Thrombotic events

Major thrombotic complications in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) represent an important clinical problem due to their high morbidity, the complexity of their management, and their associated mortality. The appearance of a thrombosis implies a high thrombotic risk stratification of the MPN and determines the initiation or optimization of cytoreductive treatment and the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy as secondary prophylaxis. The incidence of thrombosis at the time of diagnosis is higher than during the course of the disease, being located in the arterial territory in 60-70% of cases. Once thrombosis has occurred, up to 20-33% of patients experience thrombotic recurrence in the same initial vascular territory.

Pregnancy in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are associated with a significant risk of thrombosis and the hypercoagulable environment of pregnancy increases this risk. The most frequent gestational complications consist of spontaneous abortion, thrombosis, bleeding, and hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Treatment depends on thrombotic risk, gestational trimester, and myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Essential thrombocythaemia

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm that has its main involvement in the megakaryopoietic lineage, generating sustained thrombocytosis in peripheral blood and an increase in the number of mature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. In addition to marked thrombocytosis, it is characterized by increased thrombotic or hemorrhagic risk and the presence of constitutional symptoms. Patients with ET have a low but known risk of disease progression to myelofibrosis and/or acute leukemia. The diagnosis is made based on the 2016 WHO criteria. At present, available treatments for patients with ET are mainly aimed at minimizing the risk of thrombosis and/or bleeding.

Symptom control

In addition to symptoms secondary to splenomegaly, microvascular abnormalities, and thrombohemorrhagic complications, patients with MPN may experience a significant symptom burden attributed to an increase in circulating inflammatory cytokines. These symptoms can be severe and limit quality of life. Therefore, in addition to the prevention of complications, one of the objectives of the treatment of MPN is the control of symptoms.

Myelofibrosis: diagnosis and treatment

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by clonal myeloproliferation, dysregulated kinase signaling, and release of abnormal cytokines. In recent years, important progress has been made in the knowledge of the molecular biology and the prognostic assessment of MF. Conventional treatment has limited impact on the patients' survival; it includes a wait-and-see approach for asymptomatic patients, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, androgens, or immunomodulatory agents for anemia, cytoreductive drugs such as hydroxyurea for the splenomegaly and constitutional symptoms, and splenectomy or radiotherapy in selected patients. The discovery of the Janus kinase (JAK) 2 mutation triggered the development of molecular targeted therapy of MF. The JAK inhibitors are effective in both JAK2-positive and JAK2-negative MF; one of them, ruxolitinib, is the current best available therapy for MF splenomegaly and constitutional symptoms. Although ruxolitinib has changed the therapeutic scenario of MF, there is no clear indication of a disease-modifying effect. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative therapy of MF, but due to its associated morbidity and mortality, it is usually restricted to eligible high- and intermediate-2-risk MF patients. To improve current therapeutic results, the combination of JAK inhibitors with other agents is currently being tested, and newer drugs are being investigated.

Transplantation of hematopoietic progenitors in myelofibrosis

The objective of this work is to generate recommendations on the management of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in primary myelofibrosis (PMF). A comprehensive systematic review of articles published between 1999 and 2015 (January) was used as a source of scientific evidence. The recommendations were produced through a Delphi process involving a panel of 23 experts appointed by the European LeukemiaNet and the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group. Key questions included patient selection, donor selection, pre-transplant management, conditioning regimen, post-transplant management, prevention, and management of post-transplant relapse. Patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk disease and age < 70 years should be considered candidates for allo-SCT. Patients with intermediate-risk 1 disease and age < 65 years should be considered candidates if they have refractory transfusion-dependent anemia, or a peripheral blood (PB) blast percentage > 2%, or adverse cytogenetics. Splenectomy before transplantation must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk disease who lack a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling or unrelated donor should be enrolled in a protocol that uses HLA non-identical donors. PB was considered the most appropriate source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplants from HLA-matched unrelated donors and siblings. The optimal intensity of the conditioning regimen has yet to be defined. Strategies such as discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs, infusion of donor lymphocytes, or both were considered adequate to prevent clinical relapse. In conclusion, we provide consensus-based recommendations aimed at optimizing allo-SCT in PMF. Unmet clinical needs were highlighted.

Polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera (PV) is mainly characterized by erythrocytosis, thrombotic and hemorrhagic predisposition, a variety of symptoms, and cumulative risks of fibrotic progression and/or leukemic evolution over time. The diagnosis is made based on the 2016 WHO criteria. The treatment of PV focuses on rapidly reducing the erythrocyte mass, either by means of phlebotomies or with cytoreductive treatment, and the reduction of thrombotic risk by correcting cardiovascular risk factors and the use of platelet antiaggregants.

Risks in invasive procedures

Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms have an increased risk of thrombosis and bleeding. This risk must be identified, as well as individualizing the therapeutic strategy before invasive procedures; adequate cytoreduction reduces the risk of complications.

First inter-institutional consensus on Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

The objective of the consensus is to make available to the professionals of the different public health institutions in our country, who are in charge of these diseases, the most relevant and up-to-date information about their diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice. With this inter-institutional consensus we hope to contribute to improving the quality of care for patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms throughout the Mexican Republic, to unify criteria in both diagnosis and treatment of the different myeloproliferative diseases.

Mexican Consensus on Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hodgkin's lymphoma is due to the clonal transformation of cells originating from B lymphocytes, generating the pathognomonic binucleate Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a B cell disease with a bimodal distribution, with higher incidence in adolescence and the third decade of life, showing a second peak in people over 55 years of age. Classic Hodgkin lymphoma cells routinely undergo gene expression reprogramming, as they lose the expression of most of the typical B-cell genes and acquire the expression of multiple genes that are typical of other types of cells in the immune system. The treatment algorithm will depend on whether it is classic or predominantly lymphocytic HL, if it is early stage with unfavorable prognostic markers or not, the initial management regimen, and whether there is bulky disease, among the most relevant variables.

Mexican consensus on Hodgkin's lymphoma

El linfoma de Hodgkin (LH) se debe a la transformación clonal de células originadas en los linfocitos B, lo que genera las células binucleadas patognomónicas de Reed-Sternberg. El LH es una enfermedad de células B con una distribución bimodal, con mayor incidencia en la adolescencia y la tercera década de la vida y un segundo pico en personas mayores de 55 años. Las células del LH clásico habitualmente sufren una reprogramación de la expresión génica, ya que pierden la expresión de la mayoría de los genes típicos de las células B y han adquirido la expresión de múltiples genes que son típicos de otros tipos de células del sistema inmunitario. El algoritmo de tratamiento dependerá si se trata de LH clásico o de predominio linfocítico, si es un estadio temprano con marcadores de pronóstico desfavorables o no, el esquema inicial de manejo y si existe enfermedad voluminosa, entre las variables más relevantes.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is due to the clonal transformation of cells originating from B lymphocytes, generating the pathognomonic binucleate Reed-Sternberg cells. HL is a B cell disease with a bimodal distribution, with higher incidence in adolescence and the third decade of life, showing a second peak in people over 55 years of age. Classic Hodgkin lymphoma cells routinely undergo gene expression reprogramming, as they lose the expression of most of the typical B-cell genes and acquire the expression of multiple genes that are typical of other types of cells in the immune system. The treatment algorithm will depend on whether it is classic or predominantly lymphocytic HL, if it is early stage with unfavorable prognostic markers or not, the initial management regimen, and whether there is bulky disease, among the most relevant variables.

Treating Acute Leukemia During the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Environment With Limited Resources: A Multicenter Experience in Four Latin American Countries

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic is a colossal challenge for global health; nonetheless, specific subgroups face considerably higher risks for infection and mortality. Among patients with malignant diseases, those with hematologic neoplasms are at a higher risk for poor outcomes. The objective of this study was to register treatment modifications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and their short-term consequences in Latin America.

METHODS

Multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study including patients older than 14 years from 14 centers in four countries (Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, and Panama) who had a confirmed diagnosis of acute leukemia, and who were undergoing active treatment since the first COVID-19 case in each country until the cutoff on July 15, 2020.

RESULTS

We recruited 635 patients. Treatment modifications because of the COVID-19 pandemic were reported in 40.8% of cases. The main reason for such modifications was logistic issues (55.0%) and the most frequent modification was chemotherapy delay (42.0%). A total of 13.1% patients developed COVID-19 disease, with a mortality of 37.7%. Several factors were identified as independently associated with mortality, including a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (odds ratio 2.38 [95% CI, 1.47 to 3.84]; P < .001), while the use of telemedicine was identified as a protective factor (odds ratio 0.36 [95% CI, 0.18 to 0.82]; P = .014).

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the collateral damage of COVID-19 in oncology patients.

Consensus on hemophilia in Mexico

Hemophilia is a hemorrhagic disorder with a sex-linked inherited pattern, characterized by an inability to amplify coagulation due to a deficiency in coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A or classic) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Sequencing of the genes involved in hemophilia has provided a description and record of the main mutations, as well as a correlation with the various degrees of severity. Hemorrhagic manifestations are related to levels of circulating factor, mainly affecting the musculoskeletal system and specifically the large joints (knees, ankles, and elbows). This document is a review and consensus of the main genetic aspects of hemophilia, from the inheritance pattern to the concept of women carriers, physiopathology and classification of the disorder, the basic and confirmation studies when hemophilia is suspected, the various treatment regimens based on infusion of the deficient coagulation factor as well as innovative factor-free therapies and recommendations for the management of complications associated with treatment (development of inhibitors and/or transfusion-transmitted infections), or secondary to articular hemorrhagic events (hemophilic arthropathy). Finally, relevant reviews of clinical and treatment aspects of hemorrhagic pathology characterized by acquired deficiency of FVIII secondary to neutralized antibodies named acquired hemophilia.

Mexican Concensus of Multiple Myeloma

To identify this increasingly common pathology, known as multiple myeloma (MM), it is necessary to refer to the specific factors that characterize it; to this end, the classic criteria known as CRAB (hyperkalemia, renal failure, anemia, and lytic lesions) are available, in which renal failure is one of the most frequent complications. Recently, three indisputable biomarkers have been described for the diagnostic support for MM, which are: more than 10% of clonal plasma cells in bone marrow or, a biopsy that corroborates the presence of a plasmacytoma, light chain ratio ≥ 100 mg/dL and more than one focal lesion on magnetic resonance imaging. A differential diagnosis for plasma cell leukemia, solitary bone plasmacytoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma should always be considered. Being this an incurable disease, a lot of research has been done regarding its therapeutic management, whose main objective is the disappearance of plasma cells and the patient clinical improvement. Melphalan was the first drug that showed a benefit in 1958 and afterward, with the addition of a steroid as a second drug, it was possible to improve response rates. Subsequently, different molecules were studied, forming multiple combinations, and achieving better rates of overall survival and progression-free survival. Years later, with the arrival of proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib, and immunomodulators such as thalidomide and lenalidomide, an important turnaround in the disease has been seen, as deeper responses, more prolonged remissions, and improvement in the quality of life of patients have been achieved. This consensus has the purpose of integrating a group of Mexican specialists and promoting the updating of this pathology.

[Nosocomial urinary tract infections at a second-level hospital]

In order to investigate the incidence, etiologic agents and number of episodes of nosocomial urinary tract infections, a prospective study was carried on at the General Hospital in Durango, Mexico. All the patients admitted to the hospital during the period of March to June, 1991, and whose hospital stay was longer than 48 hours, were included. The infection rate in 962 patients was 12.9 episodes per hundred. The service of Internal Medicine had the highest rate and Pediatrics the lowest. The infection rate was higher among older patients and there was no significant difference between genders. 73% of the patients had only one episode of infection and the presence of a permanent urinary-catheter was the main clinical condition associated with infection. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp. were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Nosocomial urinary tract infections have a very high incidence in a general hospital, therefore there is a pressing need to implement effective control programs.