Feasibility of Outpatient Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma and Risk Factors Predictive of Hospital Admission.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Although outpatient ASCT has been shown to be safe and feasible, the procedure is overall rare with most patients in the US undergoing inpatient ASCT. Furthermore, hospitalization rates for patients that undergo outpatient ASCT remain high. Adequate markers that predict hospitalization during outpatient ASCT are lacking, yet would be of great clinical value to select patients that are suited to outpatient ASCT. In this study we aimed to elucidate differences between planned outpatient and inpatient ASCT and further evaluated clinical characteristics that are significantly associated with hospitalization during planned outpatient hospitalization. Factors that were significantly associated with a planned inpatient ASCT included an advanced MM disease stage, worse performance status as well as non-Caucasian race, while low albumin levels and female gender were significantly associated with hospitalization during outpatient ASCT. The results of this analysis provide crucial knowledge of factors that are associated with planned inpatient ASCT and hospitalization during outpatient ASCT and could guide the treating physician in decision-making and further facilitate outpatient transplantation.

Predicting risk of progression in relapsed multiple myeloma using traditional risk models, focal lesion assessment with PET-CT and minimal residual disease status.

Not available.

Salvage Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Daratumumab-Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Daratumumab, a CD38-targeting monoclonal antibody, has significantly improved survival rates in multiple myeloma (MM), yet patients who progress on Daratumumab have dismal clinical outcomes with an overall median of less than 10 months. While emerging novel modalities have shown promising results, the current study explores the use of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in heavily pretreated Daratumumab-refractory MM patients. We retrospectively investigated the outcome of 69 consecutive patients who received upfront ASCT. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire patient cohort was 7.2 months with a median overall survival (OS) of 19.3 months. For patients with ≥very good partial response (VGPR), median PFS and OS improved to 9 months and 34 months, respectively. Achievement of MRD negativity in ≥VGPR did not further improve the outcome. A better performance status, younger age, longer time interval from initial MM diagnosis/initial ASCT to salvage ASCT and low-risk GEP70 were all associated with improved PFS and OS after salvage ASCT. Our results suggest a role for salvage ASCT in selected heavily pretreated and Daratumumab-refractory patients.

Ehrlichia-induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after autologous stem cell transplant.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) causes multiorgan failure due to the release of multiple cytokines mediating widespread inflammation. We present a patient with multiple myeloma on maintenance chemotherapy with the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) who developed fatal HLH secondary to Ehrlichiosis.

Stroke and a valvular lesion in a patient with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

The mechanism and severity of stroke varies in the setting of malignancy. We report a case of a 68-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma, who experienced acute neurological symptoms. Imaging studies showed multiple acute ischaemic infarcts in cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Further work up was consistent with non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). We highlight, through a review of the literature, the importance of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in defining the above diagnosis. The treatment of NBTE consists of systemic anticoagulation and therapy of the underlying malignancy. Enoxaparin is preferred over warfarin to achieve this goal. He received systemic targeted therapy with erlotinib. A TOE performed 8 months later showed complete resolution of the vegetation.

[Plummer-Vinson syndrome: report of a case and review of literature]. / Síndrome de Plummer-Vinson: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura.

A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with an eight-month history of dyspnea on exertion, weakness and increasing fatigue. She reported repeated episodes of menometrorrhagia and underwent a myomectomy. She is not a vegetarian. Her menstrual bleeding: 3-5 days per month. Two months ago, she complained of burning sensation of the tongue upon swallowing food and noted brittle nails. She tolerated soft foods. On physical examination, she was pale; her nails were very thin, fragile and somewhat concave. Her oral examination showed angular stomatitis, depapillated tongue and glossitis. The clinical diagnosis was anemia and dysphagia. Laboratory tests were: Hb: 7.0g/dL, MCV: 57.42fL, MCH: 15.82 pg; leukocytes: 4,980; reticulocytes: 2.18%, reticulocyte index: 0.1%, serum iron: 21ug/dl, total iron binding capacity (TIBC): 286, transferrin saturation: 7% and serum ferritin: 27ng/ml. The peripheral blood smear showed anisocytosis and hypochromic microcytic cells. Thevenon test was negative. Abdominal ultrasound: uterine myoma. A barium swallow X-ray showed a 2-mm linear filling defect between the 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae in the anteroposterior and lateral view; it protruded from the anterior wall and reduced esophageal lumen by 60%. In the endoscopy, we found a fibrous web in the cricopharyngeal area. Serial dilatations were performed over a guidewire using Savary-Gilliard dilators with diameter up to 14 mm, improving dysphagia. She was treated with transfusional therapy and parenteral iron. She was discharged with ferrous sulfate and folic acid. The Plummer-Vinson syndrome, Paterson-Brown-Kelly or sideropenic dysphagia is characterized by dysphagia, irondeficiency anemia and upper esophageal web. The syndrome is described as very rare.

Síndrome de Plummer-Vinson: reporte de caso y revisión de literatura / Plummer-Vinson Syndrome: case report and review of literature

Presentamos a una mujer de 39 años que acude a nuestro hospital por disnea de esfuerzo, adinamia y cansancio progresivo desde hace 8 meses. Antecedente quirúrgico de miomectomia por menometrorragias frecuentes. Niega ser vegetariana. Régimen catamenial: 3-5 días cada mes. Hace 2 meses se añade ôardorõ en lengua al comer. Nota uñas quebradizas. Toleraba alimentos blandos. Al examen físico había moderada palidez; las uñas eran muy delgadas, frágiles y algo cóncavas. En la boca se encontró estomatitis angular, lengua depapilada y glositis. El diagnóstico clínico era síndrome anémico y disfagia. Exámenes auxiliares: Hb: 7.0g/dL; VCM: 57.42fL; HCM: 15.82pg; leucocitos: 4,980; reticulocitos: 2.18%, índice reticulocitario: 0.1%, hierro sérico: 21ug/dl, transferrina (TIBC): 286, saturación de transferrina: 7%, ferritina sérica: 27ng/ml. La lámina periférica demostró anisocitosis, hipocromía y microcitosis. Thevenon en heces negativo. Ecografía abdominal: mioma uterino. La radiografía esofágica con bario demostró una imagen lineal por defecto de relleno de 2 mm a altura entre vértebras C4 y C5 en vista anteroposterior y lateral; se extendía a cara anterior y reducía la luz esofágica en 60%. Durante la endoscopía, evidenciamos una membrana fibrosa estenosante en la región cricofaríngea. Multiples dilataciones fueron realizadas progresivamente mediante una guía con bujías dilatadoras Savary-Gilliard hasta 14 mm, mejorando la disfagia. Recibió terapia transfusional y hierro parenteral. Salió de alta con sulfato ferroso y ácido fólico. El síndrome de Plummer-Vinson, Paterson-Brown-Kelly o disfagia sideropénica es definido por disfagia, anemia ferropénica y membrana esofágica alta. El síndrome es descrito como muy raro.

A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with an eight-month history of dyspnea on exertion, weakness and increasing fatigue. She reported repeated episodes of menome trorrhsgis snd underwent a myomectomy. She is not a vegetarian. Her menstrual bleeding: 3-5 days per month. Two months ago, she complained of burning sensation of the tonge upon swallowing food and noted brittle nails. She tolerated soft foods. On physical examination, she was pale; her nails were very thin, fragile and somewhat concave. Her oral examination showed angular stomatitis, depapillated togue and glossitis. The clinical diagnosis was anemia and dysphagia. Laboratory tests were: Hb: 7.0g/dL, MCV: 57.42fL, MCH: 15.82 pg; leukocytes:4,980; reticulocytes:2.18%, reticulocyte index:0.1%, serum iron:21ug/dl, total iron binding capacity (TIBC):286, transferrin saturation: 7% and serum ferritin: 27ng/ml. The peripheral blood smear showed anisocytosis and hypochromic microcytic cells. Thevenon test was negative. Abdominal ultrasound: uterine myoma. A barium swallow X-ray showed a 2-mm linear filling defect between the 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae in the anteroposterior and lateral view; it protruded from the anterior wall and reduced esophageal lumen by 60%. In the endoscopy, we found a fibrous web in the cricopharyngeal area. Serial dilatations were performed over a guidewire using Savary-Gilliard dilators with diameter up to 14 mm, improving dysphagia. She was treated with transfusional therapy and parenteral iron. She was discharged with ferrous sulfate and folic acid. The Plummer-Vinson syndrome, Paterson-Brown-Kelly or sideropenic dysphagia is characterized by dysphagia, iron-deficiency anemia and upper esophaegal web. The syndrome is described as very rare.