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Boy, 11, Battles Rare Disease Attacking Lymph Nodes
30 Aug
Summary
- An 11-year-old boy was diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease.
- The rare illness causes lymph nodes to enlarge and the immune system to overreact.
- The boy is undergoing intensive treatment including steroids and dialysis.
An 11-year-old boy from Tucson, Arizona, has been diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease, an exceedingly rare and severe illness. Giovanni Cruz experienced sudden back and chest pains before being hospitalized.
This disease impacts approximately three Americans per million, causing lymph nodes to enlarge and the immune system to go into overdrive. The resulting inflammation can damage vital organs.
Giovanni has undergone numerous procedures, including biopsies and fluid drainage, and is currently receiving IL-6-directed therapy, high-dose IV steroids, and dialysis. Doctors anticipate his treatment and monitoring will last six to eight weeks, with chemotherapy as a potential future option if needed.
His mother has remained by his side throughout his hospitalization, missing over a month of work. Before falling ill, Giovanni was preparing to start sixth grade and was an active baseball player.
