Cisplatin as a Viable and Secure Alternative to Carmustine in BEAM-Based Conditioning for Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is a standard treatment for relapsed/refractory lymphoma patients. Yet, the widespread use of BEAM is hindered by carmustine accessibility. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of PEAM (Cisplatin, Etoposide, Cytarabine, and Melphalan) versus BEAM in auto-HSCT for Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of adult lymphoma patients who received PEAM or BEAM pretransplant conditioning between January 2004 to December 2022, comparing efficacy and safety outcomes. RESULTS: Among 143 patients (median age of 33 years, 58% males), 55 had HL, and 88 had NHL. The overall response rate (ORR) was 86.7% for PEAM and 72.3% for BEAM, and the relapse rate (RR) was lower for PEAM than BEAM (22.9% vs 45.6%). Median time to relapse (TTR) and overall survival (OS) were not reached for either group. PEAM exhibited a shorter time to both neutrophil (NE) and platelet (PE) engraftment compared to BEAM (10 vs 12 days), with a more tolerable gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity profile. CONCLUSIONS: Both BEAM and PEAM showed similar outcomes, demonstrating comparable efficacy in terms of ORR, TTR, and OS for both HL and NHL patients. However, PEAM-conditioning was associated with a shorter time to engraftment and fewer GI adverse events.

Infectious Complications and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Patients With Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the First 12 Months After Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been used as treatment in different hematologic and solid malignancies. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of infectious complications, microbiology, and outcome in patients undergoing HSCT in Mexico during the pre-engraftment period and the impact on mortality rates at 12 months. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all hematologic malignancies that received HSCT from January 2009 and December 2014, at an oncology reference center. RESULTS: We included 210 patients: 144 autologous (69%) and 66 allogeneic HSCT (31%). There were 184 infections documented in 109 patients; incidence rate was 47.2 per 1000 neutropenia/days and 22.4 per 1000 hospitalization/days. The main infections reported were pneumonia (n = 40, 19%), bloodstream infections (n = 36, 17.1%), and central line-associated bloodstream infections (n = 28, 13.3%). There were 110 bacteria isolated, 31 were multidrug-resistant (26 were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; Escherichia coli). There were 25 disseminated or complicated viral infections and 20 invasive fungal diseases. Fourteen patients died in the first 30 days (all related to the infectious process). In multivariate analysis leukemia, more than 2 chemotherapy regimens before transplant and pneumonia were related to 12-month mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: Even though infectious processes are frequent in patients with HSCT, multidrug-resistant bacteria were not as frequent as supposed; however, when these microorganisms are involved, mortality rate is increased. It is important to be alert that patients with pneumonia have a significantly increased mortality risk in the first year.

Intervenciones psicológicas en cuidadores primarios de pacientes con trasplante de células hematopoyéticas: Revisión descriptiva / Psychological interventions on primary care healthcare providers of patients with hematopoietic cells transplantation: Descriptive revision / Intervenções psicológicas em cuidadores primários de pacientes com transplante de células hematopoiéticas: Revisão descritiva

Resumen Introducción: El ser cuidador primario informal de un paciente con indicación médica de trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas puede tener consecuencias negativas en su salud mental y calidad de vida. Objetivo: Describir las intervenciones psicológicas disponibles para el cuidador primario de pacientes sometidos a trasplante de células hematopoyéticas. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda sistematizada de los últimos 10 años con los términos MeSH: psychotherapy AND caregive AND stem cell transplantation en las principales bases de datos médicas y de psicología, para su análisis se empleó la estrategia: Problema, Intervención, Comparación y Outcomes (PICO). Resultados: Se identificaron 122 artículos, de ellos diez cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Las intervenciones provenían de profesionales de enfermería o trabajo social; el 50% incluyó diadas (paciente y cuidador primario), mostraron una tendencia de duración corta, enfocada al periodo posterior al trasplante. Se basan en el entrenamiento en solución de problemas, manejo de estrés, atención plena y expresión emocional. Las intervenciones lograron la disminución de la depresión, ansiedad y estrés en el cuidador; pero no alcanzaron permanencia en la significancia estadística de dichos restablecimientos. Discusión: De acuerdo con lo observado en las publicaciones y por su impacto positivo en la salud mental, se recomienda la implementación de intervenciones psicológicas en cuidadores de pacientes con trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas. Conclusión: El apoyo psicológico brindado al cuidador generalmente es de profesionales de la salud que no pertenecen al área de la psicología, con resultados clínicos favorables en las etapas más críticas de su estado mental.

Abstract Introduction: Being an informal primary healthcare provider of a patient who undergoes hematopoietic progeny cells transplantation can have adverse consequences on mental health and the quality of life. Objective: To describe the available psychological interventions for the primary healthcare provider of patients undergoing hematopoietic cells transplantations. Methodology: A systematized search of the last 10 years using the MeSH terms psychotherapy AND caregiver AND stem cell transplantation was conducted on the main medical and psychological databases. The analysis strategy followed the PICO scheme (Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes). Results: 122 articles were identified, and 10 of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The interventions were related to nursing or social work professionals. 50% described patient-healthcare provider dyads with short interventions focused on the post-transplantation period. Discussion: According to what has been observed in the publications and due to its positive impact on mental health, the implementation of psychological interventions is recommended in caregivers of patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Conclusion: The psychological support provided to the caregiver comes mainly from health professionals who do not belong to the area of psychology, with favorable clinical results in the most critical periods for their mental state.

Resumo Introdução: Ser cuidador primário informal de um paciente sometido a transplante de células progenitoras hematopoiéticas pode ter consequências negativas na saúde mental e na qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Descrever as intervenções psicológicas disponíveis para o cuidador primário de pacientes sometidos a transplante de células hematopoiéticas. Metodologia: Realizou-se uma busca sistematizada dos últimos 10 anos com os termos MeSH: psychotherapy AND caregive AND stem cell transplantation nas principais bases de dados médicas e de psicologia, para sua análise realizou-se a estratégia: Problema, Intervenção, Comparação e Outcomes (PICO). Resultados: Identificaram-se 122 artigos, dos quais, dez cumpriram os critérios de inclusão. As intervenções provinham de profissionais em enfermagem ou trabalho social; o 50% incluiu díades (paciente e cuidador primário), mostraram uma tendência de duração curta, focalizada no período posterior ao transplante. Baseiam-se no treinamento em solução de problemas, manejo de estresse, atenção plena e expressão emocional. As intervenções conseguiram melhoras clínicas na diminuição da depressão, ansiedade e estresse no cuidador; mas não alcançaram permanência na significância estatística destes restabelecimentos. Discussão: Conforme o observado nas publicações e por seu impacto positivo na saúde mental, recomenda-se a implementação de intervenções psicológicas em cuidadores de pacientes para quem se indicou transplante de células progenitoras hematopoiéticas. Conclusão: O apoio psicológico oferecido ao cuidador vem de principalmente profissionais da saúde que não pertencem à área da psicologia, com resultados clínicos favoráveis nos períodos mais críticos para seu estado mental.