Brentuximab vedotin and ESHAP is highly effective as second-line therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma patients (long-term results of a trial by the Spanish GELTAMO Group).

BACKGROUND: In this work, we assessed the efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin (BV) plus ESHAP (BRESHAP) as second-line therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (RRHL) to improve the results before autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, phase I-II trial of patients with RRHL after first-line chemotherapy. Treatment had three 21-day cycles of etoposide, solumedrol, high-dose AraC, and cisplatin. BV was administered at three dose levels (0.9, 1.2, and 1.8 mg/kg) intravenous on day ‒1 to 3 + 3 cohorts of patients. Final BV dose was 1.8 mg/kg. Responding patients proceeded to ASCT, followed by three BV courses (1.8 mg/kg, every 21 days). Main end points for evaluation were maximum tolerable dose and overall and complete response (CR) before ASCT. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were recruited (median age 36 years; range 18-66): 40 were primary refractory, 16 early relapse and 10 late relapse. There were 39 severe adverse events were reported in 22 patients, most frequently fever (n = 25, 35% neutropenic), including 3 deaths. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity presented in 28 cases: neutropenia (n = 21), thrombocytopenia (n = 14), and anemia (n = 7). Grade ≥3-4 extrahematological adverse events (≥5%) were non-neutropenic fever (n = 13) and hypomagnesaemia (n = 3). Sixty-four patients underwent stem-cell mobilization; all collected >2×10e6/kg CD34+ cells (median 5.75; range 2.12-33.4). Overall response before transplant was 91% (CI 84% to 98%), including 70% (CRs 95% CI 59% to 81%). 60 patients were transplanted with no failure engraftments. Post-transplant response was CR in 49 patients (82% CI 73% to 91%) and partial responses in six (10% CI 5% to 15%). After a mean follow-up of 27 months, the 30-month time to treatment to failure was 74% (95% CI 68% to 80%), progression-free survival 71% (95% CI 65% to 77%), and overall survival 91% (CI 84% to 98%). CONCLUSION: BRESHAP looks a safe and effective pre-transplant induction regimen, does not jeopardize transplant and allows long-term remissions and survival.

Lid wiper epitheliopathy in patients with blepharospasm and/or hemifacial spasm.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of wiper epitheliopathy in patients with blepharospasm and/or hemifacial spasm before and 4 weeks after routine treatment with botulinum toxin. METHODS: Prospective study comprising 31 eyes of 20 patients with neurological diagnosis of hemifacial spasm (9 eyes of 9 patients) and essential blepharospasm (22 eyes of 11 patients). Various ocular surface parameters were assessed before and 4 weeks after infiltration with botulinum toxin using the OSDI questionnaire, Schirmer's test, tear break-up time (BUT), fluorescein and lissamine green staining assessed with the Oxford test and the degree of involvement of the palpebral wiper. RESULTS: 100% of the patients had palpebral wiper involvement before (30% mild and 70% moderate) and after toxin treatment (100% mild). 75% of patients had mild-normal OSDI before treatment, after treatment it was 80%. The BUT was 7.2 ±â€¯0.2 sg before and 7.5 ±â€¯0.7 sg after treatment. Schirmer's test was 11.4 ±â€¯5.5 and 12.5 ±â€¯5.5 mm before and after treatment. The Oxford test was initially pathological in 69.3% of patients, after 4 weeks it was pathological in only 54%. CONCLUSION: Wiper epitheliopathy is present in 100% of patients with blepharospasm and/or hemifacial spasm. The main pathophysiological mechanism that triggers it in these patients is the increase in the coefficient of friction, as tear volume and stability are normal.

Effect of addition of rituximab to salvage chemotherapy on outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma relapsing after an autologous stem-cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: We have investigated if rituximab-based salvage regimens improve response rates and survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapsing after an autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed 82 patients with DLBCL who received salvage therapy for relapse or progression after ASCT. Patients were divided into two groups, according to whether rituximab-based salvage regimens were given (n = 42, 'R-' group) or not (n = 40, 'R+' group) after ASCT. RESULTS: Patients in the R+ group had better complete remission (CR) (55% versus 21.4%, P = 0.006) and overall response (OR) (75% versus 40.4%, P = 0.001) rates, and better 3-year event-free survival (EFS) (37% versus 9%, P = 0.002) and overall survival (OS) (50% versus 20%, P = 0.005) than patients in the R- group. Patients retreated with rituximab had better CR (42.9% versus 21.4%, P = 0.032) and OR (66.7% versus 40.4%, P = 0.019) rates, and better OS (36.2% versus 20% at 3 years, P = 0.05) and EFS (36.2% versus 9% at 3 years, P = 0.05) than patients who received chemotherapy alone at relapse after ASCT. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of rituximab to salvage chemotherapy improves response rates and EFS in patients with relapsed DLBCL after ASCT. These patients may benefit from rituximab retreatment, although larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

High resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography for differential diagnosis between corneo-conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia and pterygium. / Tomografía de coherencia óptica de segmento anterior de alta resolución como método de diagnóstico diferencial entre neoplasia intraepitelial córneo-conjuntival y pterygium.

OBJECTIVE: To assess if anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is a noninvasive diagnostic method suitable to differentiate benign corneo-conjunctival lesions (pterygium) from premalignant lesions (corneo-conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 eyes with conjunctival lesions clinically suspicious for pterygium and CIN during two years. Morphological differences between both lesions were studied with AS-OCT; epithelial thicknesses (EE) and extension length on corneal surface (GIC) were compared between both groups. A surgical excision of the lesion was performed for histopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: Mean age of patients with pterygium (n=18) was 52.67±15 y.o and 74±12 y.o in subjects with CIN (n=4) (p<0.021). In pterygia, AS-OCT showed typical features (normal, thinning or slightly thickened EE; 77.4±26µm), in addition to an increase in wedge-shaped subepithelial tissue. Patients with CIN had a mean thickened EE (262.5±124µm) and strongly hyperreflective, with abrupt transition between normal and pathological epithelium. Analysis of EE between subjects with pterygium and CIN revealed statistically significant differences (p<0.002). ROC curve revealed a 100% sensitivity and specificity of OCT-SA in differentiation between CIN and pterygium, using 141µm as cutoff point of EE. CONCLUSION: AS-OCT is a useful tool for the differentiation between pterygium and CIN able to provide typical morphological characteristics. An EE greater than 141µm in AS-OCT suggests a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for the diagnosis of CIN.

Primary conjunctival amyloidosis and allergic conjunctivitis. / Amiloidosis conjuntival primaria y conjuntivitis alérgica.

Primary conjunctival amyloidosis is a rare disease of unknown origin, secondary to the deposit of amyloid material within the conjunctiva itself, producing a tumour. In the case presented, the concurrence of allergic conjunctivitis and chronic eye scratching could be triggers of the excessive production of immunoglobulins. The deposit of insoluble immunoglobulin light chains located within the conjunctiva itself causes this conjunctival mass.

Morphology of the Meibomian gland evaluated using meibography in patients with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. / Morfología de las glándulas de Meibomio valorada por meibografía en pacientes con displasia ectodérmica hipohidrótica.

INTRODUCTION: Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare disease that results from the abnormal development of the ectodermal germ layer in early embryogenesis. In these patients, hypoplasia of Meibomian glands is one of the most frequent ophthalmological manifestations. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of meibography for the morphology of Meibomian glands in a group of patients with HED, and to compare it with a control group. METHODS: A total of 14 eyes of 7 patients diagnosed with HED were included, and 32 eyes of 16 patients were included as a control group. The meibographic study was carried out using CA-800 Corneal Analyser (Topcon®). Grading of images was assessed by a meibomian gland atrophy score: grade 0, no alterations; grade 1, ≤25% gland atrophy; grade 2, 25% to 50% gland atrophy; grade 3, 51% to 75% gland atrophy; and grade 4 >75% gland atrophy. Both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test. RESULTS: All patients with HED showed some degree of gland atrophy, with 57% showing severe atrophy (>75% of gland atrophy), 35.8% with a grade 3, and 7.2% grade 2. The mean grade of glandular atrophy in HED was 3 (1-4). In the control group, 62.5% had no involvement (grade 0), with 28.1% showing grade 1 and 9.4% grade 2 gland atrophy. The mean glandular atrophy grade within the control group was 0 (0-2). There were statistically significant differences between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Meibography is a simple diagnostic tool that allows to differentiate between patients without disease and those with HED.

Primary lymphocytic lymphoma of lacrimal gland. / Linfoma linfocítico primario de glándula lagrimal.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of primary small-cell lymphocytic lacrimal gland lymphoma in a male diagnosed with primary antiphospholipid syndrome. These rare lymphomas are usually presented in the clinic as disseminations secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and the primary site is rare in the orbit. DISCUSSION: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of tumours. Although treatment in the IE stage is usually radiotherapy, due to its association with antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic treatment with rituximab was administered.

Toxicity and efficacy of busulfan and fludarabine myeloablative conditioning for HLA-identical sibling allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in AML and MDS.

The safety and efficacy of a 4-day myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimen consisting of Bu 3.2 mg/kg and fludarabine 40 mg/m(2)/day for HLA-identical sibling allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in myeloid malignancies was investigated in 133 patients (median age, 47 years; range 19-74 years) with de novo AML (60%), secondary AML (20%) or myelodysplastic syndrome (20%). All patients engrafted. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease occurred in five patients (4%), and severe toxicities, mostly mucositis, occurred in twenty-three (17%) patients. The non-relapse mortality (NRM) at 100 days was 1.5%. The incidences of acute GVHD grade 2-4 and grade 3-4 were 32 and 13%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 38 months, the cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 67%. The relapse incidence was 30% (27 and 31%, respectively, in patients with early- and late-stage disease), and the overall NRM was 15%. The actuarial 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 54 and 62%, respectively. Patients aged <50 years had better outcomes compared with older patients (DFS 64 vs 42%, P=0.006; OS 73 vs 47%, P<0.001, respectively).

Prognostic value of immunophenotypic detection of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE: The identification of immunophenotypic aberrancies through multiparametric flow cytometry makes the differentiation between normal and leukemic cells relatively simple and quick, and is therefore an attractive method for the investigation of minimal residual disease (MRD). In this report, we have analyzed the impact on relapse and relapse-free survival (RFS) of detecting immunophenotypical aberrant cells in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in cytomorphologic complete remission (CR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred eleven bone marrow (BM) samples from 53 consecutive ALL (37 precursor B-ALL and 16 T-ALL) patients were analyzed. The only selection criteria were to have at least one aberrant immunophenotypic feature at diagosis and to have achieved cytomorphologic CR after induction therapy. For MRD detection, all follow-up samples were analyzed with triple labelings using a two-step acquisition procedure, in which 106 cells were screened for the possible persistence of residual leukemic cells with the same phenotypic aberrancy as that identified diagnosis. RESULTS: Patients who displayed a gradual increase in MRD levels showed a higher relapse rate (90% v22%; P < .00001) and shorter median RFS (12 months v not reached; P < .0001) than those with stable or decreasing MRD levels. This adverse prognostic influence also was observed when children and adults, as well as B-ALL and T-ALL patients, were analyzed separately. An MRD level > or = or greater than 10(-3) discriminated two risk groups of ALL patients with significantly different relapse rates and RFS at all treatment phases (end of induction, consolidation, maintenance, and out of treatment). CONCLUSION: Multiparametric flow cytometry of MRD in ALL patients is a valuable tool for relapse prediction and for the identification of a cohort of patients with very poor prognosis.

Autologous stem-cell transplantation for Hodgkin's disease: results and prognostic factors in 494 patients from the Grupo Español de Linfomas/Transplante Autólogo de Médula Osea Spanish Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE: To analyze clinical outcome and significant prognostic factors for overall (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) in a group of 494 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) undergoing autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Detailed records from the Grupo Español de Linfomas/Transplante Autólogo de Médula Osea Spanish Cooperative Group Database on 494 HD patients who received an ASCT between January 1984 and May 1998 were reviewed. Two hundred ninety-eight males and 196 females with a median age of 27 years (range, 1 to 63 years) received autografts while in complete remission (n = 203) or when they had sensitive disease (n = 206) or resistant disease (n = 75) at a median time of 26 months (range, 4 to 259 months) after diagnosis. Most patients received high-dose chemotherapy without radiation for conditioning (n = 443). The graft consisted of bone marrow (n = 244) or peripheral blood (n = 250). RESULTS: The 100-day mortality rate was 9%. The 5-year actuarial TTF and OS rates were 45.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.5% to 50.5%) and 54.5% (95% CI, 48.4% to 60.6%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the presence of active disease at transplantation, transplantation before 1992, and two or more lines of therapy before transplantation were adverse prognostic factors for outcome. Sixteen patients developed a secondary malignancy (5-year cumulative incidence of 4.3%) after transplantation. Adjuvant radiotherapy before transplantation, the use of total-body irradiation (TBI) in the conditioning regimen, and age > or = 40 years were found to be predictive factors for the development of second cancers after ASCT. CONCLUSION: ASCT achieves long-term disease-free survival in HD patients. Disease status before ASCT is the most important prognostic factor for final outcome; thus, transplantation should be considered in early stages of the disease. TBI must be avoided in the conditioning regimen because of a significantly higher rate of late complications, including secondary malignancies.

CD34 + cell dose and outcome of patients undergoing reduced-intensity-conditioning allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

While in bone marrow allogeneic transplantation the infusion of high doses of progenitor stem cells has a favourable impact on outcome, due to a faster hematopoietic and immune recovery, in the peripheral blood allo-setting the infusion of a high number of CD34 cells increases the risk of extensive chronic graft vs. host disease (cGVHD). This higher incidence of extensive cGVHD has an adverse impact on outcome due to a higher transplant related mortality, specially among patients receiving T-cell depleted allogeneic transplantation with myeloablative conditioning. By contrast, patients undergoing reduced intensity conditioning regimen may benefit from increasing higher CD34 + cell doses, especially those categorized as high risk according to disease status at transplant. Thus, the source of progenitors cells, type of conditioning and GVHD prophylaxis, among other factors, may influence the effect of the progenitor cell dose on outcome after allogeneic transplant.

Concomitant chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia. Complete remission of CLL achieved with high-dose cytosine arabinoside.

The concomitant presentation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rare with so far only eleven cases reported. In addition, the achievement of complete remission (CR) in CLL is exceptional and generally not assessed by immunophenotypical investigations. We report a case with a simultaneous occurrence of AML and CLL in which, in addition to the complete remission of AML, an eradication of the CLL clone was obtained following high-dose cytosine arabinoside. The immunophenotypic investigation of minimal residual disease showed that less than 1 x 10(-3) CD19+/CD5+ B-cells remained in bone marrow.

The detection of contaminating clonal cells in apheresis products is related to response and outcome in multiple myeloma undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

In the present paper, we report on the use of the heteroduplex PCR technique to detect the presence of clonally rearranged VDJ segments of the heavy chain immunoglobulin gene (VDJH) in the apheresis products of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell (APBSC) transplantation. Twenty-three out of 31 MM patients undergoing APBSC transplantation with VDJH segments clonally rearranged detected at diagnosis were included in the study. Samples of the apheresis products were PCR amplified using JH and VH (FRIII and FRII) consensus primers and subsequently analyzed with the heteroduplex technique, and compared with those obtained at diagnosis. 52% of cases yielded positive results (presence of clonally rearranged VDJH segments in at least one apheresis). The presence of positive results in the apheresis products was not related to any pretransplant characteristics with the exception of response status at transplant. Thus, while no one patient with positive apheresis products was in complete remission (CR), negative immunofixation, before the transplant, five cases (46%) with negative apheresis were already in CR at transplant (P = 0.01). The remaining six cases with heteroduplex PCR negative apheresis were in partial remission before transplant. Patients with clonally free products were more likely to obtain CR following transplant (64% vs 17%, P= 0.02) and a longer progression-free survival, (40 months in patients transplanted with polyclonal products vs 20 with monoclonal ones, P = 0.03). These results were consistent when the overall survival was considered, since it was better in those patients with negative apheresis than it was in those with positive (83% vs 36% at 5 years from diagnosis, P= 0.01). These findings indicate that the presence of clonality rearranged VDJH segments is related to the response and outcome in MM transplanted patients.

Expression of NK and lymphoid-associated antigens in blast cells of acute myeloblastic leukemia.

In the present study, the expression of two NK-associated antigens (CD56 and CD16) together with six 'classically' considered lymphoid-related markers (TDT,CD19,CD10,CD7,CD2,CD4) has been analyzed by appropriate dual combinations in 265 acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients. Among the lymphoid markers, CD4 and CD7 were those most frequently expressed by AML blast cells (58% and 21.6%, respectively) while the incidence of positivity for the other markers was lower: CD19 (7.8%), CD10 (10.9%), CD2 (11.4%), and TDT (11.3%). Regarding NK-associated antigens, CD56 was present in 41% of AML cases analyzed whereas CD16 was detected in only 23%. All but one of the CD16+ cases coexpressed the CD56 antigen. The expression of these antigens was not associated with the degree of cell differentiation assessed either by morphological or immunophenotypical criteria, with the exception of the correlation observed between monocytic leukaemias and the expression of the CD4, CD56, and CD16 antigens. Regarding the prognostic value of the markers investigated, CD56 expression was associated with a tendency for a better outcome whereas CD7 was the only antigen that had an adverse influence on the survival of AML patients.

Effect of cumulative etoposide doses on the outcome of autologous peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplantation for lymphoma.

Studies evaluating the effects of previous chemotherapy on stem-cell yield and hematological recovery after autologous peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplantation (PBPCT) have shown conflicting results. We have retrospectively analyzed 103 consecutive lymphoma patients treated with the BEAM regimen and autologous PBPCT. The impact of the different chemotherapeutic drugs (cumulative doses) on stem-cell yield and transplant-related toxicity was investigated. Highly significant differences in platelet recovery (>20 x 10(9)/l) were observed between patients receiving less or more than 750 mg/m(2) of etoposide before transplant (15 vs 29 days, P=0.001), and between patients receiving less or more than 1.2 x 10(6)/kg CD34(+) cells (27 vs 14 days, P<0.001). Differences in neutrophil engraftment between groups were not clinically significant. Pre-transplant cumulative doses of etoposide >750 mg/m(2) were associated with low CD34(+) cell collections on multivariate analysis. The actuarial incidence of transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 14% at 5 years. Pre-transplant cumulative doses of etoposide >350 mg/m(2) and previous administration of procarbazine were found to be independent prognostic factors for TRM.

Results of autologous transplantation in lymphoma are not improved by increasing the dose of etoposide in the BEAM regimen: a single-centre sequential-cohort study.

We have undertaken a retrospective sequential-cohort analysis of 131 lymphoma patients treated with the BEAM regimen and autologous stem cell transplantation, to compare BEAM at standard doses (sBEAM; n = 67 from May 1990 to April 1995) and BEAM with escalated etoposide dose from 800 to 1600 mg/m(2) (eBEAM; n = 64 from May 1995 to June 1999). Transplant-related mortality and incidence of secondary malignancies were similar in both groups. Disease progression was significantly lower in indolent lymphoma (IL) patients receiving eBEAM (7 vs 43%), although survival was comparable due to a higher toxic mortality in the eBEAM group. The 5-year event-free survival and overall survival were better in Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients treated with eBEAM (70 and 77%, respectively) compared to sBEAM (58 and 69%, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant. In aggressive lymphomas, no difference was detected between groups. Our results indicate that while escalation of the etoposide doses in the BEAM conditioning regimen does not appear to improve outcome, encouraging results in IL and HD may warrant further studies.

Histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis: a rare late complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis (HCP) is the name given to the hemophagocytic syndrome when subcutaneous fat is involved. Histologically, it is characterized by phagocytosis of blood elements by histiocytes that appear to be benign. We report this rare skin disease in a 46-year-old patient that occurred 32 months after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. This skin disease could be a manifestation of graft-versus-host disease, although the connection remains speculative.

Factors that influence long-term hematopoietic function following autologous stem cell transplantation.

The aim of the present study was to assess which factors influence hematopoietic function long term after transplantation. For this purpose, we have analyzed a series of 79 patients who underwent autologous transplantation. None of them received any further chemotherapy or radiotherapy after transplant. All patients were disease-free 1 year after autologous transplantation. Late impairment of hematopoietic function was defined as the presence of non-transient peripheral blood cytopenias, detected 6 and 12 months after autografting. Before transplantation, 38.7% of patients showed peripheral blood cytopenias. Six and 12 months after transplantation, cytopenias presented in 44.2% and 42.4% of patients, respectively. Cases displaying cytopenias 6 months after transplantation had received a significantly lower dose of CFU-GM and CD34+ cells than patients without cytopenias (P = 0.012 and P = 0.04, respectively). The same correlation, with even higher statistical significance, was observed 12 months after transplant (P = 0.007 and P = 0.005). Alkylating agents and radiotherapy administered prior to transplantation and age did not seem to influence the presence of permanent cytopenias. The incidence did not vary significantly according to the stem cell source (bone marrow or peripheral blood). The number of CFU-GM and CD34+ cells infused was the most important factor for maintenance of adequate hematopoiesis.

Diagnosis of secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) following autologous transplantation should not be based only on morphological criteria used for diagnosis of de novo MDS.

Secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are increasingly being reported after autologous transplantation. Transient dysplastic changes have also been observed after this type of treatment. However, to the best of our knowledge no systematic morphological analysis has been performed to determine the influence of stem cell transplantation on bone marrow morphology. In 53 patients undergoing autologous transplantation, we evaluated the bone marrow, before and 6 and 12 months after the transplant, in order to analyze the appearance of dyshemopoietic changes, assessed according to a pre-established score. We also studied 25 bone marrow samples obtained at the time of diagnosis, prior to treatment, but we did not find morphological atypia. Six months after transplant, cellularity and thrombopoiesis had decreased in 38% and 49% of patients respectively, although 1 year after the process they were normal in most cases. Myelodysplasia was already present in bone marrow before transplantation and continued to be in evidence for a long time afterwards. This suggests that chemotherapy and radiotherapy used prior to transplantation are responsible for dysplastic changes. The myeloid line was the most affected with 100% of patients showing dysgranulopoiesis 1 year after autografting. Cytopenias were observed in 51% and 44% of patients 6 and 12 months after transplantation. Moreover, concomitant presence of cytopenia and myelodysplasia was observed in 37.7% of patients at 6 months after transplantation and 25% at 12 months, and therefore they could be diagnosed with MDS. These data contrast with the incidence of secondary MDS reported in earlier publications. According to these findings, the value of the French-American-British Co-operative Group criteria for the diagnosis of MDS following autologous transplantation is questionable. Moreover, since dyshemopoietic features are almost always present after autologous transplant, morphological criteria are not useful for early recognition of patients with secondary MDS after transplantation.