Infectious complications following allogeneic stem cell transplantation by using anti-thymocyte globulin-based myeloablative conditioning regimens in children with hemoglobinopathies.

BACKGROUND: Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) has been used to prevent graft failure/rejection in the setting of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for hemoglobinopathies; however, epidemiology data for transplant-related infections in this population are scarce. METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiology of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections in a cohort of 105 children and adolescents with ß-thalassemia (n = 100) or sickle cell disease (n = 5) who underwent allo-SCT using human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling (n = 96) or HLA-compatible unrelated donors (n = 9) in a single institution. All patients received an ATG-based conditioning regimen. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia was 45.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 33-55%), developing at a median of 48 (range 12-142) days without evidence of overt CMV disease. Herpes zoster developed in 8 patients at a median of 12 months post transplant, while 10 patients presented with late onset hemorrhagic cystitis at a median of 35 days post transplant. The cumulative incidence of bacteremia was 17.1% (95% CI 10.6-25%), occurring at a median of 74 (range 24-110) days. No patient developed probable or definite invasive fungal infection. Four deaths were recorded; 2 of them were attributed to infections (toxoplasmosis and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, respectively). CONCLUSION: The rate of infections after allo-SCT, using an ATG-containing preparative regimen, in our population of pediatric patients with hemoglobinopathies is comparable to that reported elsewhere with the use of non-ATG containing regimens.

Dose individualization of intravenous busulfan in pediatric patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: impact and in vitro evaluation of infusion lag-time.

OBJECTIVES: To apply therapeutic drug monitoring and dose-individualization of intravenous Busulfan to paediatric patients and evaluate the impact of syringe-pump induced Busulfan infusion lag-time after in vitro estimation. METHODS: 76 children and adolescents were administered 2 h intravenous Busulfan infusion every 6 h (16 doses). Busulfan plasma levels, withdrawn by an optimized sampling scheme and measured by a validated HPLC-PDA method, were used to estimate basic PK parameters, AUC, Cmax, kel, t1/2, applying Non-Compartmental Analysis. In vivo infusion lag-time was simulated in vitro and used to evaluate its impact on AUC estimation. KEY FINDINGS: Mean (%CV) Busulfan AUC, Cmax, clearance and t1/2 for pediatric population were found 962.3 µm × min (33.1), 0.95 mg/L (41.4), 0.27 L/h/kg (33.3), 2.2 h (27.8), respectively. TDM applied to 76 children revealed 6 (7.9%) being above and 25 (32.9%) below therapeutic-range (AUC: 900-1350 µm × min). After dose correction, all patients were measured below toxic levels (AUC < 1500 µm × min), no patient below 900 µm × min. Incorporation of infusion lag-time revealed lower AUCs with 17.1% more patients and 23.1% more younger patients, with body weight <16 kg, being below the therapeutic-range. CONCLUSIONS: TDM, applied successfully to 76 children, confirmed the need for Busulfan dose-individualization in paediatric patients. Infusion lag-time was proved clinically significant for younger, low body-weight patients and those close to the lower therapeutic-range limit.

Successful control of acute myelofibrosis with lenalidomide.

Acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis (APMF) is a rare, fatal hematological neoplasm that is characterized by the acute onset of cytopenias and fibrosis in the bone marrow in the absence of splenomegaly or fibrosis-related morphological changes in the RBCs. We present the case of a 59-year-old female who presented with a two-month history of anemia, leucopenia and a normal platelet count. The marrow was heavily fibrotic, and no aspirate material could be obtained; the biopsy showed extensive infiltration with small to medium size megakaryocytes, dysplastic changes in the erythroid compartment, and left shift in the myeloid cells. The patient was treated for four months with anabolic steroids (Danazol), growth factors and received regular blood transfusions. At 4 months after diagnosis, the patient was started on Lenalidomide, 10 mg/day for a 21-d-course along with growth factor support. At 6 months after treatment, the patient was transfusion-independent, had normalized blood counts, and, at 32 months on continuous lenalidomide treatment, her needs for growth factor support have been minimized. Repeat bone marrow biopsies showed a patchy distribution of fibrosis with areas of normal cellularity and morphology. To our knowledge, this is the first case for a medication that could reverse the fatal outcome of APMF.

Evidence of improved serum fatty acid profile of postmenopausal women receiving atorvastatin and raloxifene.

Raloxifene and atorvastatin have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with postmenopausal status and it has been postulated that their effects may be partly mediated by favourable changes in serum lipids and fatty acid composition. In the present study, individual administration of either raloxifene (Group A) or atorvastatin (Group B) or both (Group C) was compared for a period of 3 months and their effects on total lipids and fatty acids composition was evaluated. Postmenopausal women receiving both raloxifene and atorvastatin showed significant changes in the majority of serum lipids with important reductions in total cholesterol (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p < 0.001) and Apo B levels (p < 0.001). Phospholipids concentrations (p < 0.01) as well as Apo A-I were also significantly raised (p < 0.001). Furthermore, oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) levels were significantly increased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively) followed by a marked reduction in palmitic acid (16:0) and arachidonic acid (20:4) concentrations (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). The results of the study indicate that the serum lipid and fatty acid composition in postmenopausal women is influenced by the combined treatment of raloxifene and atorvastatin and a further attempt to evaluate the significance of these results is discussed.