RESUMO
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare blistering disease often considered a primary sign of a paraneoplastic syndrome. Retrospective studies have established its link with hematological malignancies, particularly lymphoproliferative disorders. Here, we present what we believe to be the inaugural case of successful simultaneous management of BP and de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a 28-year-old male patient. Given the rarity and severity of both conditions, our treatment strategy aimed to maximize efficacy by combining immunosuppressive therapy (initially plasmapheresis with high-dose corticosteroids, followed by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and intravenous immunoglobulins 2 g/m2) with lymphodepleting antileukemic chemotherapy utilizing Fludarabine (FLAG-IDA induction regimen). Following diagnosis, considering the patient's youth and the concurrent presence of two rare and potentially life-threatening diseases, we opted for an aggressive treatment. Upon achieving complete morphological remission of AML with measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity, despite incomplete resolution of BP, we proceeded with high-dose cytarabine consolidation followed by peripheral stem cell harvest and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Our conditioning regimen for ASCT involved Bu-Cy with the addition of anti-thymocyte globulins. At day + 100 post-ASCT, bone marrow evaluation confirmed morphological remission and MRD negativity. Meanwhile, BP had completely resolved with normalization of BP180 antibody levels.
Assuntos
Leucemia Mieloide Aguda , Síndromes Paraneoplásicas , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/terapia , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/complicações , Síndromes Paraneoplásicas/etiologia , Síndromes Paraneoplásicas/terapia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Penfigoide Bolhoso/terapia , Penfigoide Bolhoso/tratamento farmacológico , Citarabina/administração & dosagem , Citarabina/uso terapêutico , Imunossupressores/uso terapêutico , Pênfigo/terapia , Pênfigo/complicações , Vidarabina/análogos & derivados , Vidarabina/uso terapêutico , Vidarabina/administração & dosagem , Imunoglobulinas Intravenosas/uso terapêutico , Plasmaferese , Medicina de PrecisãoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Neoangiogenesis has a crucial role in multiple myeloma (MM), and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) contribute to neovascularization by inducing tumor progression and metastasis and by repairing damage to bone marrow vasculature after stem cell transplantation (HSC). We recently proved in a national multicenter study the possibility to reach a high-level standardization in CEC count and analysis based on a polychromatic flow cytometry Lyotube (BD). Our study aimed at assessing the kinetics of CECs in patients with MM undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Au-HSCT). METHODS: Blood samples for analysis were collected at different time points before (T0, T1) and after (T2, T3, T4) Au-HSCT. For each sample, 20 × 106 leukocytes were processed as already described (Lanuti 2016 e 2018) through a multistep procedure. CECs were eventually identified as 7-ADDneg/Syto16pos/CD45neg/CD34pos/CD146pos. RESULTS: Twenty-six MM patients were enrolled in the study. Overall, we observed a constant increase of CECs values from T0 to T3 (day of neutrophil engraftment) followed by decrease at T4 (100 days after transplantation). Using the median value of CECs at T3, we could define a cut-off concentration of 618/mL, with patients with more infective complications having CECs above that value (9/13 vs. 2/13; p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: CECs value may be a function of endothelial damage caused by conditioning regimen, as suggested by the increase of their level during the engraftment period. A more severe endothelial damage is reflected by the increase of infective complications in patients with higher CECs value at T3.
Assuntos
Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas , Mieloma Múltiplo , Humanos , Mieloma Múltiplo/terapia , Células Endoteliais/patologia , Cinética , Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/efeitos adversos , Citometria de Fluxo/métodos , Transplante AutólogoRESUMO
To optimise management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection identifying high-risk patients and maintaining treatment dose intensity is an important issue in patients with aggressive lymphomas. In the present study, we report on the presentation, management, and outcome of an international series of 91 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma and SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 was diagnosed before/during first-line treatment in 64 patients, during follow-up in 21, and during salvage therapy in six. Among the 64 patients infected before/during first-line chemotherapy, 38 (59%) developed pneumonia and 26 (41%) did not clear the virus. Prolonged exposure to steroids before viral infection and/or treatment with high-dose cytarabine favoured pneumonia development and virus persistence and were associated with poorer survival; 81% of patients who did not clear virus died early from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccination was associated with lower pneumonia incidence and in-hospital mortality. Chemotherapy was initiated/resumed in 43 (67%) patients, more commonly among patients who did not develop pneumonia, cleared the virus, or did not receive steroids during infection. Chemotherapy resumption in patients with viral persistence should be indicated cautiously as it was associated with a poorer survival (6-month, 70% and 87%, p = 0.07). None of the 21 patients infected during follow-up died from COVID-19, requiring similar measures as infected subjects in the general population.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Linfoma , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Sistema Nervoso Central , Linfoma/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
COVID-19 is associated with high mortality in patients with haematological malignancies (HM) and rate of seroconversion is unknown. The ITA-HEMA-COV project (NCT04352556) investigated patterns of seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 IgG in patients with HMs. A total of 237 patients, SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive with at least one SARS-CoV-2 IgG test performed during their care, entered the analysis. Among these, 62 (26·2%) had myeloid, 121 (51·1%) lymphoid and 54 (22·8%) plasma cell neoplasms. Overall, 69% of patients (164 of 237) had detectable IgG SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies. Serologically negative patients (31%, 73 of 237) were evenly distributed across patients with myeloid, lymphoid and plasma cell neoplasms. In the multivariable logistic regression, chemoimmunotherapy [odds ratio (OR), 3·42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1·04-11·21; P = 0·04] was associated with a lower rate of seroconversion. This effect did not decline after 180 days from treatment withdrawal (OR, 0·35; 95% CI: 0·11-1·13; P = 0·08). This study demonstrates a low rate of seroconversion in HM patients and indicates that treatment-mediated immune dysfunction is the main driver. As a consequence, we expect a low rate of seroconversion after vaccination and thus we suggest testing the efficacy of seroconversion in HM patients.
Assuntos
Formação de Anticorpos , COVID-19/complicações , Neoplasias Hematológicas/complicações , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , COVID-19/imunologia , Feminino , Neoplasias Hematológicas/imunologia , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Soroconversão , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is recommended for diagnosing lung infiltrates (LI) in patients with hematologic malignancy (HM). Prospective data on the impact of BAL on survival are still lacking. We conducted a prospective observational study on patients who performed BAL for LI among 3055 HM patients hospitalized from January to September 2018. The BAL was performed in 145 out of 434 patients who developed LI, at a median time of four days from LI detection. The median age was 60 (1-83). Most patients had an acute myeloid leukemia/myelodisplastic syndrome (81), followed by lymphoma (41), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (27), and other types of HM (36). A putative causal agent was detected in 111 cases (76%), and in 89 cases (61%) the BAL results provided guidance to antimicrobial treatment. We observed a significantly improved outcome of LI at day +30 in patients who could receive a BAL-driven antimicrobial treatment (improvement/resolution rate: 71% vs 55%; P = .04). Moreover, we observed a significantly improved outcome in 120-day overall survival (120d-OS) (78% vs 59%; P = .009) and 120-day attributable mortality (120d-AM) (11% vs 30%; P = 0.003) for patients who could receive a BAL-driven treatment. The multivariate analysis showed that BAL-driven antimicrobial treatment was significantly associated with better 120d-OS and lower 120d-AM. We did not observe any severe adverse events. In conclusion BAL allows detection of a putative agent of LI in about 75% of cases, it is feasible and well tolerated in most cases, demonstrating that a BAL-driven antimicrobial treatment allows improvement of clinical outcome and survival.
Assuntos
Anti-Infecciosos/uso terapêutico , Líquidos Corporais/microbiologia , Lavagem Broncoalveolar , Neoplasias Hematológicas/complicações , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/tratamento farmacológico , Pulmão/microbiologia , Pneumonia Bacteriana/tratamento farmacológico , Pneumonia Viral/tratamento farmacológico , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Líquidos Corporais/química , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Galactose/análogos & derivados , Humanos , Lactente , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/diagnóstico , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/etiologia , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/microbiologia , Masculino , Mananas/análise , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pneumonia Bacteriana/diagnóstico , Pneumonia Bacteriana/etiologia , Pneumonia Bacteriana/microbiologia , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Pneumonia Viral/etiologia , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Estudos Prospectivos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) performance can be limited by a lack of ideal donors, and the role of alternative donor hematopoietic cell transplantation in thalassemia is not well established. Here we used a new treatment protocol (Pc 26.1) in 16 thalassemia patients to perform BMT using phenotypically HLA-identical or 1-antigen-mismatched relatives (related donors [RDs]). We compared these results with HLA-matched sibling (matched sibling donors [MSDs]) BMT in 66 patients. The entire RD group and 88% of MSD group had sustained engraftment. Rejection incidence was 0% in the RD and 12% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 6%-21%) in MSD groups (P = .15), with respective thalassemia-free survival probabilities of 94% (95% CI, 63%-99%) and 82% (95% CI, 70%-89%) (P = .24). Transplant-related mortality was 6% (95% CI, 1%-26%) in the RD group and 8% (95% CI, 3%-16%) in the MSD group (P = .83). The intensified new protocol was not associated with increased nonhematologic toxicity. The present data show that the Pc 26.1 preparative regimen allows thalassemia patients to safely undergo BMT from RDs who are not HLA-matched siblings, with transplant outcomes similar to patients with MSD grafts.
Assuntos
Transplante de Medula Óssea/métodos , Teste de Histocompatibilidade , Histocompatibilidade , Talassemia/terapia , Adolescente , Líquido Amniótico , Transplante de Medula Óssea/mortalidade , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Família , Feminino , Rejeição de Enxerto/mortalidade , Doença Enxerto-Hospedeiro/mortalidade , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Taxa de Sobrevida , Talassemia/mortalidade , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Midostaurin is used in combination with chemotherapy to treat patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia exposes these patients to a significant risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). International guidelines recommend primary antifungal prophylaxis with posaconazole (PCZ) but nested analysis of a phase III trial showed that strong PCZ inhibition of CYP3A4 diminished midostaurin metabolism and increased midostaurin plasma levels; however, midostaurin-related adverse events (AEs) were only moderately exacerbated. We conducted a prospective multicenter real-life study to evaluate (i) how often concerns around PCZ-midostaurin interactions made the hematologist prescribe antifungals other than PCZ, (ii) how remarkably PCZ increased midostaurin plasma levels, and (iii) how significantly PCZ-midostaurin interactions influenced hematologic and safety outcomes of induction therapy. Although the hematologists were blinded to pharmacokinetic findings, as many as 16 of 35 evaluable patients were prescribed antifungal prophylaxis with micafungin, weak CYP3A4 inhibitor, in place of PCZ (p < 0.001 for deviation from guidelines). In the 19 patients managed as per guidelines, PCZ-midostaurin interactions were more remarkable than previously characterized, such that at the end of induction therapy midostaurin minimum plasma concentration (Cmin ) was greater than three times higher than reported; moreover, midostaurin Cmin , maximum plasma concentration, and area under the curve were more than or equal to four times higher with PCZ than micafungin. Hematologic outcomes (complete remission and duration of severe neutropenia) and safety outcomes (midostaurin-related any grade or grade ≥3 AEs) were nonetheless similar for patients exposed to PCZ or micafungin, as was the number of breakthrough IFIs. In waiting for randomized phase III trials of new prophylaxis regimens, these findings show that PCZ should remain the antifungal of choice for the midostaurin-treated patient.
Assuntos
Leucemia Mieloide Aguda , Neutropenia , Humanos , Antifúngicos/efeitos adversos , Micafungina/uso terapêutico , Estudos Prospectivos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/diagnóstico , Tirosina Quinase 3 Semelhante a fms/genéticaRESUMO
High morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 were described in the pre-vaccination era in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To evaluate COVID-19 morbidity after the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, we carried out a prospective study in 200 CLL patients. The median age of patients was 70 years; 35% showed IgG levels ≤ 550 mg/dL, 61% unmutated IGHV, and 34% showed TP53 disruption. Most patients, 83.5%, were previously treated, including 36% with ibrutinib and 37.5% with venetoclax. The serologic response rates to the second and third dose of the vaccine were 39% and 53%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 23.4 months, 41% of patients experienced COVID-19, 36.5% during the Omicron pandemic, and 10% had subsequent COVID-19 events. Severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization was recorded in 26% of patients, and 4% died. Significant and independent factors associated with the response to the vaccine and vulnerability to COVID-19 were age (OR: 0.93; HR: 0.97) and less than 18 months between the start of targeted agents and vaccine (OR: 0.17; HR: 0.31). TP53 mutation and ≥two prior treatments also emerged as significant and independent factors associated with an increased risk of developing COVID-19 (HR: 1.85; HR: 2.08). No statistical difference in COVID-19 morbidity was found in patients with or without antibody response to the vaccine (47.5% vs. 52.5%; p = 0.21). Given the persistent risk of infection due to the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, our results support the importance of new vaccines and protective measures to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 in CLL patients.
Assuntos
Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/efeitos adversos , Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/mortalidade , Pulmão/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Imunossupressores/efeitos adversos , Pulmão/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Espirometria , Capacidade Pulmonar Total , Transplante AutólogoRESUMO
Lymphoma represents a heterogeneous hematological malignancy (HM), which is characterized by severe immunosuppression. Patients diagnosed of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the course of HM have been described to have poor outcome, with only few reports specifically addressing lymphoma patients. Here, we investigated the clinical behavior and clinical parameters of a large multicenter cohort of adult patients with different lymphoma subtypes, with the aim of identifying predictors of death. The study included 856 patients, of whom 619 were enrolled prospectively in a 1-year frame and were followed-up for a median of 66 days (range 1-395). Patients were managed as outpatient (not-admitted cohort, n = 388) or required hospitalization (n = 468), and median age was 63 years (range 19-94). Overall, the 30- and 100-days mortality was 13% (95% confidence interval (CI), 11% to 15%) and 23% (95% CI, 20% to 27%), respectively. Antilymphoma treatment, including anti-CD20 containing regimens, did not impact survival. Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma had the more favorable survival, but this was partly related to significantly younger age. The time interval between lymphoma diagnosis and COVID-19 was inversely related to mortality. Multivariable analysis recognized 4 easy-to-use factors (age, gender, lymphocyte, and platelet count) that were associated with risk of death, both in the admitted and in the not-admitted cohort (HR 3.79 and 8.85 for the intermediate- and high-risk group, respectively). Overall, our study shows that patients should not be deprived of the best available treatment of their underlying disease and indicates which patients are at higher risk of death. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04352556.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Linfoma , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos de Coortes , Humanos , Linfoma/diagnóstico , Linfoma/terapia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , SARS-CoV-2 , Adulto JovemRESUMO
A comprehensive panel of clinical-biological parameters was prospectively evaluated at presentation in 112 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (<65 years), to predict the risk of progression in early stage disease. Eighty-one percent were in Binet stage A, 19% in stages B/C. Treatment-free survival was evaluated as the time from diagnosis to first treatment, death or last follow up. In univariate analysis, advanced stage, hemoglobin, platelets, white blood cell, leukemic lymphocyte count, raised beta 2-microglobulin and LDH, unmutated immunoglobulin variable region genes, CD38, del(17p), del(11q) and +12, were significantly associated with a short treatment-free survival; the T/leukemic lymphocyte ratio was associated with a better outcome. Multivariate analysis of treatment-free survival in stage A patients selected a high white blood cell count and unmutated immunoglobulin variable region genes as unfavorable prognostic factors and a high T/leukemic lymphocyte ratio as a favorable one. At diagnosis, these parameters independently predict the risk of progression in stage A chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
Assuntos
Região Variável de Imunoglobulina/genética , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/sangue , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/genética , Mutação/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/mortalidade , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/patologia , Contagem de Leucócitos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Prognóstico , Fatores de Risco , Análise de Sobrevida , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genéticaRESUMO
Background: There is paucity of data on the potential value of early palliative home care for patients with hematologic malignancies. Objective: To compare costs, use of resources, and clinical outcomes between an early palliative home care program and standard hospital care for active-advanced or terminal phase patients. Patients and Methods: In this real-life, nonrandomized comparative study, the allocation of advanced/terminal phase patients to either home or hospital was based on pragmatic considerations. Analysis focused on resources use, events requiring blood unit transfusions or parenteral therapy, patient-reported symptom burden, mean weekly cost of care (MWC), cost-minimization difference, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results: Of 119 patients, 59 patients cared at home were more debilitated and had a shorter survival than the 60 in hospital group (p = 0.001). Nevertheless, symptom burden was similar in both groups. At home the mean weekly number of transfusions (1.45) was lower than that at hospital (2.77). Higher rate of infections occurred at hospital (54%) versus home (21%; <0.001). MWC for hospitalization was significantly higher in a 3:1 ratio versus home care. Compared with hospital, domiciliary assistance produced a weekly saving of 2314.9 for the health provider, with a charge of 85.9 for the family, and was cost-effective by an ICER of -7013.9 of prevented days of care for avoided infections. Conclusions: Current findings suggest that costs of early palliative home care for patients with hematologic malignancies are lower than standard hospital care costs. Domiciliary assistance may also be cost-effective by reducing the number of days to treat infections.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Hematológicas , Serviços de Assistência Domiciliar , Análise Custo-Benefício , Hospitais , Humanos , Cuidados PaliativosRESUMO
Five cases of persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) with progressive splenomegaly are reported; three were splenectomized. BCL2/IGH rearrangements were found in three cases; HLA-DRB1*07 in all. Bone marrow (BM) trephines showed a moderate lymphoid infiltrate with intrasinusoidal distribution resembling a splenic marginal-zone lymphoma. Splenic white pulp revealed an enlargement of the marginal-zone area; red pulp was infiltrated by the same lymphocytes engulfing the sinuses. Splenic and BM B-lymphocytes were CD79a(+)/CD20(+)/IgM(+)/IgD(+)/bcl-2(+)/CD27(+)/DBA.44(-)/CD31(-) and polyclonal by immunophenotype/polymerase chain reaction. PPBL features an expansion of splenic marginal-zone B-lymphocytes, which infiltrate BM sinusoids and circulate in the blood with no evidence of clonality, even in cases with progressive splenomegaly.
Assuntos
Linfócitos B/imunologia , Linfocitose/imunologia , Fumar/imunologia , Baço/imunologia , Esplenomegalia/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Medula Óssea/imunologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Rearranjo Gênico , Antígenos HLA-DR/análise , Cadeias HLA-DRB1 , Humanos , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas/genética , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas/imunologia , Imunofenotipagem , Contagem de Linfócitos , Linfocitose/cirurgia , Masculino , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/imunologia , Esplenectomia , Adulto JovemAssuntos
Linfócitos B/patologia , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/imunologia , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/patologia , Linfocitose/diagnóstico , Doadores de Tecidos , Adulto , Idoso , Células Clonais/imunologia , Células Clonais/patologia , Feminino , Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas , Humanos , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/terapia , Contagem de Linfócitos , Linfocitose/etiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Irmãos , Transplante HomólogoRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for sickle cell anemia (SCA). We report our experience with transplantation in children with the Black African variant of SCA and the effects of transplant on erythroid compartment in bone marrow (BM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients who underwent BM transplantation from HLA-identical donors following a myeloablative conditioning regimen were included. Using both CD71 and FSC parameters, we obtained three erythroid populations: EryA-C. Ery A (CD71(high) FSC(high)) are basophilic; Ery B (CD71(high) FSC(low)) are late basophilic and polychromatic; and Ery C (CD71(low) FSC(low)) are orthochromatic erythroblasts and reticulocytes. To analyze the effect of transplantation on intramedullary apoptosis, we studied Fas (CD95+) and caspase-3 expression in erythroblast subpopulations. RESULTS: All patients experienced sustained engraftment, and all surviving patients remained free of SCA-related events after transplantation. The erythroid population showed expansion in the BM at baseline. After transplant, levels decreased, especially of Ery C, in parallel to reduced Fas expression and an initial caspase 3 increase in erythroid population, similar to reported later steps of "normal" erythroid maturation. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a good chance of cure for children with SCA, with an excellent survival rate. We also observed "normalization" of erythroid populations in parallel with a decreased intramedullary apoptosis rate, suggesting normal erythroid maturation in ex-SCA patients after HSCT.