Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant in patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome: a retrospective analysis on behalf of the Chronic Malignancy Working Party of the EBMT

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2016.266.

Impact of conditioning with TBI in adult patients with T-cell ALL who receive a myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a report from the acute leukemia working party of EBMT

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a therapeutic option for adult patients with T-cell ALL (T-ALL). Meanwhile, few allo-SCT data specific to adult T-ALL have been described thus far. Specifically, the optimal myeloablative conditioning regimen is unknown. In this retrospective study, 601 patients were included. Patients received allo-SCT in CR1, CR2, CR >2 or in advanced disease in 69%, 15%, 2% and 14% of cases, respectively. With an overall follow-up of 58 months, 523 patients received a TBI-based regimen, whereas 78 patients received a chemotherapy-based regimen including IV busulfan-cyclophosphamide (IV Bu-Cy) (n=46). Unlike patients aged ⩾35 years, patients aged <35 years who received a TBI-based regimen displayed an improved outcome compared with patients who received a chemotherapy-based regimen (5-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) of 50% for TBI versus 18% for chemo-only regimen or IV Bu-Cy regimens, P=10(-5) and 10(-4), respectively). In multivariate analysis, use of TBI was associated with an improved LFS (hazard ratio (HR)=0.55 (0.34-0.86), P=0.01) and overall survival (HR=0.54 (0.34-0.87), P=0.01) in patients aged <35 years. In conclusion, younger adult patients with T-ALL entitled to receive a myeloablative allo-SCT may benefit from TBI-based regimens.

Is there any relationship between pulmonary function tests and post-transplant complications of allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation?

AIM

Pulmonary function tests (PFT) have an important role in the assessment of pulmonary and nonpulmonary complications of hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this study the relationship between PFTs and DLCOadj values and the complications of HSCT was investigated. The possible role of iron overload in the deterioration of the PFTs after HSCT was also searched.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty one patients who had undergone allogeneic HSCT between years 2003 through 2008, and had the records of PFTs prior to and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after transplantation were included in the study. Prospectively collected data of these patients were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Although no significant difference was identified in other PFT parameters, a significant decrease in DLCOadj was determined after 1st and 3rd months of HSCT. A significant correlation was found between pretransplant DLCOadj value <%70 and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) (P=0.001, r=0.323), but in multivariate analysis pretransplant DLCOadj was not an independent predictor of SOS; only total body irradiation (TBI) (OR: 3.673, %95 CI: 0.880-15.804), the day of platelet engraftment (OR=1.093, %95 CI: 1.029-1.161) and serum ferritin (OR=1.001, %95 CI: 1.000-1.001) were significant. Advancing age and serum ferritin levels >600 ng/mL were the independent risk factors for pretransplant DLCOadj <%70 (OR: 0.970, %95 CI: 0.941-0.999 and OR: 2.355, %95 CI: 1.058-5.241 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Although a significant correlation exists between pretransplant DLCOadj values and post-transplant SOS development, pretransplant DLCOadj was not an independent predictor of SOS. Increased serum ferritin levels were common both for pretransplant DLCO decrease and post-transplant SOS development. Iron induced endothelial damage may be the common pathophysiologic mechanism causing lung and liver vulnerability, and DLCOadj may be a non-invasive method of demonstrating this vulnerability.

Abnormal protein bands in patients with multiple myeloma after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: does it have a prognostic significance?

Abnormal protein bands (APB) unrelated to the original monoclonal protein occasionally appear in serum immunofixation samples from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). To investigate the significance of APB, medical records and serum immunofixation patterns of 53 MM patients, who had undergone HCT (49 autologous and 4 allogeneic) at the stem cell transplantation unit of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, were reviewed. Patients were staged according to Durie-Salmon and International staging systems (ISS) and disease response was determined according to European Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) criteria. Fourteen (26.4%) of the 53 patients developed APBs after HCT. The median time for the appearance and duration of APB was 3 (range 1-24) and 5.5 (range 1.5-14) months, respectively. Probability of overall survival (OS) at the end of the follow-up was 77 and 61.4% in patients with and without APB, respectively (p = 0.334). The median duration of follow-up (767 days (range, 220-2905) vs. 726 days (range, 120-1780) p = 0.545) was not different in patients with and without APB. Probability of progression free survival (PFS) at the end of follow-up was 28.8% in patients with and 27.7% in patients without APB (p = 0.835). PFS (910 days (range 180-2905) vs. 730 days (range 90-1765) p = 0.835) was longer in patients with APB, though without statistical significance. Thus, the occurrence of APB post-transplantation is not associated with any adverse long-term consequences and does not require treatment modification.

Clinical and electrophysiological evaluation of patients with thalidomide-induced neuropathy

BACKGROUND

Whether thalidomide induces a sensory ganglionopathy or a length-dependent axonal neuropathy is disputed. Moreover no agreement exists concerning the effects of thalidomide dosage on the clinical and electrophysiological findings.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the effect of age, gender disease duration, total cumulative dose on the clinical and electrophysiologic parameters.

METHODS

Fifteen patients who had previously received 100 mg/day of thalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma were evaluated retrospectively. Clinical findings and nerve conductions studies were evaluated using a modified total neuropathy scoring system.

RESULTS

Sensory symptoms (p = 0.033, r = 0.552) and objective sensory findings (p = 0.002, r = 0.730) worsened with higher thalidomide doses. There was no effect of age, gender and disease duration, neither on clinical symptoms and objective findings, nor on electrophysiologic data. Twelve patients (80%) developed the electrophysiological findings of neuropathy. Six (40%) had pure sensory and 4 (26.6%) had sensori-motor peripheral neuropathy, while 4 (26.6%) had carpal tunnel syndrome. Sural sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes were more prominently reduced compared to SNAPs obtained from the upper extremities. Sural SNAP amplitude showed a tendency toward reduction as the total cumulative dose, although it is not statistically significant (respectively; p = 0.187). Significantly reduced ulnar peroneal and tibial compound muscle action potential amplitudes, slow motor nerve conduction velocities of the ulnar and peroneal nerves were found in the study group compared to reference norms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that thalidomide produces a dose dependent peripheral neuropathy, mainly localized to the peripheral nerves in a length dependent manner. The patient must be monitored closely to prevent irreversible consequences.

Impact of Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization in the Detection of Cryptic Fusion Transcript PML/RARA and A Complex t(5;15;17) in a Case of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Genetic aspects of a 28 year-old female patient with typical morphological and clinical features of acute promyelocytic leukemia is presented. Pml/rara fusion transcript and a complex translocation involving chromosomes 5, 15 and 17 were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique which was applied as in adjunct to conventional cytogenetics. The patient deceased soon in spite of the immediate ATRA and cytostatic therapy.

Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy: association with drug-induced agranulocytosis. Report of a case

An unusual case of Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy and drug-induced agranulocytosis, as the predisposing condition, is described. The patient had severe granulocytopenia that was attributed to the recent use of dipyrone. Together with hemodynamic resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotic and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were started. Wide surgical excision of all the gangrenous tissues, in addition to laparoscopic formation of a defunctioning sigmoid loop colostomy, was performed. The white blood cell count rose steadily and the patient experienced a rapid recovery. We emphasize that radical surgery must be accompanied by pharmacologic interventions for a successful outcome in such cases.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome: progression of peripheral neuropathy despite controlled eosinophil levels

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a disorder of the hematopoietic system, characterized by persistent elevation in the total eosinophil count (> 1500/microliter) for over 6 months, associated with organ damage and no detectable underlying cause. Treatment is centered on the reduction of total circulating eosinophils, which generally leads to remission of symptoms. We report a 68-year-old female patient with HES and peripheral neuropathy, presenting with cutaneous lesions, mental changes, cardiac and pulmonary symptoms, followed by right foot drop and eventually paraparesis, which caused an inability to ambulate. Weakness progressed to include the upper extremities despite adequate control of eosinophilia by steroids. Worsening of the peripheral neuropathy can occur despite lowering of the eosinophil levels.