Arizona Boy, 11, Diagnosed with Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease After Sudden Chest and Back Pain
核心洞察
An 11-year-old Tucson boy, Giovanni "Gio" Cruz, was diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (搜索) after sudden chest and back pain that began in June.
The rare immune disorder affects roughly three Americans per million, causing lymph nodes to enlarge throughout the body and triggering widespread inflammation that can damage organs.
Gio is currently receiving IL-6-directed therapy (搜索), high-dose IV steroids, and dialysis, with chemotherapy considered if he does not respond.
An 11-year-old boy from Tucson, Arizona, has been diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (搜索), an extremely rare immune system disorder, after suddenly developing chest and back pain in June. Giovanni "Gio" Cruz was rushed to Banner Diamond Children's Medical Center (搜索) after his condition rapidly deteriorated, according to his mother, Patricia Cruz.
The disease impacts just three Americans per every million each year, attacking the lymph nodes and enlarging them across the body. It causes the immune system to go into overdrive, leading to widespread inflammation that can damage the body's organs.
Rapid Onset of Symptoms
Patricia Cruz said her son had been "dancing, smiling and playing baseball" in May, but his condition changed dramatically by June. "In May for his sister's birthday, they had him and he was dancing and to look from May to June, it was just a huge transition. It was very hard," she told Arizona Family 3 TV.
The first symptoms emerged when Patricia was picking Gio up from his sister's home after work. "He was saying, 'Mom my chest hurts, my chest hurts' and I was like, 'What's wrong?' and he was just complaining," she recalled.
The pain escalated quickly. "From one minute to the next, he was screaming, sweating in pain, he was complaining about his back. Right away I rushed him to TMC," Cruz said.
A Difficult Path to Diagnosis
Gio underwent tests at Tucson Medical Center but was sent home without a diagnosis after spending about a week there, and his condition continued to deteriorate. "All he wanted to do was sleep, and I was like this isn't good. Then he started throwing up profusely, and then his cheeks, if you saw the pictures, they would just come out red," his mother said.
Gio was taken back to Tucson Medical Center and later transferred to Banner Diamond Children's Medical Center (搜索), where specialists diagnosed him with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (搜索).
"His is multicentric, so it's all of his lymph nodes. There's a Castlemans to where if it's one lymph node they can surgically remove it, but his is multicentric to where it's all over his body," Cruz explained.
Clinical Course and Treatment
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up for the family, Gio has undergone multiple surgeries and procedures, including three biopsies, the removal of three lymph nodes for an excisional biopsy, MRIs, CT scans, echocardiograms, ultrasounds, X-rays, and numerous blood tests.
The fundraiser reports that Gio has also experienced fluid buildup around his abdomen, lungs, and heart, making it difficult for him to breathe and requiring supplemental oxygen. He has additionally suffered kidney complications and persistent fevers.
Gio is currently receiving IL-6-directed therapy (搜索), high-dose IV steroids, and dialysis. According to the fundraiser, doctors expect his treatment and close monitoring to last about six to eight weeks. Chemotherapy could be considered if he does not respond to his current treatment.
Disease Background and Outlook
The cause of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (搜索) is unknown. The disease can affect organs including the liver, kidneys, and bone marrow.
It remains unclear how long Gio will remain hospitalized or how well he will respond to treatment. "They want answers from me when I don't even know what to say or what's going on," Cruz said.
The fundraiser noted that Patricia has remained at her son's side throughout his hospitalization and has missed more than a month of work. Before becoming sick, Gio was looking forward to starting sixth grade and middle school in Sahuarita. An avid baseball player, he plays first and third base and also pitches.