Risk factors and characteristics of blood stream infections in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple myeloma are generally immune-compromised either due to pronounced depression in primary antibody responses or because of anti-myeloma therapy. Infection is a major risk factor for early deaths among these patients. The impact of blood stream infections (BSI) on newly diagnosed myeloma patients has been less studied. We aimed to study the incidence and risk factors of BSI within 3 months after diagnosis of multiple myeloma in a tertiary referral center. METHODS: Between November 2002 and December 2008, consecutive patients with multiple myeloma in Taipei Veterans General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. Characteristics of patients with or without BSI were collected. Possible factors associated with development of BSI were analyzed by Cox regression. RESULTS: There were a total of 222 patients. The incidence of BSI within 3 months after diagnosis is 11.7%. The patients with BSI had poorer survival outcomes than those without (mortality rate: 50% vs. 20.9%, p < 0.001). Moreover, advanced International Staging System stage (stage III vs. I/II: odds ratio [OR] 2.69, p = 0.049) and poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (ECOG > 2 vs. ≤ 2: OR 3.58, p = 0.005) were the independent risk factors of BSI, whereas immunoglobulin deficiency and low absolute lymphocyte count were not associated with risk of BSI development. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the characteristic of myeloma patients with BSI and the importance of disease and host factors on risk of BSI. Myeloma patients with risks of BSI should be properly managed to reduce early mortality.

Comparison of prognostic models for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era.

Several revisions of International Prognostic Index (IPI) have been proposed for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after the introduction of rituximab. Expanding evidence suggests that baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is also an independent factor for outcome prediction. We investigated the optimal prognostic model for these patients in the rituximab era. The study enrolled 274 consecutive patients with DLBCL receiving first-line cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone based chemotherapy with rituximab between 2003 and 2009. Five factors within IPI and ALC were entered for Cox regression analysis. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were calculated for different risk groups of models. Efficacy of models was compared by the value of Akaike information criterion (AIC). Revised IPI (R-IPI) and ALC/R-IPI, but not IPI, were informative to discriminate between different risk groups. In multivariate analysis for individual factors of the prognostic models, performance status >1 [odds ratio (OR) 3.59], Ann Arbor stage III or IV (OR 2.24), and ALC <1 × 109/L (OR, 2.75) remained significant. Another modified score based on the three factors divided patients into four risk groups and the 3-year OS rate was 93, 77, 39, and 13 %, respectively. By comparing AIC values in the Cox proportional hazards model, the modified three-factor model was the superior prognostic model followed by established ALC/R-IPI, R-IPI, and standard IPI. In conclusion, the addition of the novel factor, ALC, interacts with other established factors in outcome prediction for DLBCL. Development of a new score is needed for a better risk stratification in the rituximab era and would be helpful in the design of future clinical trials. The proposed three-factor model should be validated in large-scale studies.

Patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma in partial response or stable disease after first-line R-CHOP: the prognostic value of the absolute lymphocyte count and impact of autologous stem cell transplantation.

Certain portions of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) do not achieve a complete remission after first-line rituximab combining chemotherapy. This retrospective study aimed to characterize the outcome of patients with DLBCL that achieved partial remission or had stable disease after first-line R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone). The effects of subsequent treatments and factors associated with event-free survival (EFS) after second-line treatments were analyzed. A total of 103 patients were enrolled and 81 (76.8 %) patients received intensive chemotherapy, whereas the others (23.2 %) received either palliative chemotherapy or supportive care post first-line treatment. Patients receiving intensive chemotherapy had significantly higher EFS (median 7.9 months) than the others; 28 (34.6 %) patients in this group received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), which may have further improved the EFS. An International Prognostic Index (IPI) >2 and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) at diagnosis <1,000/UL were significant prognostic factors associated with worse EFS. The survival advantage of ASCT remained significant after adjustment for these factors. The results suggest intensive chemotherapy plus ASCT may provide modest disease control in patients with DLBCL who achieve PR or SD to first-line R-CHOP, particularly in those with a higher IPI score and/or low ALC at diagnosis.

Nosocomial extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in hemodialysis patients and the implications for antibiotic therapy.

BACKGROUND: In the face of increasing treatment options for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) hemodialysis (HD) access-related bacteremia, the difference in clinical effectiveness between ertapenem and flomoxef remains unclear. We conducted this retrospective study to determine their efficacies and treatment outcomes. METHODS: Patients on maintenance HD with fistula-, graft-, or catheter-related ESBL-Kp bacteremia were enrolled. Data related to clinical features and antibiotic treatments were collected. Outcome was determined by mortality resulting from bacteremia during the 14-day period after the collection of the first positive blood culture for flomoxef-susceptible ESBL-Kp. RESULTS: The 64 patients studied had severe septicemia as determined by the Pitt bacteremia score; 50% (32/64) were in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the time of bacteremia. Old age (>65 years; 57.8%), malnutrition (albumin<3.5g/dl; 92.2%), a history of severe illnesses (defined by shock, intubation, or ICU stay; 82.5%), and prolonged hospitalization prior to the onset of bacteremia (>30 days; 75%) were also highly prevalent. The study population comprised nine fistula-, 10 graft-, and 45 HD catheter-related bacteremia cases, and the mortality rate was high (38/64, 59.4%). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the flomoxef treatment group than in the ertapenem treatment group (22/30, 73% vs. 16/34, 47%, p<0.05). Among patients with catheter-related bacteremia, multivariate analyses revealed that flomoxef use (odds ratio (OR) 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-35.17) and Pitt bacteremia score (OR 4.37, 95% CI 1.28-5.26) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with our previous study, our results have demonstrated the inferiority of flomoxef to carbapenems in the treatment of HD access-related ESBL-Kp bacteremia and provide an insight into the possibility of using ertapenem rather than flomoxef as an initial or de-escalating therapy for infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria.

Nonsurgical management of delayed splenic rupture after blunt trauma.

BACKGROUND: Delayed splenic rupture (DSR) is a rare manifestation of blunt splenic trauma, and splenectomy remains the primary treatment for patients with DSR. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with nonsurgical management of DSR with the use of splenic artery embolization (SAE) as an adjunct treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with DSR treated at our institution from January 2001 to December 2008. Management included initial resuscitation and close observation in the intensive care unit. Further interventions were based on the patient's hemodynamic status and followed a treatment protocol. These interventions included SAE or surgery. RESULTS: There were 15 patients included in the analysis. Three patients underwent emergent surgery, and 12 patients received nonsurgical management initially. Of these 12 patients, five underwent SAE. One of these five patients subsequently underwent splenectomy because of recurrent bleeding. Of the remaining seven patients who received nonoperative management, one required a splenectomy because of recurrent hemorrhage and hypotension. There were no mortalities; however, two surgery-associated complications occurred. The success rate of nonsurgical therapy was 83%. SAE was used for splenic salvage with a success rate of 80% (4 of 5). The overall failure rate of DSR was 33% (5 of 15). CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical management can safely be used in selected patients with DSR, especially for those with a good response to resuscitation. SAE is as effective for DSR as it is for acute splenic injury. Physicians should consider SAE as an option for the treatment of DSR.

Chronic hepatitis virus infection in patients with multiple myeloma: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Cytotoxic agents and steroids are used to treat lymphoid malignancies, but these compounds may exacerbate chronic viral hepatitis. For patients with multiple myeloma, the impact of preexisting hepatitis virus infection is unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics and outcomes of myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, 155 myeloma patients were examined to determine their chronic hepatitis virus infection statuses using serologic tests for the hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV). Clinical parameters and outcome variables were retrieved via a medical chart review. RESULTS: The estimated prevalences of chronic HBV and HCV infections were 11.0% (n = 17) and 9.0% (n = 14), respectively. The characteristics of patients who were hepatitis virus carriers and those who were not were similar. However, carrier patients had a higher prevalence of conventional cytogenetic abnormalities (64.3% vs. 25.0%). The cumulative incidences of grade 3-4 elevation of the level of alanine transaminase, 30.0% vs. 12.0%, and hyperbilirubinemia, 20.0% vs. 1.6%, were higher in carriers as well. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, carrier patients had worse overall survival (median: 16.0 vs. 42.4 months). The prognostic value of carrier status was not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis, but an age of more than 65 years old, the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities, a beta-2-microglobulin level of more than 3.5 mg/L, and a serum creatinine level of more than 2 mg/ dL were independent factors associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infections might be a distinct subgroup, and close monitoring of hepatic adverse events should be mandatory.

Chronic hepatitis virus infection in patients with multiple myeloma: clinical characteristics and outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Cytotoxic agents and steroids are used to treat lymphoid malignancies, but these compounds may exacerbate chronic viral hepatitis. For patients with multiple myeloma, the impact of preexisting hepatitis virus infection is unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics and outcomes of myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, 155 myeloma patients were examined to determine their chronic hepatitis virus infection statuses using serologic tests for the hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV). Clinical parameters and outcome variables were retrieved via a medical chart review. RESULTS: The estimated prevalences of chronic HBV and HCV infections were 11.0 percent (n = 17) and 9.0 percent (n = 14), respectively. The characteristics of patients who were hepatitis virus carriers and those who were not were similar. However, carrier patients had a higher prevalence of conventional cytogenetic abnormalities (64.3 percent vs. 25.0 percent). The cumulative incidences of grade 3-4 elevation of the level of alanine transaminase, 30.0 percent vs. 12.0 percent, and hyperbilirubinemia, 20.0 percent vs. 1.6 percent, were higher in carriers as well. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, carrier patients had worse overall survival (median: 16.0 vs. 42.4 months). The prognostic value of carrier status was not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis, but an age of more than 65 years old, the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities, a beta-2-microglobulin level of more than 3.5 mg/L, and a serum creatinine level of more than 2 mg/ dL were independent factors associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infections might be a distinct subgroup, and close monitoring of hepatic adverse events should be mandatory.