Different outcomes for transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients in Latin America according to the public versus private management: a GELAMM study.

The aim of this study was to describe clinical and survival characteristics of transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients in Latin America (LA), with a special focus on differences between public and private healthcare facilities. We included 1293 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2018. A great disparity in outcomes and survival between both groups was observed. Late diagnosis and low access to adequate frontline therapy and ASCT in public institutions probably explain these differences. Patients treated with novel drug induction protocols, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and maintenance, have similar overall survival compared to that published internationally.

Splenic Infarct Secondary to High Altitude Exposure in Sickle Cell Trait Patients: A Case Series.

The sickle cell trait is considered a benign entity that generally does not show clinical manifestations. However, some complications have been described under certain conditions, such as a decrease in oxygen level, dehydration, and strenuous physical efforts. Among them, splenic infarct is a rare complication that presents as left upper abdominal pain in a situation of stress such as high altitude exposure. We present two cases of splenic infarcts in patients with undiagnosed sickle cell trait who showed to our institution with severe abdominal pain after coming from high altitude cities.