Cytogenetic Abnormalities in Multiple Myeloma: Incidence, Prognostic Significance, and Geographic Heterogeneity in Indian and Western Populations.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically complex and heterogeneous neoplasm in which cytogenetics is a major factor playing an important role in the risk stratification of disease. High-risk MM based upon cytogenetic classification includes primary IGH translocations t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), and secondary progressive aberrations such as gain/amp(1q), 1p deletion, del(17p), and hypodiploidy. Several studies have proved that interphase FISH can detect primary as well as secondary cryptic aberrations very efficiently in lowest 5-10% abnormal plasma cell population. The present large-scale study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities, to analyse the correlation of conventional karyotyping with FISH, and to seek the geographic heterogeneity in the incidence of primary as well as secondary aberrations in our Indian versus Western populations. We conducted prospective studies of 1,104 patients consecutively referred from the primary, secondary, and tertiary oncology centres from all over India. Interphase FISH was performed on isolated plasma cells. Karyotype analysis was done as per ISCN 2016 and 2020. FISH could detect cytogenetic abnormalities in 67.6% of the cases with an incidence of 59% non-hyperdiploidy. The incidence of IGH translocation was 26% versus literature frequency of 40-50% which was mainly due to a low incidence (6%) of t(11;14) in contrast to 15-20% in other series. Additionally, the association of secondary progressive aberrations in the hyperdiploid group rather than the non-hyperdiploid group in our patients is not a common finding. A biallelic inactivation of TP53 as an ultra-high risk factor was detected in old-aged patients. These observations disclose the novel findings and strongly indicate the racial disparity which leads to geographic heterogeneity. In contrast to FISH, conventional karyotyping could detect MM-related aberrations in 50% of cases, of which 44% revealed highly complex karyotypes with common aberrations of chromosome 1q. Overall, FISH was found to be a novel, easy approach with high success rate and capability of detection of all cytogenetic abnormalities that add valid information for the risk stratification of disease. This, in future, in combination with mutation profile and gene expression profile will help in further refinement of disease and identification of actionable targets.

Multiple Heritable and Acquired Risk Factors in a Case of Recurrent Retinal Vein Occlusion.

A 40 year old female presented with branch retinal vein occlusion in the right eye followed by a second episode, a year later, of central retinal vein occlusion in the left eye. The patient was found to be heterozygous for factor V Leiden and factor V HR2 haplotype G5380A. She had a history of use of oral contraceptives, had reduced levels of tissue plasminogen activator, positive for lupus anticoagulant and diagnosed with hypertension post second episode of RVO. Presence of both heritable and acquired thrombophilia along with hypofibrinolysis induced by reduced levels of tissue plasminogen activator might have led to the recurrence of retinal vein occlusion in this patient. This case illustrates the contribution of multiple hereditary and acquired risk factors in the clinical manifestation of recurrent retinal vein occlusion thereby warranting the application of a more thorough work-up in such cases. The case also briefly touches on the fact that treatment for every RVO cannot be the same and should be decided by taking into consideration the associated risk factors.

Investigation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G promoter polymorphism in Indian venous thrombosis patients: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The role of PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism in venous thrombosis has been contradictory. PAI-1 4G/4G genotype is associated with elevated levels of PAI-1 resulting in a hypofibrinolytic state and a higher thrombotic risk. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the distribution of genotypes and frequency of alleles of the 4G/5G polymorphism of PAI-1 gene in Indian patients with different types of venous thrombosis was investigated for its role in development of thrombosis. METHOD: A total of 87 portal vein thrombosis (PVT), 71 Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), 156 cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT), and 163 deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients were studied alongside 251 healthy controls for the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism by allele-specific PCR. RESULTS: Frequency of 4G/4G genotype was higher in all groups in comparison with controls. 4G/4G was associated with PVT risk (OR=2.51, 95% CI=1.29-4.96, P=.0075), BCS risk (OR=5.98, 95% CI=2.68-13.42, P<.0001), and DVT risk (OR=1.75, 95% CI=0.98-3.02, P=.0225). This is the first case-control study from India establishing PAI-1 4G/4G as a strong risk factor for abdominal thrombosis (PVT and BCS). Statistically significant association was not found between 4G/4G genotype and CVT risk. CONCLUSION: PAI-1 4G/4G is a strong risk factor for venous thrombosis in Indian patients and should be included in laboratory testing panel of thrombophilia.

Dysfunctional fibrinolysis and cerebral venous thrombosis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon neurological disease with high morbidity and mortality. Even after extensive thrombophilia screening, majority of the thrombosis cases remain with unknown etiology. Hypofibrinolysis due to acquired or congenital deficiencies or abnormalities in factors in the fibrinolytic cascade is a known cause of thrombosis at any site. In the present study 104 cases of radiologically confirmed CVT cases were investigated for the conventional thrombophilia along with factors in the fibrinolytic cascade to find a possible etiology for the clinical manifestation. Conventional thrombophilia markers which included PC, PS, AT and FVL mutation were detected in 16.3% of the patients. Approximately 19% cases had grossly elevated plasma PAI-1 levels. PAI-1 4G/4G genotype was found to be strongly associated with high PAI-1 levels. 2.9% cases had reduced tPA levels, 1.9% had plasminogen deficiency and 1.9% cases had increased alpha-2-antiplasmin levels. Along with conventional thrombophilia, dysfunctional fibrinolysis is found to be strongly associated with CVT. Understanding the role of risk factors is important for appropriate treatment of this serious disorder.