Post-transplant T cell chimerism predicts graft versus host disease but not disease relapse in patients undergoing an alemtuzumab based reduced intensity conditioned allogeneic transplant

In this multicentre retrospective study we have studied the impact of T cell chimerism on the outcome of 133 patients undergoing an alemtuzumab based reduced intensity conditioning allograft (RIC). The median age of the patients was 50 years (range 42-55 years). 77 patients were transplanted using an HLA identical sibling donor while 56 patients received a fully matched volunteer unrelated donor graft. 64 patients had a lymphoid malignancy and 69 were transplanted for a myeloid malignancy. 38 patients (29%) relapsed with no significant difference in risk of relapse between patients developing full donor and mixed donor chimerism in the T-cell compartment on D+90 and D+180 post transplant. Day 90 full donor T cell chimerism correlated with an increased incidence of acute GVHD according to NIH criteria (p=0.0004) and the subsequent development of chronic GVHD. Consistent with previous observations, our results confirmed a correlation between the establishment of T cell full donor chimerism and acute GVHD in T deplete RIC allografts. However our study failed to identify any correlation between T cell chimerism and relapse risk and challenge the use of pre-emptive donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) in patients with mixed T cell chimerism transplanted using an alemtuzumab based RIC regimen.

Management of endophthalmitis with retained intraocular foreign body

AIMS

To assess the impact of primary injection of intravitreal antibiotics and delayed pars plana vitrectomy with removal of intraocular foreign body (IOFB) in patients with clinical features of bacterial endophthalmitis and retained IOFB.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all patients with clinical features of infective endophthalmitis and a retained IOFB who had immediate injection of intravitreal antibiotics and delayed pars plana vitrectomy with removal of IOFB in two vitreo-retinal centres during 1995-2001. Nine patients were identified and minimum follow-up was 3 months.

RESULTS

Four of the nine patients had a final visual outcome of 6/18 or better. One patient developed total retinal detachment.

CONCLUSIONS

The current series suggests that immediate injection of intravitreal antibiotics with delayed removal of IOFB in eyes with clinical features of infective endophthalmitis and a retained IOFB is a possible alternative to immediate removal of IOFB. This management may be associated with preservation of the eye and restoration of useful visual acuity.

Bilateral failure of adduction following orbital decompression

We report a case of bilateral complete failure of adduction following bilateral translid antralethmoidal orbital decompression. We believe the probable mechanism is neuropraxia (temporary dysfunction) of the third cranial nerves' supply to the medial recti, owing to these nerves' occupying an anatomically abnormal position. Partial recovery of adduction occurred over the ensuing six months.