Incidence and risk factors for central nervous system relapse in patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL). We aimed to evaluate the incidence of CNS relapse as first treatment failure event and the effect of the induction chemotherapy regimen, central nervous system - international prognostic index (CNS-IPI) and other clinical and laboratory variables on the risk of CNS relapse in 564 PMLBCL patients treated with immunochemotherapy. Only 17 patients (3.0%) received CNS prophylaxis. During a 55-month median follow-up only 8 patients experienced CNS relapse as first event, always isolated. The 2-year cumulative incidence of CNS relapse (CI-CNSR) was 1.47% and remained unchanged thereafter. The CI-CNSR was not affected by the chemotherapy regimen (R-CHOP or R-da-EPOCH). None of the established International Prognostic Index factors for aggressive lymphomas predicted CNS relapse in PMLBCL. The 2-year CI-CNSR in patients with versus without kidney involvement was 13.3% versus 0.96% (p < 0.001); 14.3% versus 1.13% with versus without adrenal involvement (p < 0.001); and 10.2% versus 0.97% with versus without either kidney or adrenal involvement. CNS-IPI was also predictive (2-year CI-CNSR in high-risk vs. intermediate/low-risk: 10.37% vs. 0.84%, p < 0.001). However, this association may be driven mainly by kidney and/or adrenal involvement. In conclusion, in PMLBCL, CNS relapse is rare and appears to be strongly associated with kidney and/or adrenal involvement.

Glofitamab in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Real-world data.

Glofitamab is a CD3xCD20 bi-specific antibody with two fragments directed to the CD20 antigen and a single CD3-binding fragment. Encouraging response and survival rates were recently reported in a pivotal phase II expansion trial conducted in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell lymphoma. However, the real-world data of patients of all ages with no strict selection criteria are still lacking. Herein, this retrospective study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who received glofitamab via compassionate use in Turkey. Forty-three patients from 20 centers who received at least one dose of the treatment were included in this study. The median age was 54 years. The median number of previous therapies was 4, and 23 patients were refractory to first-line treatment. Twenty patients had previously undergone autologous stem cell transplantation. The median follow-up time was 5.7 months. In efficacy-evaluable patients, 21% and 16% of them achieved complete response and partial response, respectively. The median response duration was 6.3 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 3.3 and 8.8 months, respectively. None of the treatment-responsive patients progressed during the study period, and their estimated 1-year PFS and OS rate was 83%. The most frequently reported toxicity was hematological toxicity. Sixteen patients survived, while 27 died at the time of the analysis. The most common cause of death was disease progression. One patient died of cytokine release syndrome during the first cycle after receiving the first dose of glofitamab. Meanwhile, two patients died due to glofitamab-related febrile neutropenia. This is the largest real-world study on the effectiveness and toxicity of glofitamab treatment in R/R DLBCL patients. The median OS of 9 months seems promising in this heavily pretreated group. The toxicity related mortality rates were the primary concerns in this study.

Polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, and bendamustine combination in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a real-world data from Turkey.

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) is a promising option for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We analyzed the data of 71 R/R DLBCL patients who had been treated with Pola-BR in the named patient program from March 2018 to April 2021 from 32 centers in Turkey. All patients received up to six cycles of Pola 1.8 mg/kg, rituximab 375 mg/m2 on day 1, and bendamustine 90 mg/m2 on days 1-2 of each cycle. Median age at Pola-BR initiation was 55 (19-84). The overall response rate was 47.9%, including 32.4% CR rate when a median of 3 cycles was applied. With a median follow-up of 5 months, the median OS was 5 months. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the most common hematological toxicities. The real-world data from our cohort showed the Pola-BR is an effective option with a manageable toxicity profile.

An Anomaly with Potential as a New Prognostic Marker in CLL with del(13q): Gain of 16p13.3.

Deletion 13q [del(13q)] is a favorable prognostic marker if it is detected as a sole abnormality in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However the clinical courses of cases with isolated del(13q) are quite heterogeneous. In our study, we investigated copy number variations (CNVs), loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and the size of del(13q) in 30 CLL patients with isolated del(13q). We used CGH+SNP microarrays in order to understand the cause of this clinical heterogeneity. We detected del(13q) in 28/30 CLL cases. The size of the deletion varied from 0.34 to 28.81 Mb, and there was no clinical effect of the deletion size. We found new prognostic markers, especially the gain of 16p13.3. These markers have statistically significant associations with short time to first treatment and advanced disease stage. Detecting both CNVs and LOH at the same time is an advantageous feature of aCGH+SNP. However, it is very challenging for the array analysis to detect mosaic anomalies. Therefore, it is very important to confirm the results by FISH. In our study, we detected approximately 9% mosaic del(13q) by microarray. In addition, the gain of 16p13.3 may affect the disease prognosis in CLL. However, additional studies with more patients are needed to confirm these results.

Brentuximab vedotin consolidation therapy after autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma: Multicenter retrospective study.

The AETHERA trial reported an increased progression-free survival (PFS) when brentuximab vedotin (BV) was used as maintenance therapy in high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Thus, we aimed to determine the impact and safety of BV as maintenance after ASCT in real-world patients. Seventy-five patients with relapsed/refractory HL started on BV consolidation therapy after ASCT due to high risk of relapse, between January 2016 and July 2019, from 25 institutions, were included in the study. The median follow-up time was 26 months. The most common high-risk features were primary refractory or relapsed disease <12 months (n = 61), lack of complete response (CR) to the last salvage regimen (n = 51), and having had at least two salvage regimens (n = 29). At the time of analysis, 42 patients completed consolidation courses, and BV was discontinued in 33 patients. Fifty patients had an ongoing response (CR in 41, PR in 6, and SD in 3 patients), 25 had progressed. Ten died in the follow-up, eight with progressive disease and two due to infection while in CR. The 2-year PFS and OS rates were 67.75% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-0.77) and 87.61% (95% CI: 0.76-0.94), respectively. Seventeen patients (23%) received BV in the pre-ASCT treatment lines, and there was no survival difference between the BV-naïve and BV-exposed groups. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (27%) and peripheral neuropathy (21%). Sixteen patients (21.3%) experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicity. BV was discontinued due to adverse event in 12 patients. Consolidation with BV after ASCT can achieve a 2-year PFS of 67.75% (95% CI: 0.55-0.75) with an acceptable toxicity profile.

Clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria patients in Turkey: a multicenter experience.

The aim of this study is to collect paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patient data from hematology centers all over Turkey in order to identify clinical features and management of PNH patients. Patients with PNH were evaluated by a retrospective review of medical records from 19 different institutions around Turkey. Patient demographics, medical history, laboratory findings, and PNH-specific information, including symptoms at the diagnosis, complications, erythrocyte, and granulocyte clone size, treatment, and causes of death were recorded. Sixty patients (28 males, 32 females) were identified. The median age was 33 (range; 17-77) years. Forty-six patients were diagnosed as classic PNH and 14 as secondary PNH. Fatigue and abdominal pain were the most frequent presenting symptoms. After eculizumab became available in Turkey, most of the patients (n = 31/46, 67.4%) were switched to eculizumab. Three patients with classic PNH underwent stem cell transplantation. The median survival time was 42 (range; 7-183 months) months. This study is the first and most comprehensive review of PNH cases in Turkey. It provided us useful information to find out the differences between our patients and literature, which may help us understand the disease.

Use of rotational thromboelastometry for a global screening of coagulation profile in patients of myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal disorders of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell characterized by thrombohemorrhagic complications and a tendency to transform into acute leukemia. The pathogenesis of thrombosis in MPN is complex and results from a multifaceted interplay of clinical and disease-related factors. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) provides the complete and rapid information about all stages of the coagulation process. Here, we assess ROTEM parameters as a screening of coagulation profile in patients with MPNs. In particular, higher mean maximum clot firmness values were found in Essential thrombocythemia and Polycythemia vera patients when compared to healthy controls. Rotational thromboelastometry may be able to detect MPN patients who are susceptible to thrombotic and/or hemorrhagic complications. The predictive value of ROTEM for thrombosis remains to be established to classify subsets of patients at prominent risk who may benefit from prophylaxis with antithrombotic drugs.

Effect of hyperparathyroidism on coagulation: a global assessment by modified rotation thromboelastogram (ROTEM)

Background/aim: Hyperparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder characterized by hypercalcemia. Because of calcium's effects on parathyroid glands, bone, intestines, and kidneys, it has an important place in homeostasis. The results of studies regarding hyperparathyroidism hemostasis are conflicting. Thromboelastography helps to evaluate all steps of hemostatic system. Our aim in this study was to investigate the possible role of hemostatic mechanisms in the development of thrombosis in hyperparathyroid patients with the modified rotation thromboelastogram (ROTEM). Materials and methods: Twenty-two patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and 20 healthy controls were involved. This study was conducted in Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Endocrinology and Hematology clinics for 2 years. The complete blood count, fibrinogen, D-dimer levels, prothrombin time, activated prothrombin time, and ROTEM parameters [clot formation time (CFT), clotting time (CT), and maximum clot formation (MCF)] were determined by two activated tests, INTEM and EXTEM analyses. A thromboelastographic evaluation was performed in the preoperative and postoperative (3 months after surgery) periods. Results: In INTEM assay, the CT (p = 0.012) and CFT (p = 0.07) values were increased in preoperative PHPT patients compared with the control group. Although there was a decrease in the postoperative CT and CFT values, no statistical difference was found. Conclusion: The prolongation of the CT and CFT values were consistent with a hypocoagulable state in patients with PHPT. Hyperparathyroidism causes a hypocoagulable state that can be successfully assessed by ROTEM. Hemostatic changes, do not seem to have an effect on increased cardiovascular mortality.

Circulating endothelial cells in Behçet's disease: is there a relationship with vascular involvement?

OBJECTIVES: Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) are identified in conditions with vascular damage such as systemic vasculitis. Our aim was to investigate if EPC, CEC, and/or its subgroups activated CEC (aCEC) or resting CEC (rCEC) related with vascular involvement in Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: In total 60 patients were included in this study, divided into 4 groups: 1) Behçet patients with a history of vascular involvement: vascular BD; 2) Behçet patients with mucocutaneus involvement: mucocutaneus BD; 3) patients with history of thrombosis due to other causes: thrombosis; 4) 20 healthy controls were also included: control group. Percentages of CEC, aCEC, rCEC and EPCs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: CEC (3.75 (1.80-7.20), 1.80 (0.70-3.53), 3.50 (1.83-7.23), 2.45 (1.28- 4.60)) and aCEC (2.40 (1.28-4.28), 1.10 (0.77-2.20), 3.15 (1.48-7.20), 3.20 (1.15-9.80) levels were did not show a statistically significant difference between groups (p:0.077 and p:0.054, respectively). EPC and rCEC levels were higher in vascular BD and thrombosis groups than mucocutaneus BD and control groups (EPC:10.5 (7.20-18.3), 11.6 (7.30-20.9) vs. 7.15 (5.55-8.25), 10.2 (5.93-18.6), rCEC: 5.35 (3.13-7.90), 6.45 (4.60-10.8) vs. 4.95 (3.05-7.55), 3.40 (1.88-4.30), p:0.042 and p:0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CEC, EPC, aCEC and rCEC may have role in the assessment of vascular involvement in BD. Longitudinal studies would be needed to identify the utility of these cells for the follow up and risk stratification of BD patients with vascular involvement for recurrences or identify BD patients at risk of vascular involvement.

Study for the diagnostic screening of paroxsymal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Turkey: Prospective multicentric evaluation of suspected patients.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease presenting with variable and various clinical findings. PNH might be overlooked and diagnosis may be delayed due to low awareness about PNH. This is the first multicenter study in Turkey, investigating the efficiency of diagnostic screening of PNH by multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) according to consensus guidelines. METHODS: We evaluate the efficiency of consensus clinical indications for PNH testing with FCM in 1689peripheral blood samples from 20 centers between January 2014 and December 2017. RESULTS: Overall, at the 20 centers contributing to this study, PNH clone were detected in 62/1689 samples (3.6%) by FCM test. 75.8% (n = 47) of patients with PNH clone had aplastic anemia, 3.2% (n = 2) had Coombs (-) hemolytic anemia, 6.5% (n = 4) had unexplained cytopenia, 3.2% (n = 2) had MDS with refractory anemia, 1.6% (n = 1) had hemoglobinuria and 9.7% (n = 6) had others (elevated LDH, splenomegaly, etc.). In contrast, we detect no PNH clone test in patients who were screened for unexplained thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that current clinical indications for PNH testing are highly efficient and diagnostic screening of suspected patients for PNH with FCM is recommended. However, advanced screening algorithms are required for patients presenting with unexplained thrombosis and normal complete blood count.

Why are male patients with Behçet's disease prone to thrombosis? A rotational thromboelastographic analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether there is a difference between male and female patients with Behçet's disease (BD) in terms of hypercoagulability by using modified rotational thromboelastograhic (ROTEM) analysis. METHODS: 126 BD patients (71 male, 55 female; mean age: 41±9 yrs) who met ISSG criteria for BD were included into the study. 23 patients with vasculitis (16 female, 7 male; mean age 49±16 yrs), and 25 healthy individuals (11 female, 14 male; mean age: 37±10 yrs) were included to the study as disease and healthy control (HC) group, respectively. Clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT) and maximum clot firmness (MCF) were determined by INTEM and EXTEM analyses. As a marker of vascular endothelial injury, along with inflammatory markers, vWFag levels were investigated in patients and HC group. RESULTS: Extem-CFT was shorter in only vasculitic group compared to HC group. Intem-CFT was found to be shorter in BD patients and vasculitis group compared to HC. Intem-MCF was significantly longer in male BD patients than female BD patients. Extem-CFT was found to be shorter in male BD patients compared to female BD patients. Extem-MCF was statistically longer in male BD patients. In inactive male BD patients, while Intem-CFT was shorter than HC individuals, Intem-MCF and Extem-MCF were statistically longer than HC (p<0.02, p<0.03), respectively. However, no significant differences were found between inactive female BD patients and HC in terms of all ROTEM parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These results support that male BD patients have a hypercoagulable state compared to female BD patients, which may explain why male patients are prone to thrombotic complications.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in daily practice and the role of autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed disease: A retrospective multicenter study.

We investigated the course of 54 patients presenting with primary central nervous system lymphoma, who were treated in daily practice. The patients were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or intrathecal chemotherapy. At a median follow-up period of 23 months (range 1-71), median relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were not reached. Estimated 2-year RFS and OS rates were 42% and 48%, respectively. Ten relapsed PCNSL patients underwent ASCT. Complete remission rate of these patients was 40%, with 20% treatment-related mortality. Estimated 2-year RFS and OS rates were 37% and 40%, respectively. The prognosis of patients with PCNSL, who received off-study treatment, is still dismal.

Evaluation of hypercoagulability state in perinatal arterial ischemic stroke with rotation thromboelastometry.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is an important cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. The etiology of PAIS remains unknown. Several maternal-neonatal disorders, and especially prothrombotic risk factors, have been reported in infants with perinatal stroke (PS). Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) can analyze the coagulation system, from the beginning of coagulation, through clot formation, and ending with fibrinolysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypercoagulability state in PAIS patients using ROTEM. METHODS: Patients were obtained by evaluating hospital files retrospectively. Twenty patients with PAIS and 19 healthy controls were included in the study. Prothrombotic risk factors and standard coagulation parameters were collected for all patients. Thromboelastometry (TEM) analysis was performed with the ROTEM® Coagulation Analyzer model Gamma 2500 (Tem International, Munich, Germany). Patients were separated into two groups; Group 1 included PAIS patients with prothrombotic risk factors and Group 2 included patients with no prothrombotic risk factors. RESULTS: Group 1 includes six patients and Group 2 includes fourteen. Maternal risk factors were reported in 55 % and prothrombotic risk factors were detected in 30 % of the patients. ROTEM analyses were done mean age of 11.2 ± 9.4 months. ROTEM analysis showed that maximum clot firmness (MCF) value on both groups was significantly higher than in the control group, which is consistent with a hypercoagulable state. There was no statistical difference between the MCF values of Group 1 and Group 2. No significant correlations were found between the ROTEM parameters and the hematological parameters. CONCLUSION: The etiology of PAIS is still unclear. Prothrombotic risk factors may be an important etiology for PAIS. However, standard hematological tests for evaluating prothrombotic risk factors are limited. In our study, ROTEM analyses showed higher maximum clot firmness in PAIS patients compared to controls. ROTEM analyses may suggest a hypercoagulable state due to abnormal fibrinolysis in PAIS patients. Normative data and further research is needed to validate our findings.

Is there any complimentary role of F-18 NaF PET/CT in detecting of osseous involvement of multiple myeloma? A comparative study for F-18 FDG PET/CT and F-18 FDG NaF PET/CT.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease characterized by a monoclonal plasma cell population in the bone marrow whereby osseous involvement is a predominant feature. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the combined use of F-18 FDG and F-18 NaF PET/CT in the skeletal assessment of patients with MM and to compare the efficacy of these two PET tracers regarding detection of myeloma-indicative osseous lesions. A total of 26 patients (14 females and 12 males, mean age 61.8 ± 1.8 years (range 40-81 years)) with MM diagnosed according to standard criteria. All patients underwent both F-18 FDG PET/CT and F-18 NaF PET/CT scans within 1 week after the completion of the usual staging workup for MM. In total, approximately 128 focal F-18 FDG avid skeletal lesions were detected; the stage I (n = 5) patients had 10 bone lesions, the stage II (n = 11) patients had 43 lesions, and the stage III (n = 10) patients demonstrated 75 focal bone lesions. F-18 NaF PET/CTs demonstrated fewer myeloma indicative lesions than F-18 FDG PET/CTs. Totally, 57 focal bone lesions were detected with whole body F-18 NaF PET/CT (mean 2.19 ± 0.34, between 1 and 9 lesions); the five stage I patients had 6 bone lesions, the 11 stage II pts had 18 lesions, and the ten stage III patients demonstrated 33 focal bone lesions. On the other hand, F-18 NaF PET/CT demonstrated additional 135 bone lesions defined as rib fractures and other findings due to degenerative changes. In conclusion, our study implies that F-18 NaF PET/CT scan did not actually aid for assessing the myelomatous bone lesions in patients with MM. Therefore, a complementary F-18 NaF PET/CT may be an accurate modality for detecting of bone fracture in patients with MM.

The utility of thromboelastometry in prophylactic platelet transfusion for hematological malignancies.

There is still debate on how platelet transfusions should be used to prevent severe bleeding. The aim of our study is to assess the clinical efficacy of thromboelastometry in reducing number of prophylactic platelet transfusions in patients with hematological malignancies. One hundred hematological malignancy patients were included in the study. Six units random donor platelets (RDPs) was given to the first group, three units RDPs was given to the second group, one unit single donor platelets (SDPs) was given to the third group, and 1/2 unit SDPs was given to the fourth group. Before and 15 minutes after transfusion, rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) was performed (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany). ROTEM(®) parameters did not show any statistical difference between 'low dose' and 'high dose' random or single donor platelet transfusions. Therefore, low dose platelet transfusion can be considered because of its reduced adverse transfusion reactions and economic burden.

Association between endothelial and platelet function markers and adiponectin in renal transplanted recipients on cyclosporine and tacrolimus immunosuppression based therapy.

AIM: Coagulation abnormalities, endothelial dysfunction and arteriosclerosis play a key role in cardiovascular disease state observed in transplanted patients. Plasma adiponectin levels are lower following kidney transplantation. However, there is still a debate about this topic in the literature. This study evaluated, adiponectin levels associated with markers of endothelial dysfunction and platelet function in renal transplant patients. METHODS: Sixty-six renal transplant patients were studied. Patients were grouped according to immunosuppression regimen. Group 1 (n = 36) were treated with cyclosporine A based regimes and group 2 (n = 30) were treated with tacrolimus based regimes. Plasma adiponectin, asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), sP-selectin levels and platelet aggregation tests were studied and were compared with those in control group (n = 15, group 3). RESULTS: Adiponectin, sP-selectin and ADMA levels were higher in group 1 and statistically significant differences were observed compared with those of group 2 and group 3, respectively (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Platelet aggregation values induced by agonists were lower in group 1 than group 2 and group 3, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adiponectin levels are elevated in line with ADMA and sP-selectin levels. Since CsA induces higher adiponectin levels, platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction. These changes may be responsible for the increased risk of post-transplant cardiovascular events in renal transplant patients.

Are the high serum interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor levels useful prognostic markers in aggressive non-hodgkin lymphoma patients?

OBJECTIVE: Pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of lymphoma, and recent studies have shown that cytokines can be used as prognostic markers. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients with high levels of serum interleukin-6 (s-IL6) and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (s-VEGF) have poor prognosis and shorter survival time. We aimed to determine pre-treatment levels of s-IL6 and s-VEGF and their relation with known prognostic markers, especially International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores, and to examine their effects on overall survival in newly diagnosed, untreated aggressive NHL patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 51 newly diagnosed NHL patients and 17 healthy controls. Blood samples were obtained to study s-IL6 and s-VEGF cytokine levels. RESULTS: Patients with aggressive NHL diagnosis had higher s-VEGF and s-IL6 levels than the healthy population. If the s-IL6 levels of patients were above the cut-off levels, the overall survival time was shorter. There was no relation between s-VEGF and overall survival time. CONCLUSION: s-IL6 is an independent prognostic factor that may be included in IPI risk classification. In addition to the s-IL6 level, age, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, beta-2 microglobulin, WHO performance status, and IPI score are independent prognostic factors that are effective, especially for overall survival, in the clinical follow-up of NHL patients.

Bone marrow examination in patients with immune thrombocytopenia: is there anything different in older patients?

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disorder characterised by immune-mediated accelerated platelet destruction and suppressed platelet production. In the bone marrow examinations of patients with ITP, some investigators found megakaryocyte numbers to be increased while others have found them to be normal. Although recent guidelines recommend against bone marrow examinations in typical ITP patients, the recent introduction of thrombopoietin receptor agonists as an effective treatment for ITP has refocused attention on abnormalities of bone marrow megakaryocytes. In this study, we retrospectively analysed the bone marrow aspiration, flow cytometry-CD45 side scatter (SSC) and biopsy results of our patients with ITP by dividing them into two groups according to age (<60 yr and ≥60 yr). Ninety eight newly diagnosed ITP patients were included in the study. CD45 SSC results were recorded as percentages of normoblasts, granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes and myeloid/erythroid ratio. Length of the biopsy specimen, cellularity, presence of dysplasia or fibrosis with number, morphology and distribution of megakaryocytes were recorded. In group 1, there were 49 patients. Mean age was 41.31 ± 12.77 yr. In group 2, there were 49 patients. Mean age was 70.78 ± 7.88 yr. Megakaryocyte numbers on bone marrow aspirates were not recorded in most patients, so we could not comment on this point. Flow cytometry results and bone marrow findings were similar between two groups. In conclusion, there is no difference between bone marrow examinations of young and older patients with ITP, and biopsy should not be recommended in typical ITP patients as already mentioned in guidelines.

Cardiac and pulmonary thrombosis during multidrug treatment in an idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patient.

Glucocorticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, vincristine, danazol, and eltrombopag are used in refractory chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). All those treatment modalities are susceptible for thrombosis generation. There is an increased risk of thrombosis in the diseases' natural course. The case we present is a resistant chronic ITP patient who developed pulmonary and intracardiac thrombosis during multidrug treatment. Risk of concomitant usage of drugs and rapid increase in platelet count are discussed.

Renal hemosiderosis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with primary hemochromatosis.

Hereditary hemochromatosis leads to the accumulation of iron in many organs including the liver, spleen and heart and results in injury and dysfunction of these organs. On the other hand, iron accumulation and functional impairment in kidney is extremely rare. We report a 61-year-old male patient with hereditary hemochromatosis, in whom the renal function was deteriorated rapidly. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomeruli and hemosiderin accumulation in tubular epithelial cells.