Access to Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the Developing World: Barriers and Solutions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a costly disease, and its impact is greater in developing countries (DC). We will review the current concept of what are DC, compare the differences in the epidemiology and economic burden of this disease between developed and DC, and finally, analyze the barriers and possible solutions that DC should implement to achieve better results. RECENT FINDINGS: DC is a frequently misunderstood name. The way we use to measure human development is changing, and multidimension metrics better define what are DC. With this in mind, we show the differences in the AML epidemiology and the impact of economic burden in DC. We analyze the barriers to access therapy from a clinician point of view, to show that most DC shared similar challenges but with a diverse healthcare structure. Finally, we provide several possible solutions for a more integrated and timely treatment that allows better results not only in terms of survival but with a better quality of life. The economic burden of AML treatment in DC is high, and the results are poor. It is crucial to face this challenge and propose new treatment approaches to achieve better results.

Survival analysis of adult patients with ALL in Mexico City: first report from the Acute Leukemia Workgroup (ALWG) (GTLA).

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of hematopoietic lymphoid progenitors. With new target therapies, the survival of adults with ALL has improved in the past few decades. Unfortunately, there are no large ALL patient series in many Latin American countries. Data from the Acute Leukemia Workgroup that includes five Mexico City referral centers were used. Survival was estimated for adult patients with ALL during 2009-2015. In total, 559 adults with ALL were included. The median age was 28 years; 67% were classified into the adolescent and young adult group. Cytogenetic information was available in 54.5% of cases. Of the 305 analyzed cases, most had a normal caryotype (70.5%) and Philadelphia-positive was present in 16.7%. The most commonly used treatment regimen was hyper-CVAD. In approximately 20% of cases, there was considerable delay in the administration of chemotherapy. Primarily refractory cases accounted for 13.1% of patients. At the time of analysis, 26.7% of cases had survived. The 3-year overall survival was 22.1%. The main cause of death was disease progression in 228 (55.6%). Clinical and public health strategies are needed to improve diagnosis, treatment and survivorship care for adult with ALL. This multicentric report represents the largest series in Mexico of adult ALL patients in which a survival analysis and risk identification were obtained.

[High-intensity chemotherapy versus palliative chemotherapy in patients over 60 years with acute myeloid leukemia]. / Quimioterapia intensa frente a quimioterapia paliativa en pacientes con leucemia mieloblástica mayores de 60 años.

BACKGROUND: The use of high-intensity chemotherapy (HIC) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the elderly is controversial. In the present study, it was assessed complete remission and overall survival of AML patients over 60 years treated with HIC or palliative chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with ECOG ≤ 2 and adequate organic function received HIC with a base of cytarabine for five or seven days, and an anthracycline for three days. If patients achieved complete remission of leukemia, they received one or two cycles of consolidation with cytarabine. Palliative treatment consisted of supported measures and/or oral or intravenous low-dose chemotherapy. RESULTS: Seven patients treated with HIC achieved complete remission versus only one in the palliative group. Only one patient died during HIC treatment. Median survival for HIC-treated patients was 13.25 months, and only 3.35 months for patients treated with palliative therapy (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AML patients of 60 years or older, with good performance status (ECOG ≤ 2) and adequate organ function, may benefit from HIC treatment, with better survival, compared with palliative therapy.

Introducción: el tratamiento con quimioterapia intensa (QTI) en pacientes con leucemia mieloblástica (LMA) mayores de 60 años es controversial. En el presente estudio se evaluó la remisión completa y la supervivencia global de pacientes con LMA mayores de 60 años, tratados con QTI o quimioterapia paliativa. Métodos: los pacientes con adecuada función orgánica y ECOG ≤ 2 recibieron QTI a base de citarabina por cinco o siete días más un antracíclico por tres días y terapia de soporte. En caso de lograr remisión completa de la leucemia recibieron uno o dos ciclos de consolidación con citarabina. El tratamiento paliativo consistió en medidas de soporte o quimioterapia oral o intravenosa en dosis bajas. Resultados: del grupo de QTI siete pacientes alcanzaron remisión completa, comparados con uno del grupo de quimioterapia paliativa. La supervivencia global fue de 13.25 meses para los pacientes con QTI y de 3.35 meses para los pacientes de quimioterapia paliativa (p < 0.05). Conclusión: es posible que los pacientes con LMA mayores de 60 años de edad se beneficien de recibir QTI, comparada con la quimioterapia paliativa.

Anticoagulant proteins in a population of Mexican mestizo donors.

BACKGROUND: To determine the activity of antithrombin (AT), protein C (PC), and protein S (PS), as well as the frequency of deficiencies of these proteins in a population of healthy Mexican mestizo blood donors. METHODS: AT, PC, and PS were determined from 1,502 plasma samples of healthy blood donors by using commercial kits in a coagulometer 4 STA (Diagnostica Stago, Asnières, France). RESULTS: A total of 741 women and 761 men were under study. They were divided into age range groups (18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years). Activity of AT, PC, and PS was determined. For AT, activity values were specific for each age group according to gender when it had to do with PS, as well as when PC was determined. Frequencies of AT, PC, PS, and activated PC resistance activity deficiencies were obtained from reference levels (RLs) and average levels of this study. Differences were found between both frequencies for AT, PC, and PS, and the average levels obtained were used in this study. The frequencies of the activity deficiencies obtained through the values gotten in this population were: AT, 0.6%; PC, 1.06% (which is higher than the one obtained using the RLs described by commercial kits 0.33% and 0.66%, respectively); and PS, 1% (which is less than 4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to know the characteristics and biological behavior of the coagulation proteins in the Mexican population because the RLs used have been established for populations that are genetically different.

Complicaciones hemorrágicas del tratamiento de los síndromes coronarios agudos / Hemorrhagic complications of acute coronary syndromes treatment

Los síndromes coronarios agudos representan un problema de salud pública. La meta principal del tratamiento incluye la reperfusión temprana cuando está indicada y evitar la recurrencia de eventos isquémicos. Para ello, se utilizan fármacos trombolíticos, anticoagulantes y antiplaquetarios cada vez más potentes que, aunque claramente mejoran el pronóstico isquémico, se acompañan de diversas complicaciones entre las que destacan las hemorrágicas. Cada vez se reconoce con mayor claridad la importancia de estas complicaciones y su impacto negativo en el pronóstico del paciente. Es indispensable reconocer al paciente que tiene un riesgo elevado de desarrollar hemorragia y escoger la terapéutica con el mejor perfil riesgo-beneficio. En caso de que el paciente presente un evento hemorrágico, debe de ser identificado y tratado prontamente de forma adecuada para minimizar su impacto negativo en el pronóstico.

Acute coronary syndromes represent a problem of public health. The main goal of the treatment includes early reperfusion and avoidance of recurrent ischemic events. For this, thrombolytic, anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs are used and, although they clearly improve the ischemic prognosis, are also associated with bleeding. It is now clear that bleeding has a negative impact in the patient's evolution and that its treatment can be also detrimental. It is important to recognize patients at high bleeding risk and to choose the therapy with the best risk-benefit profle. If the patient develops bleeding, it should be identified and treated properly to minimize its negative impact in the patient's prognosis.

[Acute myeloblastic leukemia (M5) and aspergilloma in a 75-year-old man]. / Hombre de 75 años de edad con leucemia ieloblástica aguda M5 y aspergiloma. Informe de un caso.

We report here a case of pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia. We present the clinical and radiological characteristics of this case. Aspergillus flavus was isolated. The antifungal treatment was unsuccessful. Pulmonary aspergillomas are associated with a high mortality in the immunocompromised host. It is important to know the diagnostic approach and the surgical and medical treatment of this disease.

Valoración de los efectos indeseables de una heparina de bajo peso molecular, durante la profilaxia de enfermedad tromboembólica en pacientes de cirugía abdominal / Appraisal of the Undesirable effects of low molecular weight heparin during thromboembolic illeness prophylaxis in abdominal surgery patients

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar el tipo frecuencia e intensidad de los efectos indeseables de una heparina de bajo peso molecular (HBPM) en comparación con heparina estándar (HE), durante la profilaxia de enfermedad tromboembólica (ETE), en pacientes de cirugía mayor abdominal. Se estudiaron 27 hombres y 30 mujeres; todos con factores de riesgo para ETE, incluyendo neoplasias digestivas. Diecisiete (Grupo A) recibieron HBPM 20 mg-día; 20 (Grupo B) HE 5 mil U/12 horas y el resto (Grupo C) formó el grupo control. No se encontraron diferencias en lo referente a edad, variables antropométricos, tipo y duración de la cirugía; tampoco en el de eritrocitos, inicio de la ambulación y días de estancia posoperatoria, entre los tres grupos. En el posoperatorio, en el grupo A se determinó, aumento significativo de plaquetas (p=0.01) y acortamiento del tiempo de tromboplastina parcial (p=0.001) con respecto a los grupos B y C

Tratamiento de la hemorragia intracraneana en la púrpura trombocitopénica idopática crónica / Treatment of intracraneal hemorrhage in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Se informan los casos clínicos de dos pacientes con púrpura trombocitopénica idiopática crónica (PTIC) y hemorragia petequial intracraneana en las que el tratamiento convencional de esta complicación fue ineficaz; en cambio, en coincidencia con la aplicación de la vincristina se observó desaparición inmediata de sus manifestaciones neurológicas y aumento de las plaquetas con recuperación clínica total. Esta evolución contrasta con la informada en enfermos similares tratados con corticosteroides o esplenectomía, entre los que la mortalidad en ocasiones llegó a ser de 100 por ciento. La reacción favorable fue atribuída al efecto de la vincristina. Llama la atención, sobre todo, la mejoría inmediata de las manifestaciones neurológicas. Se propone su utilización en cojunto con las medidas tradicionalmente empleadas en el control de esta grave complicación, en particular en pacientes con complicaciones para la esplenectomía urgente.