Low-dose cyclosporine of short duration increases the risk of mild and moderate GVHD and reduces the risk of relapse in HLA-identical sibling marrow transplant recipients with leukaemia

Low-dose cyclosporine (CsA), starting at 1 mg/kg/day i.v. with early discontinuation, and four doses of methotrexate (MTX), was given to 82 consecutive leukaemic patients receiving HLA-identical sibling marrow transplants. Retrospective controls (n = 40) received CsA, starting at 5-7.5 mg/kg/day i.v., given for 1 year, and MTX. In the low-dose group, the risk of acute GVHD grades I-II was 78% as compared to 57% among the controls (P < 0.01). The risk of acute GVHD grades III-IV was 2% and 5%, respectively (NS). Chronic GVHD occurred in 60% in the low-dose group and 24% in the controls (P < 0. 001). Extensive chronic GVHD did not differ between the groups (3% vs6%). In multivariate analyses, low-dose CsA was the only factor associated with acute GVHD grades I-IV (P = 0.02). Significant risk factors for chronic GVHD included low-dose CsA (P = 0.002) and CML (P = 0.03). Transplant-related mortality at 3 years post-BMT was 22% and 19%, in the low-dose group and controls, respectively (NS). The probability of relapse was 26% in the low-dose group and 53% in the controls (P = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, high-dose CsA was the strongest risk factor for relapse (P = 0.03). The 3-year relapse-free survival was 58% in the low-dose group and 43% in the controls (P = 0.1).

Allogeneic bone marrow transplant or second autograft in patients with acute leukemia who relapse after an autograft. Acute Leukaemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Among 2752 patients with acute leukemia who had recurrent leukemia after autograft in remission and were reported to the EBMT, 94 underwent an allogeneic bone marrow transplant and 74 received a second autograft. Recipients of HLA-mismatched related or unrelated bone marrow had an increased transplant-related mortality (TRM, P = 0.017) and a decreased leukemia-free survival (LFS, P = 0.03), compared to recipients of HLA matched related or unrelated bone marrow. Outcome in recipients of HLA-compatible related or unrelated bone marrow was compared to those receiving a second autograft. TRM at 2 years was 51 +/- 8% in recipients of matched allografts and 26 +/- 6% following a 2nd autograft (P < 0.05). Two-year LFS was 27 +/- 7% and 35 +/- 6% in the two groups, respectively (NS). Multivariate analysis in these two groups showed that TRM was increased in patients who were in 2nd or later remission at 1st autograft (P < 0. 05) and allograft recipients (P < 0.05). Relapse was more common in patients with ALL (P < 0.001), above 25 years of age (P < 0.02), autograft performed later than 1991 (P < 0.05), and in second autografts (P < 0.05). LFS was decreased in patients >25 years of age (P < 0.01), if the interval from first autograft to relapse was 8 months or less (P < 0.01) and if TBI was used at first autograft (P < 0.05).

PCR and other non-culture methods for diagnosis of invasive Candida infections in allogeneic bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients

In this prospective study 197 serum and 152 urine samples were collected from 40 bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients with clinically suspected invasive fungal infection before, during and after empirical treatment with lipid formulation of amphotericin B or fluconazole. Serum was analysed by Candida polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and urine by measurement of D/L-arabinitol ratio. One serum from each patient was also tested for concentration of (1-->3)-beta-glucan and two commercial Candida antigens. Invasive fungal infection was diagnosed in four candidosis and one aspergillosis patients (13%). Positive PCR, elevated D/L-arabinitol ratio, (1-->3)-beta-glucan concentration and antigens were detected in nine, 15, 17, and seven patients, respectively. The agreement between PCR and D/L-arabinitol assays was poor. However, 56% agreement was observed between positive PCR and beta-glucan and/or antigen assays, and 60% agreement between positive D/L-arabinitol and beta-glucan and/or antigen assays. Combination of several non-culture assays is needed to diagnose invasive fungal infection in high-risk transplant recipients. No single test was sufficient for diagnosis.

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from unrelated donors: a comparison with marrow transplantation

Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplants from HLA-A, -B, and -DR compatible unrelated donors (n = 45) were compared with bone marrow (BM; BM group, n = 45). Eighteen patients received CD34-selected PBSC (CD34 group). The PBSCs contained more mononuclear cells, CD34(+), CD3(+), and CD56(+) cells compared with marrow (P <.001). Engraftment was achieved in all 45 patients in the BM group, in 43 of 45 (95%) in the PBSC group, and in 14 of 18 (78%) in the CD34 group (P <.01). In multivariate analysis, a short time to absolute neutrophil count (ANC) equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/L was associated with the PBSC/CD34 groups (P <.001) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment (P =.017). A short time to platelets equal to 50 x 10(9)/L was associated with PBSC (P =. 003) and no methotrexate (P =.015). Grades II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 20% in the BM controls, 30% in the PBSC group, and 18% in the CD34 group (not significant [NS]). The probability of chronic GVHD was 85% in the BM group, 59% in the PBSC group, and 0% in the CD34 group (P <.01). One-year transplant-related mortality was 21% and 27% and survival was 53% and 54% in the BM and PBSC groups, respectively (NS). The 2-year relapse-free survival was 41% and 46% in the two groups, respectively.

Increased risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease, obstructive bronchiolitis, and alopecia with busulfan versus total body irradiation: long-term results of a randomized trial in allogeneic marrow recipients with leukemia. Nordic Bone Marrow Transplantation Group

Leukemic patients receiving marrow from HLA-identical sibling donors were randomized to treatment with either busulfan 16 mg/kg (n = 88) or total body irradiation ([TBI] n = 79) in addition to cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg. The patients were observed for a period of 5 to 9 years. Busulfan-treated patients had an increased risk of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver (12% v 1%, P =.01) and hemorrhagic cystitis (32% v 10%, P =.003). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was similar in the two groups, but the 7-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 59% in the busulfan-treated group versus 47% in the TBI group (P =.05). Death from GVHD was more common in the busulfan group (22% v 3%, P <.001). Obstructive bronchiolitis occurred in 26% of the busulfan patients but in only 5% of the TBI patients (P <.01). Complete alopecia developed in 8 busulfan patients and partial alopecia in 17, versus five with partial alopecia in the TBI group (P <.001). Cataracts occurred in 5 busulfan-treated patients and 16 TBI patients (P =.02). The incidence of relapse after 7 years was 29% in both groups. Seven-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) in patients with early disease was 21% in the busulfan group and 12% in the TBI group. In patients with more advanced disease, the corresponding figures were 64% and 22%, respectively (P =.004). Leukemia-free survival (LFS) in patients with early disease was 68% in busulfan-treated patients and 66% in TBI patients. However, 7-year LFS in patients with more advanced disease was 17% in the busulfan group versus 49% in the TBI group (P <.01). In patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in first chronic phase, 7-year LFS was 72% and 83% in the two groups, respectively.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in second remission of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a population-based case control study from the Nordic countries

This study compares allogeneic BMT with conventional chemotherapy for childhood ALL in second remission. Seventy-five children were transplanted between July 1981 and December 1995. For each patient two control patients matching the following criteria were selected from the Nordic database of ALL: (1) time of diagnosis, (2) T vs. non-T ALL, (3) site of relapse, (4) initial risk group, (5) sex and (6) relapse < or > or =6 months after cessation of therapy. The minimal time of follow-up was 24 months. Mortality rate in CR2, leukemic relapse rate and the proportion in continued second remission were 16/75 (21%), 22/75 (29%) and 37/75 (50%), respectively. P2.-EFS for the BMT group was significantly better than that for the control group (0.40 vs. 0.23, P = 0.02). Children transplanted for bone marrow relapses in particular had a higher P2.-EFS (0.35 vs. 0.15 for the control group, P<0.01). Also, children grafted for early BM relapses had a higher P2.-EFS (0.32 vs. 0.11 for the control group P = 0.01). The outcome was similar when children were transplanted after early or late relapse. Also, there was no difference in outcome between the BMT and the chemotherapy group for children with late relapses. We conclude that allogeneic BMT with an HLA-identical sibling donor or other family donor should be performed in children relapsing in bone marrow during therapy or within 6 months of discontinuing therapy.

Fungal prophylaxis by reduction of fungal colonization by oral administration of bovine anti-Candida antibodies in bone marrow transplant recipients

Candida overgrowth and invasion constitute a serious threat with a high mortality in BMT recipients. Currently available topical antifungal prophylaxis is largely ineffective, and as resistance to existing, absorbable drugs for systemic use is rapidly developing, new forms of therapy are needed. We investigated the effect of oral treatment of BMT recipients with a bovine immunoglobulin product derived from animals immunized against several Candida species. The natural Candida colonization was first followed in 19 patients to establish the colonization pattern. Half of the patients were found to be colonized prior to transplantation and altogether 72% were colonized at some point during follow-up. Those with a high pre-transplant concentration of Candida in saliva (>100 CFU/ml) remained colonized throughout the BMT treatment period. The therapeutic effect was monitored in two other patient groups. The first group consisted of nine patients, where, due to a low number of primary colonized patients, response in colonized patients was suggestive of a therapeutic effect. In the second group, 10 patients with a high level of colonization (>100 CFU/ml) were given 10 g daily of the product in three divided doses. The results suggest a treatment-related reduction in Candida colonization in a majority (7/10) of patients and one patient became completely negative. As no adverse effects were noted, our findings encourage additional studies in immunocompromised, transplant patients.

Norethisterone treatment, a major risk-factor for veno-occlusive disease in the liver after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

In this single-center study, we retrospectively analyzed incidence and risk factors for hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in 249 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between January 1990 and June 1995. Twenty-four of the 249 transplanted patients developed VOD. The probabilities of developing VOD were 17% among women and 7% in men (P =.01). In women treated with norethisterone, the incidence was 27% compared with 3% in women without this treatment (P =.007). One-year survival rates were 17% and 73% in patients with (n = 24) or without VOD (n = 225), respectively. The use of heparin prophylaxis (100 IE/kg/24 hours for 1 month) did not alter the incidence or 1-year mortality of VOD. In multivariate analysis, the following risk factors were significant: norethisterone treatment (P <.001), bilirubin >26 micromol/L before bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (P =.002), one HLA-antigen mismatch (P =.003), previous abdominal irradiation (P =.02), and conditioning with busulphan (P =.02). Our conclusion is that norethisterone treatment should not be used in patients undergoing BMT and heparin prophylaxis did not affect the incidence or mortality of VOD.

Improved peripheral nerve conduction, EEG and verbal IQ after bone marrow transplantation for adult metachromatic leukodystrophy

A 28-year-old woman with a 4 year history of slowly progressing 'frontal dementia' was diagnosed as having adult metachromatic leukodystrophy and was followed for 4 years after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). MRI, neurophysiological tests (EEG, ENeG, VEP, SEP and BAEP) and neuropsychological assessment were performed before, and repeatedly after BMT. MRI showed symmetrical white matter lesions in the frontal and parieto-occipital lobes and in the corpus callosum. EEG showed frontal and temporal slow wave abnormalities and nerve conduction was slow. Neuropsychological tests showed cognitive impairment in executive functions, decline in visuospatial-constructive and spatial memory tasks and disorganized thinking. IQ was low (52), with slightly better values for verbal IQ than for performance IQ. After BMT, the patient was followed for 4 years. Clear improvements were seen in EEG, in peripheral nerve conduction and in neuropsychological tests (especially in verbal IQ). MRI findings were unchanged. We believe that the improvement in our patient resulted from the bone marrow transplantation.

Results of different strategies for reducing cytomegalovirus-associated mortality in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Several preventive strategies against cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease have been developed during the last decade. These have frequently been used in combination, and it has been difficult to identify each strategy's contribution.

METHODS

Risk factors for CMV disease, death in CMV disease and transplant-related mortality were analyzed in 584 patients, who underwent a total of 594 allogeneic bone marrow transplants.

RESULTS

The overall probability of CMV disease was 8.9%. No seronegative patient who had a seronegative marrow donor developed CMV disease. The corresponding probabilities for seronegative patients with seropositive donors, seropositive patients with seronegative donors, and seropositive patients with seropositive donors were 5.4%, 13.7%, and 11.7%, respectively. In multivariate Cox models, the use of preemptive antiviral therapy and being CMV-seronegative reduced the risk for CMV disease, CMV-associated death, and transplant-related mortality (TRM). Patients who received unrelated or mismatched family donor transplants had increased risks for CMV disease, CMV-associated death, and TRM. Older age was a significant risk factor for CMV disease and TRM. A total of 258 patients who were monitored by polymerase chain reaction for CMV DNA were analyzed separately to assess whether addition of another CMV preventive strategy could give benefit. Patients who received mismatched or unrelated donor transplants had increased risk for CMV disease, death in CMV disease, and TRM. High-dose acyclovir prophylaxis or addition of intravenous immune globulin had no influence.

CONCLUSIONS

Preemptive therapy based on polymerase chain reaction for CMV DNA was associated with reduced risks for CMV disease, CMV-associated death, and TRM, whereas other prophylactic modalities did not give additional benefit.

Risk factors for chronic graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation: a retrospective single centre analysis

Among 551 consecutive recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants, 451 survived more than 3 months and were evaluated for chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Most of the donors were HLA-identical siblings or parents (n = 334). Patients with HLA-mismatched donors (n = 30) and matched unrelated donors (MUD) (n = 87) were also included in the study. In the analysis of all patients, the 5-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 45%. We analysed 34 risk factors. High recipient age was the single most important risk factor (P < 0.001). Other significant risk factors in multivariate analysis were: acute GVHD grades I-IV (P < 0.001), immune female donor to male recipient (P = 0.006) and chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), compared with all other diagnoses (P = 0.014). The cumulative 5-year incidence of chronic GVHD, with no significant risk factors present, was 9%, 29% with one risk factor, 53% with two, 68% with three and 75% with all four risk factors present. In patients with HLA-identical sibling donors and GVHD prophylaxis consisting of a combination of methotrexate (MTX) and cyclosporin A (CsA) (n = 208), increasing recipient age (P < 0.001) and CML (P = 0.007), were found to be significant risk factors for chronic GVHD. Finally, a multivariate analysis in recipients of bone marrow from unrelated donors (n = 89) showed recipient age alone (P = 0.006) to be significantly associated with chronic GVHD.

Low incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease, using unrelated HLA-A-, HLA-B-, and HLA-DR-compatible donors and conditioning, including anti-T-cell antibodies

BACKGROUND

Using unrelated bone marrow, there is an increased risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

METHODS

HLA-A-, HLA-B-, and HLA-DR-compatible unrelated bone marrow was given to 132 patients. The diagnoses included chronic myeloid leukemia (n=43), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=29), acute myeloid leukemia (n=27), myelodysplastic syndrome (n=4), lymphoma (n=3), myeloma (n=1), myelofibrosis (n=1), severe aplastic anemia (n=12), and metabolic disorders (n=12). The median age was 25 years (range 1-55 years). HLA class I was typed serologically, and class II was typed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primer pairs. Immunosuppression consisted of antithymocyte globulin or OKT3 for 5 days before transplantation and methotrexate combined with cyclosporine.

RESULTS

Engraftment was seen in 127 of 132 patients (96%). Bacteremia occurred in 47%, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in 49%, and CMV disease in 8%. The cumulative incidences of acute GVHD > or = grade II and of chronic GVHD were 23% and 50%, respectively. The 5-year transplant-related mortality rate was 39%. The overall 5-year patient survival rate was 49%; in patients with metabolic disorders and severe aplastic anemia, it was 61% and 48%, respectively. The disease-free survival rate was 47% in patients with hematological malignancies in first remission or first chronic phase and 38% in patients with more advanced disease (P=0.04). Acute GVHD was associated with early engraftment of white blood count (P=0.02). Poor outcome in multivariate analysis was associated with acute myeloid leukemia (P=0.01) and CMV disease (P=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Using HLA-A-, HLA-B-, and HLA-DR-compatible unrelated bone marrow and immunosuppression with antithymocyte globulin, methotrexate, and cyclosporine, the probability of GVHD was low and survival was favorable.

Detection of hepatitis G virus/GB virus C after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Abnormal liver function before allogeneic BMT has been associated with VOD. Hepatitis G virus/GB virus C (HGV) is a recently discovered virus suggested to be a cause of non-A, non-B, non-C, non-D and non-E hepatitis. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the risk for liver complications and time to engraftment in patients infected with HGV. Fifty patients transplanted in 1995 were examined with RT-PCR for HGV on samples collected before, and between 3 and 6 months after BMT. Seven patients had HGV detected before BMT. No patient became infected during or early after the BMT. There were no differences in either pre- or post-transplant liver function abnormalities, VOD, or time to neutrophil engraftment in patients who did or did not have HGV detected before BMT. We conclude that the importance of HGV infection for the development of post-transplant complications is limited.

Faster neutrophil and platelet engraftment, but no differences in acute GVHD or survival, using peripheral blood stem cells from related and unrelated donors, compared to bone marrow

In this retrospective study, 23 recipients of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) were compared to 23 recipients of bone marrow (BM). The donors were 12 HLA-A-B-DR identical siblings and 11 HLA-A-B-DR identical unrelated donors in the PBPC and BM groups, respectively. Diagnoses in the PBPC group were CML seven, AML, nine, ALL three, lymphoma one, myeloma two and aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) one. The median age was 40 (5-55) years. The BM group was matched for diagnosis, age, conditioning therapy, GVHD prophylaxis and G-CSF treatment after BMT. A higher number of MNC (P<0.001), CD34+ (P = 0.05), CD3+ (P<0.001) and CD56+ (P<0.001) cells in the graft, a reduced number of platelet transfusions (P = 0.03) and a significant hastening of neutrophil and platelet recovery were seen in the PBPC group compared to the BM group. In logistic regression analysis, the following factors were important for engraftment of ANC >0.5 x 10(9)/l: peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT) (P = 0.003) and mononuclear cells (MNC) > or =2.5 x 10(8)/kg recipient in the graft (above median) (P = 0.009) in univariate analysis. For recovery of platelets >30 x 10(9)/l: PBPCT (P = 0.03) and HLA-identical sibling donors (P = 0.05) were significant in multivariate analysis. A trend towards a lower incidence of bacteremia was seen in the PBPC group, ie 22 vs 48% (P = 0.06) in the BM group. GVHD, TRM and survival did not differ between the two groups.

Booster marrow or blood cells for graft failure after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Twenty allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients were treated with an additional dose of donor cells (boost dose) for graft failure (n = 7), partial graft failure (n = 11) or extensive hemolysis caused by remaining recipient cells producing anti-erythrocyte antibodies (n = 2). Donors were in 12 cases HLA-identical siblings, three mismatched related donors and five unrelated donors. Cell source was in 13 cases bone marrow and in seven peripheral blood progenitor cells. Median time from BMT to booster dose was 3.4 months (range 0.7-59.3). Median infused cell dose was 2.4 x 10(8)/kg patient (range 0.5-19.0). As GVHD prophylaxis most patients were already receiving different combinations of cyclosporine, prednisolone and methotrexate. No preparative treatment was given prior to boost in 16 patients; four received ATG. After boost, 11 patients developed acute GVHD, six grade I, four grade II and one grade III. Except for one patient, acute GVHD after boost was less, or the same grade as after BMT. Six patients developed chronic GVHD, three limited and three extensive. Five patients died within 30 days of the boost. Nine of 15 (60%) evaluable patients became transfusion independent within 30 days and three more within 60 days. Causes of death were: infections six (IP four, pneumonia two), relapse three; and GVHD three. Three out of five patients transplanted with unrelated marrow suffered from severe immunological reactions and died 2-3 months after the boost dose. Patient survival 1 and 3 years after boost was 55% and 43%, respectively. Among patients with hematological malignancies, leukemia-free survival at 3 years was 41%.

Faster engraftment of peripheral blood progenitor cells compared to bone marrow from unrelated donors

Twenty-six patients received peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) from unrelated donors at five European Centres. Twenty-five donors were HLA-A, -B and -DR identical and one had a one antigen mismatch. PBPC were mobilised by treatment with G-CSF for 4-5 days. Eleven patients receiving PBPC were compared to 11 patients receiving unrelated bone marrow with comparable prognostic factors. The median mononuclear cell count, the CD3+ cells and the CD56+ cells were seven to 10 times higher in PBPC, compared to bone marrow (P < 0.001). The median CD34+ cell content was 6.1 x 10(6)/kg recipient weight with PBPC, compared to 4.3 with bone marrow (NS). Time from transplantation to neutrophils >0.5 x 10(9)/l was a median of 11 (range 6-21) days using PBPC vs 15 (10-22) days after transplantation of bone marrow (P = 0.03). Transfusions and time to discharge did not differ between the two groups. All 26 patients receiving PBPC engrafted. Acute GVHD grades II-IV was seen in 8/26 (31%) and chronic GVHD in 8/18 (44%). Overall, 13/26 (50%) of the patients are alive and well with a median follow-up of 9 (2-35) months.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation vs filgrastim-mobilised peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation in patients with early leukaemia: first results of a randomised multicentre trial of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

In a multicentre trial involving 20 transplant centres from 10 countries haematopoietic stem cells were obtained either from the bone marrow of 33 sibling donors or from the peripheral blood of 33 such donors after administration of filgrastim (10 microg/kg/day). The haematopoietic stem cells were infused into their HLA-identical recipients suffering from acute leukaemias in remission or chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase. PBPC donors tolerated filgrastim administration and leukapheresis well with the most frequent side-effects being musculoskeletal pain, headache, and mild increases of LDH, AP, Gamma-GT or SGPT. Pain and haematoma at the harvest site and mild anaemia were the most frequent complaints of BM donors. Severe or life-threatening complications were not seen with any type of harvest procedure. Time to platelet recovery greater than 20 x 10(9)/l was 15 days (95% confidence interval (CI) 13-16 days) in the PBPCT group and 19 days (CI 16-25) in the BMT group. Time to neutrophil recovery greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/l was 14 days (CI 12-15 days) in the PBPCT group as compared to 15 days (CI 15-16 days) in the BMT group. The numbers of platelet transfusions administered to PBPCT and BMT patients were 12 (range: 1-28) and 10 (range: 3-39), respectively. Sixteen patients (48%) transplanted with bone marrow and 18 patients (54%) transplanted with PBPC developed acute GVHD of grades II-IV; acute GVHD of grades III or IV developed in six (18%) and seven (21%) patients, respectively. Kaplan-Meier plots for transplant-related mortality until day 100 and leukaemia-free survival at a median of 400 days after BMT or PBPCT showed no significant differences. Administration of filgrastim and leukapheresis in normal donors were feasible and well tolerated. The number of days with restricted activity and of nights spent in hospital was lower in donors of PBPC. Transplantation of PBPC to HLA-identical siblings with early leukaemia resulted in earlier platelet engraftment. The incidence of moderate to severe acute GVHD, transplant-related mortality, and leukaemia-free survival did not show striking differences. Further investigation of allogeneic PBPCT as a substitute for allogeneic BMT is warranted.

Engraftment and chimerism, particularly of T- and B-cells, in children undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

The spectrum of pediatric bone marrow transplantation has changed in recent years. Mismatched and unrelated donor transplants are common, demanding an increased vigilance to detect incipient graft failure, secondary lymphoma as well as relapse and other problems, which now are potentially treatable. To diagnose these complications it may be important to know whether blood and marrow cells are of recipient or donor origin. To evaluate the role of mixed donor-recipient chimerism in relation to clinical problems we adapted a polymerase chain-reaction technique, using fluorescent primers analyzing DNA fragment length polymorphisms, to follow prospectively 17 bone marrow grafted children. To increase the precision of chimerism analysis, immunomagnetically isolated leukocyte populations were assayed in selected cases. Five patients encountered clinical problems related to chimerism. One infant with adenosine deaminase deficiency failed to engraft stem cells, yet succumbed to graft-versus-host disease, mediated by mature donor T-cells. Three children developed significant mixed chimerism. One of these three patients died in relapse of leukemia, while the two other patients who had received T-cell depleted grafts had persistent recipient T-cells, in spite of engraftment. After 5 months, these were displaced by donor T-cells in one of the patients. In the fifth patient, also after T-cell depleted BMT, a fatal donor cell lymphoma occurred. Twelve children had stable full chimerism or in one case a low grade mixed chimerism and remain disease-free throughout follow up (median 9 months). In conclusion, the analysis of chimerism, particularly of separated leukocyte populations, offers an almost indispensable insight and a basis for therapeutic decisions in complicated situations such as grafting involving unrelated or mismatched donors, graft manipulation, adoptive immunotherapy and in immunodeficiency patients.

Activation of human T and B cells by rabbit anti-human beta 2-microglobulin

Rabbit anti-human beta 2-microglobulin (anti-beta 2m) increased the highest DNA synthesis in unseparated lymphocytes or artificially composed mixtures enriched in T and B cells. In enriched T and B cells no or low stimulation was seen. The maximal response by IgG anti-beta 2m was seen in proportions of enriched T/B cells, being 3:1 for blood lymphocytes and 1:1 for spleen cells, which are the same as the physiological proportions of T and B cells in these lymphoid organs. Whereas unseparated lymphocytes gave a peak response on day 3, enriched B cells had a peak response on day 6. Fab anti-beta 2m did not activate enriched T cells but increased DNA synthesis in enriched B cells to about the same extent as unseparated lymphocytes and mixtures of enriched T and B cells. The proportion of sheep erythrocyte rosette-forming cells (E-RFC) decreased after stimulation by anti-beta 2m and increased after stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin. However, as revealed by autoradiography, a proportion of lymphocytes activated by anti-beta 2m were E-RFC and this proportion increased with increasing stimulation by anti-beta 2m. DNA synthesis induced by anti-beta 2m was unchanged for spleen cells and slightly decreased for blood lymphocytes when phagocytic cells were removed by iron treatment. Supernatants from lymphocytes activated by anti-beta 2m only induced low DNA synthesis in enriched T or B cells. Experiments with mitomycin treated cells indicate that cooperation and close contact between T and B cells are needed for activation by IgG anti-beta 2m. T cells are needed for B cell activation by anti-beta 2m and B cells are required for T cell activation to occur.

Antibody secretion and DNA synthesis induced by lipopolysaccharide in enriched human lymphocyte subpopulations

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human lymphocyte activation was analysed with regard to DNA synthesis and antibody secretion. Antibody secretion was measured as plaque-forming cells (PFC) against fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-coupled sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) or protein-A-coupled SRBC in the presence of developing antiserum against human IgG, IgA and IgM subclasses. By co-culturing lymphocytes with various concentrations of mitomycin, without impairing cell viability, inhibition of DNA synthesis and antibody secretion by LPS was correlated. Antibody secretion against FITC-SRBC or protein A-SRBC was not stimulated by LPS in B cells enriched by elimination of SRBC rosette-forming cells (E-RFC). In mixtures of enriched T and B cells the number of PFC was much lower than in unseparated lymphocytes, but the highest number of PFC was seen in the enriched E-RFC. However, DNA synthesis by LPS was induced in enriched B cells and not in enriched T cells. The highest DNA synthesis was seen for unseparated lymphocytes. Furthermore, autoradiography studies and experiments in which activated lymphocytes were separated revealed that LPS predominantly stimulated DNA synthesis in non-E-RFC, presumably B cells and only activated a small proportion of E-RFC. Finally, antibody secretion induced by LPS was unchanged following iron treatment but was inhibited by cells adherent to plastic.

Risk factors in bone marrow transplant recipients with leukaemia. Increased relapse risk in patients treated with ciprofloxacin for gut decontamination

Three hundred and six patients with low- and intermediate-risk leukaemias undergoing allogeneic BMT between 1980 and March 1996 were studied regarding transplantation-related mortality (TRM), relapse, and leukaemia-free survival (LFS). Among the patients were 262 recipients of marrow from HLA-identical siblings and 44 patients receiving marrow from HLA-A, -B, and -DR identical unrelated donors. Between 1986 and 1993, 153 adult patients received ciprofloxacin continuously during Cy conditioning, but since November 1993 ciprofloxacin has not been given until after Cy treatment. TRM at 5 yr showed an incidence of 30%. Significant risk factors in Cox regression multivariate analysis comprised acute GVHD grades II-IV (p < 0.0001), seropositivity for 3-4 herpes viruses prior to BMT (p = 0.002), intermediate risk disease (p = 0.008), female donor to male recipient (p = 0.015), and a donor age over 17 yr (p = 0.025). The risk of relapse was studied from 90 d after BMT, and the overall 5-yr incidence was 32%. Significant risk factors comprised acute leukaemia, as compared to CML (p = 0.003), total body irradiation (TBI) compared to busulphan treatment (p = 0.011), gram-negative prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin during cyclophosphamide (Cy) conditioning (p = 0.024), GVHD prophylaxis using a combination of methotrexate (MTX) and cyclosporine (CSA), compared to monotherapy (p = 0.037) and absence of chronic GVHD (p = 0.050). The 5-yr probability of relapse in patients receiving ciprofloxacin prophylaxis during Cy conditioning was 40%, compared to 24% in patients not receiving this treatment (p = 0.01). Overall, LFS at 5 yr was 49%. LFS was evaluated from day 30 after BMT until relapse or death of the patient. We found no difference in TRM, relapse or LFS between recipients of HLA-identical sibling or unrelated bone marrow, risk factors significantly associated with an inferior LFS included acute GVHD grades II-IV (p = 0.0002), intermediate risk disease (p = 0.003), donor seropositivity for 3-4 herpes viruses (p = 0.046), and TBI conditioning (p = 0.048).

Intraosseous compared to intravenous infusion of allogeneic bone marrow

Thirty-eight patients (> or = 18 years) receiving marrow transplants from HLA-identical or one antigen-mismatched related donors were randomized to intraosseous (i.o.) + intravenous (i.v.) (n = 10), i.o. (n = 8) or i.v. (n = 20) infusions of bone marrow. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics. PMN/l more than 0.5 x 10(9) occurred on days 19 (median), 20 and 18.5 in the i.o. + i.v., i.o. and i.v. groups, respectively. We found a significant reduction in the number of days on total parenteral nutrition (P = 0.03) and a tendency to a reduction in the number of days on antibiotics (P = 0.06) in the i.o. compared to the i.v. group. Bacteraemia did not occur in the i.o. group, but was seen in 30% of the i.v. group (NS). The incidences of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, transplantation-related mortality, relapse and patient survival rates were similar in the three groups. Five patients examined with bone marrow scintigraphy showed the same distribution of granulocytes in the bone marrow directly after transplantation and 3 weeks after transplantation, whether the bone marrow was given by the i.o. or by the i.v. route. We conclude that allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can safely be performed by i.o. infusion, but haematopoietic recovery is not improved.