First experience of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome using unaffected HLA-matched sibling donor produced through preimplantation HLA typing.

The only proven cure for Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) bone marrow failure is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However HSCT with donors other than HLA-identical siblings is associated with high mortality and unfavorable prognosis. This paper presents the first experience of HSCT treatment of SDS using an unaffected HLA-identical sibling produced through preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). The patient was a 6-year-old blood transfusion-dependent SDS baby girl with secondary myelodysplastic syndrome, for whom no HLA-identical donor was available. As a result of PGD, two unaffected HLA matched embryos were identified; one of them was randomly selected for transfer, resulting in a clinical pregnancy and birth of an apparently healthy child. The patient underwent allogeneic transplantation of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells, together with bone marrow from this sibling, resulting in complete hemopoietic recovery. The patient was no longer transfusion-dependent and had normal blood values 160 days after transplantation.

[Bacterial infections in the early period after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

AIM: To study the incidence and risk factors of bacterial infections and the efficiency of empirical antibacterial therapy in patients in the early period after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 155 patients who had undergone allo-HSCT. Myeloablative conditioning was used in 39% of the patients. All the patients with neutropenia (NP) received antibiotic prophylaxis with fluoroquinolones until recovery of white blood cell counts or before systemic antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic therapy and a change of antibiotics were considered effective in achieving persistent apyrexia and positive clinical changes. RESULTS: The incidence of febrile neutropenia (FNP) in the patients after allo-HSCT was 63%. The duration of grade 4 leukopenia did not depend on the conditioning regimen. Neutropenic fever was noted in 68% of the patients with NP lasting longer 10 days. In shorter-duration NP, the rate of fever was 52%. Among the patients with mucositis, the frequency of FNP episodes was significantly higher (69% versus 52%; p=0.02). The diverse spectrum of isolated bacteria was represented as gram-positive cocci in 45% of cases; Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae were more common among gram-negative ones (24%). The efficiency of empirical antibiotic therapy was 57% (25% for monotherapy, 53% for combined treatment regimens); the early mortality was 2%. CONCLUSION: Infection-related FNP is noted in 68% of the patients in the early posttransplantation period and the risk factors of its development are NP duration, oral colonization with pathogens, and the absence of invasive mycosis after allo-HSCT. Antibacterial prophylaxis significantly decreases the incidence of bacterial complications. Empirical monotherapy with third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems against infections in a transplantation patient is as effective as their combination with aminoglycosides.

[Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloblastic leukemia in first remission].

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia in first remission depending on the regimens of conditioning, the source of a graft, and the characteristics of a donor and a recipient. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 66 treated patients, including from partially HLA-mismatched relatives (n=4), the efficiency of allo-HSCT from related donors (n=26) and unrelated donors (n=40), were compared. According to cytogenetic findings, 7 (11%), 31 (47%), and 10 (15%) patients belonged to low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. RESULTS: Five-year overall survival (OS) and mortality associated with transplantation were 56 and 22% for allo-HSCT from related donors, 68 and 23% for that from HLA-matched donors, and 71 and 25% for that from partially HLA-mismatched donors, respectively (p=0.8 and p=0.7). The relapse risk after allo-HSCT from unrelated donors was significantly lower than after that from related donors (13 and 35%, respectively; p=0.8). Univariate analysis showed that the OS rates depended on the cytogenetic risk group (OS was 24 and 64% in the high- and intermediate-risk groups, respectively (p=0.027). The relapse risk in chronic graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) and in grade 3 acute GVHR (p=0.01) was shown to be less than that in grades 1-2 acute GVHR (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: OS rates after allo-HSCT from related and unrelated donors were comparable and unrelated to the source of a graft, the regimen of conditioning, and other characteristics of a donor and a recipient.

[Extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of patients with refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in the treatment of patients with refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 49 patients aged 2 to 55 years. Allo-HSCT was carried out in 38 (79%) patients with acute leukemias, 5 (10%) with chronic leukemias, 4 (8%) with myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative disease, and 2 (3%) with other hematologic diseases. The patients included in the study had glucocorticosteroid (GCS)-refractory disseminated cGVHD or a history of severe complications from GCS therapy. RESULTS: When evaluating the efficiency of therapy, its response was recorded in 37 (77%) cases; the best results were obtained in patients with hepatic (82%), mucosal (76%), and skin (74%) lesions. The mean severity according to the cGVHD Working Group, National Institutes of Health, and a platelet level of more than 100.10(9)/1 were defined as factors improving a therapy response. In the patients receiving ECP, the overall survival was 70%. The latter was higher in the group of patients who had responded to ECP therapy without involving the gastrointestinal tract in the cGVHD process and in those receiving a combination of ECP and other immunosuppressive drugs. CONCLUSION: ECP is an effective treatment for patients with refractory cGVHD, it may be used in those with a history of severe complications from GCS therapy. ECP allows the dose of GCS to be reduced to the point of complete discontinuation.