MACOP-B treatment in patients with Ki-1-positive large-cell anaplastic lymphoma.

Nine adult patients with Ki-1-positive large-cell anaplastic lymphoma were treated with MACOP-B. Two suffered from relapsed disease and had previously received chemotherapy; a third patient had received a single dose of 100 mg/m2 cisplatin before initiation of MACOP-B. The stage of lymphoma was determined according to the Ann Arbor Conference criteria and was II in one, III in two and IV in six patients. All patients had constitutional symptoms. Five patients had achieved complete remission 4 weeks after termination of the protocol and there were two partial remissions. One patient died of massive pulmonary embolism during the 4th week of treatment; another patient, who had received MACOP-B as salvage therapy, died of progressive lymphoma 1 month after completion of the regimen. Maximal observed toxicities according to WHO were mucositis grade 3 (n = 3) and there were three cases with thromboembolic complications, including a fatal pulmonary embolism in a young patient. However, MACOP-B appears an effective, fairly well-tolerated and feasible therapy for patients with Ki-1-positive large-cell anaplastic lymphoma.

[Experiences with acyclovir in herpes virus infections]. / Erfahrungen mit Acyclovir bei Herpesvirusinfektionen.

46 patients suffering from various malignancies (17 non Hodgkin lymphomas, 12 Hodgkin's diseases, 11 acute leukaemias, 4 myelomas, 2 carcinomas), 6 patients with haematological disorders such as ITP, SAA, myeloproliferative disease, LAS and 3 patients without preexisting disease were treated with acyclovir for herpes virus infection diagnosed by clinical means. All but 7 patients had been given intensive treatment with various cytostatic agents and/or irradiation. Most patients were treated with 1500 mg acyclovir daily for 5 to 13 days. Dosage was adjusted according to renal function and clinical response in the remaining 10 cases. 11 patients received intravenous immunoglobulins in addition. Side effects were negligible (local irritation, minimal rise in serum creatinine levels in 5 patients). All patients responded to treatment; 6 patients complained of severe neuralgia lasting for more than one month; 5 patients relapsed.

[Clinical effects of high-dose immunoglobulin therapy in adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. / Klinische Effekte hochdosierter Immunglobulintherapie bei Erwachsenen mit idiopathischer thrombozytopenischer Purpura (ITP).

15 patients suffering from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were treated in our department with high-dosage immunoglobulins. The daily dosage amounted to between 0.13 and 0.4 g/kg body weight, administered for 4 to 15 days consecutively. The platelet count in 10 patients increased within the first week of treatment, but this increase was maintained for more than 4 weeks in only 3 patients. The average age of these 10 patients amounted to 41.2 years and was significantly lower than that of the remaining 5 patients (66.6 years), who failed to respond. Only one of 4 splenectomized patients responded with an increase in platelet count. Two different immunoglobulin preparations were used. No difference in efficacy was found and both preparations were well tolerated.

[Erythropoietin in multiple myeloma]. / Erythropoietin beim multiplen Myelom.

In a 59-year-old man with multiple myeloma (kappa-light chain paraproteinaemia) in stage IIIB, bone marrow infiltration with atypical plasma cells was reduced by five cytostatic treatment courses with vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide and prednisone (VMCP protocol), but anaemia requiring blood transfusion persisted (haemoglobin concentration 5.3 g/dl). Even administration of interferon alpha-2b (5 million units s.c. every other day) failed to alter this. Only a combination of interferon and erythropoietin (150 U/kg i.v. every other day) achieved lasting regression of the anaemia (haemoglobin concentration up to 14 g/dl). In four other anaemic patients with multiple myeloma, stage III, treated according to the VMCP protocol but without additional interferon, erythropoietin did not improve erythropoiesis.

[Pamidronate in the treatment of tumor-associated hypercalcemia]. / Pamidronat in der Behandlung der tumorassoziierten Hypercalcämie.

After a 48-hour rehydration period 28 of 31 patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia (serum calcium greater than or equal to 2.8 mmol/l) were treated intravenously with the bisphosphonate pamidronate. In three patients fluid repletion with 0.9% saline solution had already normalized serum calcium levels. Pamidronate was given in a single infusion on day 0, the dose of pamidronate adapted to the severity of hypercalcemia. If the serum calcium concentration was greater than or equal to 2.8 mmol/l on day 3, application of pamidronate was repeated. In all patients normocalcemia was restored; mean serum calcium decreased from 3.2 +/- 0.35 on day 0 to 2.15 +/- 0.32 on day 12. Hypercalcemia recurred in 11 patients, seven of these underwent pamidronate treatment according to the same therapeutical regimen. Normal calcium levels were attained in five cases. Side effects were of minor gravity: brief hyperthermia occurred in four patients and transient, asymptomatic hypocalcemia was noticed in nine cases.