Excellent long-term survival of 170 patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia treated in private oncology practices and a university hospital.

The purpose of this study was to compare treatment and outcome of patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) in four private oncology practices (PP) and a university hospital (UH) in southwest Germany. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with WM of the last two decades of four PP in Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, and Speyer and the Department of Hematology of the University of Heidelberg. One hundred seventy patients could be identified, 74 from PP, 96 from the UH. Median age was 63.3 years. Patients from PP were older (median 65.3 vs. 62.5 years, p = 0.01). Only 54 % of patients from PP have received treatment during the observation time, as compared to 78.1 % of the UH (p < 0.001). In PP, 35 % of treated patients have received rituximab, as compared to 62.6 % of the patients of the UH (p < 0.001). Sixty percent of treated patients of PP have received bendamustine, as compared to only 8 % of the patients of the UH (p < 0.001). Time to first treatment was significantly shorter in patients from the UH compared to PP (median 13.7 vs. 52.9 months, p = 0.05). A trend towards a better overall survival was observed for patients treated with a rituximab-containing first-line regimen. The International Prognostic Scoring System for WM had significant prognostic value. Median overall survival was 25.0 years and did not differ between PP and UH. Despite different treatment strategies between PP and UH today overall survival of patients with WM is excellent, and better than previously reported.

The rainbow cohort: 96 week follow-up of saquinavir-containing regimens in previously antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive and pre-treated but protease inhibitor (PI)-naive HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: We have previously reported data from the German cohort of the multinational observational prospective RAINBOW survey which assessed the tolerability and efficacy of ritonavir-boosted saquinavir (SQV/r)-containing regimens over 48 weeks in routine clinical practice. This analysis presents data from antiretroviral (ART)-naive and pretreated but protease inhibitor (PI)-naive patients treated in a long-term one line (96 weeks) follow-up of the initial study. METHODS: All ART- and PI-naive patients from the initial RAINBOW cohort who had recorded data to one line 96 weeks of treatment were eligible for inclusion in the current analysis. Efficacy assessments included the proportion of patients with HIV-1 RNA <50 and <400 copies/mL and changes in CD4 cell count from baseline to week 96. Tolerability assessments included changes in liver enzymes and lipid levels from baseline to week 96. For evaluation of efficacy, intent-to-treat analysis, in which missing values were recorded as failure (ITT), and last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF) analysis were used. Metabolic parameters were assessed using LOCF analysis. RESULTS: The analysis included 175 ART-naive and 109 pretreated but PI-naive patients. After 96 weeks, a similar proportion of patients in the ART-naive and in the pretreated but PI-naive group had HIV-1 RNA levels <400 copies/mL (68.0% and 70.6% [ITT], respectively; 96.6% and 90.8% [LOCF], respectively). The proportion of patients with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL was higher in the ART-naive group compared with the pretreated but PI-naive group (61.1% and 56.9% [ITT], respectively; 84.0% and 75.2% [LOCF], respectively). Median change in CD4 cell count from baseline to week 96 was +263 cells/mm3 (IQR 170; 384. LOCF; p<0.0001) in the ART-naive group, and one line +181 cells/mm3 (IQR 60; 309. LOCF; p<0.0001) in the pretreated but PI-naive group. Treatment was well tolerated, with only 2.5% of patients withdrawing from treatment due to side effects. There were no clinically relevant changes in liver enzyme levels. Overall total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low- and high-density lipoprotein levels increased to week 96, although levels remained within normal ranges in the majority of ART-naive and pretreated patients. CONCLUSIONS: This follow-up analysis confirms the long term efficacy and tolerability of SQV/r in ART-naive and pretreated but PI- naive patients in the real-life clinical setting.

Safety and efficacy of a saquinavir-containing antiretroviral regimen in previously ART-naïve or pretreated but protease inhibitor-naïve HIV-positive patients.

BACKGROUND: The RAINBOW survey is a multinational observational study assessing the tolerability and efficacy of ritonavir-boosted saquinavir (SQV/r), using the 500-mg film-coated SQV formulation, in routine clinical practice. This analysis presents data from the German subgroup of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve and pretreated but protease inhibitor (PI)-naïve patients. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, open-label, 48-week observational cohort study. Tolerability assessments included changes in liver enzymes and lipid levels from baseline to week 48. Efficacy assessments included changes in the proportion of patients with HIV-1 RNA <50 and <400 copies/ml, and changes in CD4 cell count from baseline to week 48. RESULTS: The analysis included 275 ART-naïve and 179 pretreated but PI-naïve patients. The proportion of ART-naïve patients achieving <50 copies/ml by 48 weeks was 53.1% by intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 67.3% using last observation carried forward (LOCF) analysis. In pretreated but PI-naïve patients, the proportions achieving <50 copies/ml by 48 weeks were 53.1% (ITT) and 70.4% (LOCF). The median increase in CD4 count at week 48 was +174 cells/mm3 (interquartile range [IQR] 86, 265) in the ART-naïve group and +100 cells/mm3 (IQR 0, 209) in the pretreated but PI-naïve group (p < 0.01 for both; LOCF). Drug-related adverse events were reported in 7.6% of ART-naïve and 2.8% of pretreated but PI-naïve patients. Treatment with SQV/r was stopped in 21.5% of ART-naïve and 17.9% of pretreated but PI-naïve patients (due to side effects in 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively). There were no clinically relevant changes in liver enzyme levels. Overall, the total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels increased to week 48, although the levels remained within normal ranges in the majority of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this observational cohort study of treatment with the 500-mg tablet formulation of SQV are consistent with high efficacy and tolerability results seen in controlled studies of SQV/r. This analysis confirms that SQV/r is effective and well tolerated in ART-naïve and pretreated but PI-naïve patients in 'real-world' clinical settings.

Safety and efficacy after switch to a saquinavir-containing antiretroviral regimen in protease inhibitor pretreated HIV-positive patients.

OBJECTIVE: the RAINBOW survey is a multinational observational study assessing the tolerability and efficacy of ritonavir-boosted saquinavir (SQV/r), using the 500 mg film-coated SQV formulation, in routine clinical practice. This analysis presents data from the German subgroup of protease inhibitor (PI)-pretreated, but SQV-naive patients. METHODS: multicenter, prospective, open-label, 48 week cohort study. Efficacy assessments included the proportion of patients with HIV-1 RNA <50 and <400 copies/mL and changes in CD4 cell count from baseline to week 48. Tolerability assessments included changes in liver enzymes and lipid levels from baseline to week 48. RESULTS: a total of 426 patients were included in the analysis. The proportion of patients with HIV RNA levels <50 copies/mL at week 48 was 60.3 % (compared with 31.7% at switch to SQV/r) (intent-to-treat, last observation carried forward analysis). After 48 weeks, median CD4 count increased by +61 cells/mm3 from baseline (p<0.01) and 60.3% of patients achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL. Median changes in fasting triglyceride levels (stratified according to baseline level) at week 48 were: +14 mg/dL (IQR -8; 57) for patients with baseline triglyceride <200 mg/dL; -50 mg/dL (IQR -139; 0) for baseline triglyceride 200-750 mg/dL, and -656 mg/dL (IQR -1024; 0) for baseline triglyceride >750 mg/dL (p<0.01 for all). Median changes in fasting total cholesterol (TC) levels (stratified according to baseline) were +16 mg/dL (IQR -3; 43) for patients with baseline TC <200 mg/dL (p<0.01), -3 mg/dL (IQR -25; 25) for baseline TC 200-300 mg/dL (p = 0.4), and -47 mg/dL (IQR -87; -4) for baseline TC >300 mg/dL (p<0.01). No significant changes in liver enzymes or bilirubin were observed. SQV treatment was discontinued in 22% of patients, 6% due to side effects. CONCLUSIONS: these data confirm the efficacy and tolerability of SQV/r in PI-experienced, SQV-naive patients treated in a real-life clinical setting. Of particular relevance are the improvements in triglycerides and TC levels observed in patients with baseline grade III-IV elevations.

Treatment during primary HIV infection does not lower viral set point but improves CD4 lymphocytes in an observational cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if early treatment of primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) reduces viral set point and/or increases CD4 lymphocytes. METHODS: Analysis of two prospective multi-centre PHI cohorts. HIV-1 RNA and CD4 lymphocytes in patients with transient treatment were compared to those in untreated patients. Time to CD4 lymphocyte decrease below 350/ microl after treatment stop or seroconversion was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox-PH-regression analyses. RESULTS: 156 cases of PHI were included, of which 100 had received transient HAART (median treatment time 9.5 months) and 56 remained untreated. Median viral load (563000 cop/ml vs 240000 cop/ml; p<0.001) and median CD4 lymphocyte (449/ microl vs. 613/ microl; p<0.01) differed significantly between treated and untreated patients. Median viral load was 38056 copies/ml in treated patients (12 months after treatment stop) and 52880 copies/ml in untreated patients (12 months after seroconversion; ns). Median CD4 lymphocyte change was +60/ microl vs. -86/ microl (p = 0.01). Median time until CD4 lymphocytes decreased to <350/ microl (including all patients with CD4 lymphocytes <500/ microl during seroconversion) was 20.7 months in treated patients after treatment stop and 8.3 months in untreated patents after seroconversion (p<0.01). Cox-PH analyses adjusting for baseline VL, CD4 lymphocytes, stage of early infection and symptoms confirmed these differences. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment during PHI did not lower viral set point. However, patients treated during seroconversion had an increase in CD4 lymphocytes, whereas untreated patients experienced a decrease in CD4 lymphocytes. Time until reaching CD4 lymphocytes <350/ microl was significantly shorter in untreated than in treated patients including patients with CD4 lymphocytes <500/ microl during seroconversion.

[High incidence of non-AIDS-defined cancers among HIV-infected patients in Germany. A 3-year nationwide review]. / Hohe Inzidenz nicht AIDS-definierender Neoplasien bei HIV-infizierten Patienten in Deutschland. Ein 3-jähriger bundesweiter Uberblick.

OBJECTIVE: It was the main aim of this study to obtain data on the epidemiology of AIDS- and not AIDS-defined malignancies in HIV-positive persons, the results to provide an epidemiological overview and to be the basis for further research initiatives. Additionally it sought to gain an impression of the realities of treatment of patients with HIV-associated malignant tumors in Germany. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a period of 3 years (from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2002) data were retrospectively collected on the incidence of malignant tumors in HIV-positive patients. A questionnaire was sent to all members of the German Working Party of Physicians in Private Practice Treating HIV-Infected Patients, all members of the Association of Haematologists and Oncologists in Private Practice, and all out-patient HIV clinics in Germany. The questionnaires were sent to a total of 949 practices/clinics. The data were collected on all AIDS- and not-AIDS-defined haematological malignancies and all AIDS- and not-AIDS-defined solid malignant tumors in HIV-positive patients, as well as on time of diagnosis of the malignancy, tumor stage, tumor treatment and response to treatment. RESULTS: 380 data sets on 376 patients of 50 practices/clinics were included in the analysis (four patients had two malignant tumors). 180 malignant neoplasms (47%) were AIDS-defined: 89 Kaposi's sarcomas, 82 aggressive B-cell lymphomas and 9 invasive cervical carcinomas. The aggressive B-cell lymphomas consisted of 19 cases of Burkitt's lymphoma, 8 of Castleman's disease and 12 of primary cerebral malignant lymphoma. Of the 200 (52.6%) not-AIDS-defined malignant tumors 133 were 133 solid tumors, 40 of them anal carcinoma (20% of all not-AIDS-defined malignancies) and 67 haematological malignancies, 22 of these Hodgkin's lymphoma (11.0% of all not-AIDS-defined malignancies). The incidence of anal carcinoma is estimated to be 34 (95% CI 24-470) per 100 000 patient-years, that of Hodgkin's lymphoma 19 (95% CI 12-28) per 100 000 patient-years. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that over a period of 3 years there was a very high incidence of not-AIDS-defined malignancies. Of special note is the high incidence of anal carcinoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, compared with their incidence among the entire German population.

[Left bundle-branch block and primary benign heart tumor]. / Linksschenkelblock und primärer benigner Herztumor.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) of a 56-year-old woman suffering from insomnia and nervousness revealed left bundle branch block, an ECG two years previously having been normal. Echocardiography showed a perimyocardial space-occupying lesion in the area of the left ventricle. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a 6 x 6 x 7 cm solid tumour, which could not be separated from the myocardium of the dorsal portion of the ventricle and the left atrial wall. Coronary angiography demonstrated a few small atypical vessels originating from the right coronary artery. An endomyocardial biopsy was equivocal. An exploratory thoracotomy revealed a large, livid tumour which could not be resected because it involved a large area of the left ventricle and left atrium. Surgical biopsy showed a cavernous haemangioma. The subsequent course (ten months' follow-up) has so far been unremarkable.