Management goals for type 1 Gaucher disease: An expert consensus document from the European working group on Gaucher disease.

Gaucher Disease type 1 (GD1) is a lysosomal disorder that affects many systems. Therapy improves the principal manifestations of the condition and, as a consequence, many patients show a modified phenotype which reflects manifestations of their disease that are refractory to treatment. More generally, it is increasingly recognised that information as to how a patient feels and functions [obtained by patient- reported outcome measurements (PROMs)] is critical to any comprehensive evaluation of treatment. A new set of management goals for GD1 in which both trends are reflected is needed. To this end, a modified Delphi procedure among 25 experts was performed. Based on a literature review and with input from patients, 65 potential goals were formulated as statements. Consensus was considered to be reached when ≥75% of the participants agreed to include that specific statement in the management goals. There was agreement on 42 statements. In addition to the traditional goals concerning haematological, visceral and bone manifestations, improvement in quality of life, fatigue and social participation, as well as early detection of long-term complications or associated diseases were included. When applying this set of goals in medical practice, the clinical status of the individual patient should be taken into account.

A case of motor neuron involvement in Gaucher disease.

Gaucher disease (GD) is a genetic disorder characterized by an accumulation of glucosylceramide in cells in the monocyte-macrophage system. We describe a case of a 33-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of type 3 GD who displayed a progressive weakening of the limbs followed by upper motor neuron involvement. A diagnosis of definite Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was made. This is the first reported case of concurrent Gaucher disease and the ALS phenotype in the same patient.

Differences in the proportions of fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-negative bacteria isolated from bacteraemic children with cancer in two Italian centres.

The proportion of ciprofloxacin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria isolated from the blood of children with cancer (not receiving prophylaxis) was 10% in a paediatric hospital (Genoa) where the use of quinolones was highly restricted, compared with 41% in a department of haematology (Rome) where leukaemic adults, who received fluoroquinolone prophylaxis, were also treated (p < 0.0001). Moreover, simultaneous resistance to ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime, amikacin or imipenem-cilastatin was 11% in Genoa compared with 37% in Rome (p < 0.001). Ciprofloxacin resistance was more frequent in children who shared an environment with adults who were receiving ciprofloxacin prophylaxis.

Adult Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: experience of treatments during a ten-year period.

Adult Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph1-positive ALL) represents about 30% of all adult ALL, and is considered a poor prognosis disease, since complete remission (CR), which can be achieved in 50-70% of cases, is usually short in patients treated with conventional chemotherapy. Presently bone marrow transplantation, performed early in first CR is becoming the treatment of choice, as it has shown to be able to cure some cases. In a ten-year period, at our department, among 108 adult ALL patients, in which cytogenetics was successfully carried out at diagnosis, 24 (22%) resulted Ph1-positive. Molecular biology was performed in 13 out of these 24 patients: 10 patients showed a p210 rearrangement and three p190. All patients have been treated at induction with conventional drugs, with a CR rate of 96%. As post-remission therapy, the first 17 cases (group 1) followed a chemotherapeutic program, like the other adult ALL; while the remaining six patients (group 2) have been enrolled in a pilot study including early BM transplantation. In group 1, the median overall duration of first CR is 7 months; 50% of relapses were recorded within the first 6 months, although in this group five patients exhibited a first CR prolonged more than 30 months. In group 2, among the six patients, three were submitted to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and three to autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Overall median duration of first CR is 13 months. Three patients relapsed, three are in continuous CR for 11, 31 and 32 months.

Serum interleukin-1 beta levels correlate with neoplastic bulk in hairy cell leukemia.

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) serum levels were evaluated in 24 hairy cell leukemia (HCL) patients. Of these, three patients were studied at the time of diagnosis, 12 in relapse after interferon (IFN) therapy, eight with a partial response after IFN and one with a complete response after 2-deoxycoformycin (DCF) therapy. Statistically significant differences were observed in the serum levels of IL-1 beta and sIL-2R between HCL patients and controls. These were 400.3 pg per 0.1 ml (range 23.2-990) and 64.3 pg per 0.1 ml (20-115) for IL-1 beta and 4667.2 U/ml (488-7800) and 424.3 U/ml (188-666) for sIL-2R, respectively. In contrast, IL-1 alpha measurements showed no statistical differences between the two groups. A significant increase of sIL-2R (p = 0.01) and IL-1 beta (p = 0.03) serum levels was observed in patients studied at the time of diagnosis or in relapse compared to those in partial or complete remission. IL-1 beta serum levels directly correlated with sIL-2R (p less than 0.0001) and with hairy cell (HC) bone marrow infiltration, expressed by the HC index (p = 0.003). The comparison of IL-1 beta serum levels of HCL patients with those detected among 149 patients grouped according to diagnosis (Hodgkin's disease = 17, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas = 57, acute non-lymphoid leukemia = 46, and acute lymphoid leukemia = 29) indicate that HCL patients showed the highest IL-1 beta serum level increase, indicating that IL-1 beta could be used as a specific clinical marker of this disease.

Therapeutic strategies for postremission treatment in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The AIEOP experience 1987-1991.

From 1987 to 1990, intensive postremission chemotherapy was compared to autologous bone marrow transplant in previously untreated children with AML who received identical induction therapy with two courses of Daunorubicin (DNR) and conventional dose ARA-C (protocol AIEOP LAM 87). Overall, 121 of the 155 eligible patients achieved complete remission (CR) (78%). Patients in CR who lacked HLA-MLC compatible donor were randomized to receive either autologous BMT (Auto-BMT) or further sequential postremission therapy. Patients with HLA-MLC compatible donor were assigned to allogeneic BMT (Allo-BMT). Projected 3-years disease free survival (DFS) are 58% for Allo-BMT group, 24% for Auto-BMT group, 26% for chemotherapy group and 30% for a group of not randomized patients (intention to treat analysis). On March 1990 a pilot study LAM 87M was initiated. Patients in CR after induction therapy (identical to the previous protocol) receive a single intensification course consisting of high dose ARA-C plus DNR. The study continues to accrue patients.

Acute myeloblastic leukemia with t(8;21) following Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A patient with Philadelphia positive (Ph'+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in remission for over 4 years, developed an acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), M2-type. During the second disease, the blast cells displayed a typical t(8;21)(q22;q22) translocation, in the absence of the Ph' chromosome. This is the first observation in the same patient of two leukemias displaying different cell phenotypes and each associated to one of the most characteristic chromosome changes. Cytogenetic characteristics and clinical aspects of the diseases are suggestive for the occurrence of two independent leukemic processes.

Vindesine in the treatment of refractory hematologic malignancies: a phase II study.

A phase II evaluation of vindesine (VDS) was carried out in 46 patients with hematologic malignancies refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Two VDS schedules were employed (at random): (A) a weekly bolus (5 mg/m2 i.v. X 4); (B) fractionated daily injections (0.5 mg/m2 i.v. q.12 h X 10, course to be repeated after 10-15 days). Complete and partial remissions were observed in acute lymphocytic leukemia (3/14 patients), acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (2/12 patients), chronic myelocytic leukemia in blastic crisis (4/12 patients) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (4/8 patients). Responses were seen with higher frequency in patients treated with the weekly bolus (42.8 vs 16%). Myelosuppression was the most relevant side effect in both schedules. Neurotoxicity occurred infrequently and was generally mild in degree. Further trials with VDS in combination with other drugs are recommended in hematologic malignancies.

BAVC regimen and autograft for acute myelogenous leukemia in second complete remission.

Since 1984 we have autografted a total of 60 patients with AML in second complete remission (CR) utilizing the BAVC (BCNU, amsacrine, vepesid, cytosine-arabinoside) conditioning regimen and unpurged marrow. Projected disease-free survival (DFS) probability in 42% at 10 years. Autografting was performed at a median interval of 2 months (range 1-13) from second CR. The median duration of first CR was 14 months (range 1-43) and lasted < or = 12 months in 27/60 patients. Three early deaths (5%) occurred, 30 patients relapsed after a median of 6 months from transplant (range 2-28) and, of the remaining 27 patients, 26 are in continuous CR (CCR) after a median follow up of 60 months (range 6-122), while the last patient committed suicide 7 years after ABMT when she was still in CCR. A first CR duration > 12 months is correlated with a significantly better overall survival probability (61 vs 25%, P = 0.02), while no factors influence DFS. Outcome of patients who relapsed after autografting has been analyzed separately; a longer overall survival after relapse is correlated with a longer duration of the second CR (62% at 34 months for patients who relapsed after > 12 months from the autograft vs 5% for the others, P = 0.001). These results confirm that AML patients autografted in second CR with BAVC regimen and unpurged marrow have the possibility of becoming long-term DFS and can therefore be cured.

Pre-transplant prognostic factors for patients with high-risk leukemia undergoing an unrelated cord blood transplantation.

From July 1995 to December 2001, 42 patients with leukemia aged 1-42 years underwent cord blood transplant (CBT) from unrelated, < or = 2 antigen HLA mismatched donors. In all, 26 patients were in < or = 2nd complete remission and 16 in more advanced phase. Conditioning regimens, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis and supportive policy were uniform for all patients. The cumulative incidence of engraftment was 90% (95% CI: 0.78-0.91). The cumulative incidence of III-IV grade acute- and chronic-GVHD was 9% (95% CI: 0.04-0.24) and 35% (95% CI: 0.21-0.60), respectively. The 4-year cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse was 28% (95% CI: 0.17-0.47) and 25% (95% CI: 0.14-0.45), respectively. The 4-year overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS) and event-free survival (EFS) were 45% (95% CI: 0.27-0.63), 47% (95% CI: 0.30-0.64) and 46% (95% CI: 0.30-0.62), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the most important factor affecting outcomes was the CFU-GM dose, associated with CMV serology (P=0.003 and 0.04, respectively) in influencing OS and with patient sex (P=0.008 and 0.03, respectively) in influencing LFS. Finally, CFU-GM dose was the only factor that affected EFS significantly (P=0.02). In conclusion, the infused cell dose expressed as in vitro progenitor cell growth is highly predictive of outcomes after an unrelated CBT and should be considered the main parameter in selecting cord blood units for transplant.

Deoxycoformycin induces long-lasting remissions in hairy cell leukemia: clinical and biological results of two different regimens.

The use of alpha interferon (alpha IFN) and, more recently, of the purine analogues deoxycoformycin (dCF) and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) has dramatically improved the prognosis of patients affected by hairy cell leukemia (HCL). DCF has been shown to induce an higher and more durable response rate than IFN, with only moderate myelosuppression and relatively few side effects. In this paper, we report our experience with dCF in a series of 38 HCL patients who had progression of their disease after IFN therapy. Serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIl-2R) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha) levels were also evaluated before, both during and after treatment in order to monitor clinical response. Two schedules of treatment were employed: 23 patients were treated with the EORTC protocol and the following 15 with the NCI regimen. The overall response rate was 94.7%; no significant differences in response rates were observed between the two schedules. In respect to toxicity, we recorded nausea and in two cases a cutaneous rash. Four patients experienced localized herpes zoster and one had a fungal pneumonia. Median overall survival after therapy is 38.5 months, 55 percent of patients enrolled in the EORTC schedule and 77% of those who received the NCI program are currently in CCR at 3 years. Serum IL-1 beta and sIL-2R levels significantly decreased after treatment, while no significant changes in serum TNF alpha levels were observed. In our study, dCF was confirmed as an effective agent in HCL, inducing an high response rate with only moderate side effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Management of advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adults: results of the ALL R-87 protocol. AIEOP and GIMEMA Cooperative Groups.

Fifty-seven patients aged < 55 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in second or third bone marrow (BM) relapse or refractory to first-line therapy were enrolled in an Italian cooperative study. The ALL R-87 protocol included idarubicin (IDA) plus intermediate dose cytarabine (IDARA-C) and Prednisone (PDN) as induction, followed by a consolidation phase and BMT. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 41/57 patients (72%). The CR rate was significantly higher in patients aged < 15 years at diagnosis and at time of treatment compared to those aged > or = 15 (84% vs 50%, p=0.01 and 85% vs 54%, p = 0.02, respectively). Nineteen of 41 responders (46.3%) underwent bone marrow transplant (BMT) (10 autologous and 9 allogeneic). The estimated probabilities of event free survival (EFS +/- SE) and survival +/- SE at 6 years were 0.13 +/- 0.05 and 0.20 +/- 0.06, respectively, for all enrolled patients. Univariate analysis showed that children had a better EFS rate compared to adults (0.16 +/- 0.07 vs 0.08 +/- 0.07, p = 0.014). The estimated probability of disease free survival (DFS +/- SE) at 6 years was 0.18 +/- 0.07 for all responders. No differences in DFS were observed between patients submitted to allogeneic or autologous BMT (0.33 +/- 0.16 vs 0.25 +/- 0.15). Among patients treated in second or third relapse, a first CR length > or = 48 months favorably influenced both DFS (p = 0.014) and EFS (p = 0.018). Our results show the efficacy of the intermediate dose ARA-C plus IDA schedule for high risk adult and childhood ALL patients. No differences in disease outcome were observed between allogeneic and autologous BMT.

Non-invasive ventilation for severe TRALI and myocardial stunning: report and literature review.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a frequently under-diagnosed, although potentially fatal, condition that represents a leading cause of transfusion-related morbidity and mortality even in pediatric patients. Its main clinical features are characterized by rapidly evolving respiratory distress, hypoxia, pulmonary edema, and bilateral infiltrates on chest radiograph during or within 6 h of transfusion. We present a case of severe TRALI associated with myocardial stunning that occurred in a 14-year-old girl, and review the existing literature of pediatric TRALI. Our report suggests a potential role for NIV in the management of TRALI as the best profile both in terms of safety and effectiveness for hematologic patients.

Movement and mood disorder in two brothers with Gaucher disease.

Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder with a wide spectrum of phenotypic presentations. We report the case histories of two adult brothers with GD who developed both parkinsonism and psychiatric symptoms. Direct sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to establish that the patients were homozygous for mutation L444P. While parkinsonism has been described previously in GD, these patients had atypical features, including a complicated mood disorder. The comorbidity of GD and a mood disorder is a new finding, as psychiatric manifestations of GD have been described rarely. The etiology of the mental illness could be related to the processes contributing to the development of parkinsonism.