Effect of age, comorbidity and remission status on outcome of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies.

BACKGROUND: There is scarcity of data on outcome of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies. Primary objective of study was to analyse the 14-day and 28-day mortality. Secondary objectives were to correlate age, comorbidities and remission status with outcome. METHODS: Retrospective multicentre observational study conducted in 11 centres across India. Total 130 patients with hematological malignancies and COVID-19 were enrolled. RESULTS: Fever and cough were commonest presentation. Eleven percent patients were incidentally detected. Median age of our cohort was 49.5 years. Most of our patients had a lymphoid malignancy (n = 91). One-half patients (52%) had mild infection, while moderate and severe infections contributed to one-fourth each. Sixty seven patients (52%) needed oxygen For treatment of COVID-19 infection, half(n = 66) received antivirals. Median time to RT-PCR COVID-19 negativity was 17 days (7-49 days). Nearly three-fourth (n = 95) of our patients were on anticancer treatment at time of infection, of which nearly two-third (n = 59;64%) had a delay in chemotherapy. Overall, 20% (n = 26) patients succumbed. 14-day survival and 28-day survival for whole cohort was 85.4% and 80%, respectively. One patient succumbed outside the study period on day 39. Importantly, death rate at 1 month was 50% and 60% in relapse/refractory and severe disease cohorts, respectively. Elderly patients(age ≥ 60) (p = 0.009), and severe COVID-19 infection (p = 0.000) had a poor 14-day survival. The 28-day survival was significantly better for patients in remission (p = 0.04), non-severe infection (p = 0.00), and age < 60 years (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with hematological malignancy and severe covid-19 have worst outcomes specially when disease is not in remission.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Fanconi Anemia: A Single Center Experience from India.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only treatment option for the hematological manifestations of Fanconi anemia (FA). Fludarabine based reduced intensity conditioning regimens have helped in improving outcomes significantly in FA patients. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of FA patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT at BLK Superspeciality Hospital, New Delhi from June 2011 to September 2019. Twenty FA patients underwent 23 transplants at our center. Overall survival and disease free survival were 65% and 50%, respectively at a median of 23 months. Overall mortality was 30%. HSCT for FA is a feasible option even in developing countries although children present late to transplant centers after multiple transfusions and infections.

Real-world outcomes of stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia: A single-center experience in Northern India.

Introduction: Stem cell transplantation is the cornerstone of therapy for transplant-eligible patients with severe aplastic anemia. Materials and methods: Patients with severe aplastic anemia undergoing stem cell transplantation (including matched haplo-identical related donors) with a standard conditioning regimen and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis were analyzed. High-risk patients were identified as having undergone >20 pre-transplant transfusions, having febrile neutropenia at the time of transplantation, or having undergone failed immunosuppressive therapy. Results: A total of 111 patients underwent stem cell transplantation, with a median age of 17 years. Seventy-six patients received matched related donor (MRD) transplants, and 35 received haplo-identical donor (HID) transplants. Among all patients, 65.7% were high-risk patients, with a significantly higher proportion among those receiving HID transplants (38% for MRD vs. 83% for HID). Acute GVHD grades 2-4 was observed in 9% of patients, and chronic GVHD in 16.2% of patients. Primary graft rejection was more common in 9.9% of patients (21% for HID, 5% for MRD). The 2-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 67% and 66%, respectively, with better outcomes for MRD and low-risk HID transplants than for high-risk HID transplants. The most common cause of mortality was sepsis-related death (accounting for 27% of the total deaths). Sepsis-related early deaths were significantly more common among high-risk patients who received HID transplants. Conclusion: We conclude that MRDs remain the preferred donor source for allogeneic stem cell transplants in patients with aplastic anemia; however, HIDs can be considered as a life-saving treatment for patients with aplastic anemia.

Cytarabine ears - A side effect of cytarabine therapy.

Cytarabine, a pyramidine analog, is used for treating various hematological malignancies such as acute leukemias and lymphomas. Side effects of cytarabine are dose dependent and include bone marrow suppression, fever, cerebellar toxicity, cardiomyopathy, hepato-renal insufficiency, necrotizing enterocolitis, pancreatitis, acute respiratory distress, corneal toxicity and dermatological side effects. The dermatological side effects can be immediate or due to delayed hypersensitivity reactions. They have been attributed largely to release of cytokines. We present three such cases of delayed hypersensitivity to cytarabine affecting the ears bilaterally.

Tacrolimus Induced Diabetic Ketoacidosis Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Risk of diabetes mellitus increases after solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Diabetic ketoacidosis has been reported after solid organ transplantation in patients receiving tacrolimus but has rarely been reported after stem cell transplantation. The major risk factors for diabetic ketoacidosis are immunosuppressive drugs used after transplantation. We report here three cases of allogenic stem cell transplant who developed diabetic ketoacidosis while on treatment with tacrolimus. The drug was stopped in all the cases and patients were treated with insulin therapy resulting in complete recovery from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Cytomegalovirus reactivation and disease amongst patients with allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Eastern India: Epidemiology, outcome and healthcare cost.

PURPOSE: Data from developing countries about incidence, prognosis and healthcare cost of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation amongst patients with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) remain scarce. The purpose of the study was to describe the epidemiology, outcome and cost implications of CMV reactivation and CMV disease amongst patients with AHSCT in cancer hospital in Eastern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study design was a retrospective audit of clinical records. RESULTS: Ninety-nine per cent of patients and 94% of the donors were found to be CMV seropositive. CMV reactivation rate was 43.8% amongst patients with AHSCT (n = 130 patients). CMV reactivation occurred 118 days after AHSCT (median; range: 28-943 days). Patients with any grade of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) had higher CMV reactivation rate than patients without GVHD. Patients with CMV reactivation had more frequent GVHD than patients without CMV reactivation. Use of steroids was associated with CMV reactivation. We found no differences in overall survival of patients with or without CMV reactivation. The cost of in-house CMV-polymerase chain reaction at our centre was USD $57 (Rs. 3650), cost for intravenous ganciclovir was USD $26 (Rs. 1665) per infusion and oral valganciclovir USD $8 (Rs. 512)/900 mg tablet. The median duration of anti-CMV therapy was 14 days (interquartile range: 14-28 days) and the average cost per patient per month directed towards CMV management ranged between USD $800 and USD $1,300 (Rs. 51,238-Rs. 83,264). Three patients (2.3%) in this series had CMV disease, all of whom died. CONCLUSION: In an increasingly globalised world, where medical tourism is common, data from developing countries regarding cost and outcome of CMV infections in AHSCT patients are of relevance.