Pathogen reduction with methylene blue does not have an impact on the clinical effectiveness of COVID-19 convalescent plasma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is a concern about a possible deleterious effect of pathogen reduction (PR) with methylene blue (MB) on the function of immunoglobulins of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). We have evaluated whether MB-treated CCP is associated with a poorer clinical response compared to other inactivation systems at the ConPlas-19 clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an ad hoc sub-study of the ConPlas-19 clinical trial comparing the proportion of patients transfused with MB-treated CCP who had a worsening of respiration versus those treated with amotosalen (AM) or riboflavin (RB). RESULTS: One-hundred and seventy-five inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were transfused with a single CCP unit. The inactivation system of the CCP units transfused was MB in 90 patients (51.4%), RB in 60 (34.3%) and AM in 25 (14.3%). Five out of 90 patients (5.6%) transfused with MB-treated CCP had worsening respiration compared to 9 out of 85 patients (10.6%) treated with alternative PR methods (p = 0.220). Of note, MB showed a trend towards a lower rate of respiratory progressions at 28 days (risk ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-1.50). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that MB-treated CCP does not provide a worse clinical outcome compared to the other PR methods for the treatment of COVID-19.

Adult-onset Diamond-Blackfan anemia with a novel mutation in the exon 5 of RPL11: too late and too rare.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a congenital erythroid aplasia usually diagnosed in the early infancy and associated with mutations or large deletions in 11 ribosomal protein (RP) genes. Adult patients with severe, transfusion dependence, aregenerative anemia might have a genetic-in-origin disease with an atypical presentation. Late onset nonclassical DBA should be ruled out and mutations of RP genes studied.

[Are intravenous immunoglobulins useful in severe episodes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia?: Comparative results in 21 episodes from a single centre]. / Inmunoglobulinas intravenosas en los episodios graves de anemia hemolítica autoinmune: resultados comparativos en 21 episodios de un único centro.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To analyze haemolytic episodes in patients with warm antibody autoimmune haemolytic anemia (AIHA) and compare corticosteroids treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) (group A) or without IVIG (group B). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational study that includes 21 haemolytic episodes occurred in 17 patients (9 males and 12 females), with a median age of 59 years (26-82). In group A, 8 episodes received IGIV + corticosteroids and in group B, 12 episodes received only corticosteroids and one rituximab. RESULTS: Hemoglobin (Hb) value at diagnosis was 1.8 g/dl lower (95% confidence interval: 0.6 to 3.1; P = .007) in group A, with a median Hb of 6.3g/dl in this group vs 7.9 g/dl in group B. There were non-significant differences in red blood cells transfusion (50 vs 23%; P > .20) and global increase of Hb values (7.3 vs 5.6; P > .20). Overall hematological responses were similar: 88 vs 92% (P > .20). CONCLUSIONS: Hematological response achieved in more severe episodes with the use of IVIG was similar to non-severe episodes treated without IVIG.

[Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw and infection with Actinomyces]. / Osteonecrosis maxilar asociada a bisfosfonatos e infección por Actinomyces.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) has raised considerable interest since its recent description. Its pathogenesis is not yet clarified; formerly it has been considered a non-infectious complication, but recent studies seem to implicate bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. The objective of this study is to analyze the cases of BRONJ in our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Review of medical records of patients diagnosed of BRONJ in the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of our hospital. RESULTS: We have found 11 cases of BRONJ in our hospital: 4 women taking oral alendronate or risendronate for osteoporosis and 7 cancer patients treated with intravenous zolendronic acid. All of them showed bone invasion by bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. Nine patients underwent prolonged treatment with amoxicillin with favourable clinical outcome in all of them, but 3 died of their malignancy. By contrast, one patient with beta-lactamic allergy and irregular treatment with erythromycin and tetracycline had a chronic evolution of the lesions. There was no information for other patient. CONCLUSIONS: Actinomyces play an important role in the development of BRONJ and specific antibiotic treatment improves the prognosis of this process.