RESUMEN
Data on antibody response (AR) after vaccination against SARS-CoV2 in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation setting (HSCT) were initially scarce, mainly due to the exclusion of such patients from approval studies. Shortly after the worldwide application of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in vulnerable populations such as patients with hematologic malignancies, limited single-center trials, including HSCT patients, were published. However, there was a great heterogeneity between them regarding the type of underlying malignancy, co-current treatment, type of vaccine, method of AR measurement, and time point of AR measurement. Herein, we present the results of a prospective study on AR after vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 using the BNT162b2 vaccine in a cohort of 54 HSCT recipients-mostly autologous from a single Unit-along with a broad review of the current literature. In our cohort, the AR positivity rate at 1 month was 80.8% and remained positive in 85.7% of patients at 3 months after vaccination. There were only nine non-responders, who were more heavily pretreated and more frequently hypogammaglobulinemic compared to responders. High antibody titers (AT), [AT ≥ 1000 U/mL], were detected in 38.5% and 30.6% of the patients at m1 and m3, respectively. A significant decline in AT between m1 and m3 was demonstrated-p < 0.0001; median AT1 and AT3 were 480.5 and 293 U/mL, respectively. A novel finding of our study was the negative impact of IgA hypogammaglobulinemia on response to vaccination. Other negative significant factors were treatment with anti-CD20 antibody at vaccination and vaccination within 18 months from HSCT. Our data indicate that HSCT recipients elicit a positive response to the BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 when vaccinated at 6 months post-transplant, and vaccination should be offered to this patient population even within the post-pandemic COVID-19 era.
RESUMEN
Spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis is a life-threatening complication of metastatic liver disease. Although metastatic liver lesions are much more common than primary tumours, spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis is rare. Therapeutic decisions must take into account the extent of metastatic liver disease and the patient's performance status. Transarterial embolization may be considered in cases of ongoing haemorrhage despite initial conservative measures. We describe a case of haemoperitoneum due to spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis in a 72-year-old patient with carcinoma of unknown origin who responded well to conservative management. LEARNING POINTS: Spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of metastatic cancer to the liver; risk factors include subcapsular location, rapid tumour growth and tumour necrosis (spontaneous or due to chemotherapy).Unexplained fever often precedes the spontaneous rupture, probably reflecting tumour necrosis or infiltration of the liver capsule, and may raise clinical suspicion for the diagnosis.Transarterial embolization may be considered in cases of ongoing haemorrhage despite initial conservative measures.
