymphadenopathy, in the abdominal visceromegalies and with positive markers for T-cell lymphocytes (CD45, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD4 and CD25). Although ATLL is a rare disease, its delayed diagnosis may lead to serious complications and fatal outcome.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a hematological disease with complex physiopathology. It is genetically characterized by a somatic mutation in the PIG-A gene (phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis, class A), in which the best known antigens are DAF (decay accelerating factor or CD55) and MIRL (membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis or CD59). OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in patients attended at the HEMOPA foundation from November 2008 to July 2009. METHOD: Thirty patients, with ages ranging from two to 79 years old and suspected of having paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria were examined. All patients were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry for the CD5, CD59, CD16 and CD45 antigens. RESULTS: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria was identified in nine of the thirty patients investigated. Another 3 cases had inconclusive results with CD59-negative labeling only for neutrophils. The highest frequency of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria patients (7/9) and inconclusive cases (2/3) were between 19 years old and 48 years old, with a median of 28 years. CONCLUSION: These results show the importance of flow cytometry to identify cases in which patients are deficient in only one antigen (CD59).