Platelet count response to Helicobacter pylori eradication for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in northeastern Brazil

Abstract Background: Several studies have demonstrated that platelet counts in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura improved significantly after successful eradication of the infection. However, depending of the geographical region of the study the results have been highly divergent. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on platelet count in a cohort of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients from northeastern Brazil. Method: H. pylori status was determined in 28 chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients using the rapid urease test and histology. H. pylori-positive patients received standard triple therapy for one week. The effect of the eradication therapy was evaluated using the 13C-urea breath test two to three months after treatment. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was similar to that found in the general population. Twenty-two patients (78.5%) were H. pylori-positive. Fifteen were treated, 13 (86%) of whom successfully. At six months, 4/13 (30%) displayed increased platelet counts, which remained throughout follow-up (12 months). Platelet response was not associated to mean baseline platelet count, duration of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, gender, age, previous use of medication, or splenectomy. Conclusions: H. pylori eradication therapy showed relatively low platelet recovery rates, comparable with previous studies from southeastern Brazil. The effect of H. pylori eradication on platelet counts remained after one year of follow-up suggesting that treating H. pylori infection might be worthwhile in a subset of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma - evaluation of patients submitted to Autologous transplantation of hematopoietic cells in the Hematology Service of the Hospital Walter Cantídio - Fortaleza, Brazil / Linfoma de Hodgkin - avaliação dos pacientes submetidos a transplante autólogo de células hematopoéticas no Serviço de Hematologia do HUWC

SUMMARY The Autologous HSCT is an important alternative for refractory or recurrent HL patients in terms of survival and improved quality of life. This study analyzes the results of autologous BMT performed in HL patients in the Transplant Unit of the HUWC/ HEMOCE (Fortaleza - CE, Brazil). Fifty-two transplanted patients were studied from January 2009 to October 2015, among them, 30 men and 22 women, mean age of 28.2 years. All of them received GCS-F during the mobilization, in some cases associated with Vinorelbine or Plerixafor, with CD34 collection averaging 4.8 CD34/kg. The conditioning was performed with BEAC, NEAM or BEAM and the grafting with an average of 10 days. The evaluation on D + 100 showed: CR - 42 (82.7%), PR - 08 (13.5%) and 02 (3.8%) deaths, three and six days after cell infusion. After the D+100, 08 patients in CR showed HL recurrence from 06 to 36 months; 03 died and 05 are being treated with brentuximab; among the 08 patients in PR, 01 died due to HL activity, 04 months after BMT and 07 patients are undergoing treatment. The final evaluation of HL transplant patients showed an OS of 88.5% and a DFS of 61.5% in 6 years, with OS of the chemosensitive patients of 81% and of the chemoresistant ones, of 72.6%. It is possible to conclude that the Autologous HSCT has shown to be an excellent rescue therapy regarding tolerance, as well as the overall survival.

RESUMO O TCTH autólogo é uma importante alternativa para os pacientes de LH refratários ou recidivados, em termos de sobrevida e melhora da qualidade de vida. O presente trabalho analisa os resultados do TMO autólogo realizado em pacientes de LH na Unidade de Transplante do SH do HUWC/HEMOCE. Foram estudados 52 pacientes submetidos ao TMO de janeiro de 2009 a outubro de 2015, sendo 30 homens e 22 mulheres, média de idade de 28,2 anos. Todos receberam GCS-F na mobilização, em alguns casos associados a Vinorelbine ou a Plerixafor e coleta de CD34 com média de 4,8CD34/kilo. O condicionamento foi realizado com BEAC, NEAM ou BEAM e a enxertia com média de 10 dias. A avaliação no D+100 mostrou: RC – 42 (82,7%), RP – 08 (13,5%) e 02 (3,8%) óbitos ocorridos 3 e 6 dias após a infusão das células. Após o D+100, 08 pacientes em RC apresentaram recidiva do LH entre 6 e 36 meses; 3 foram a óbito e 5 estão em tratamento com brentuximabe; os 8 pacientes em RP, 1 faleceu por atividade do LH, 4 meses após o TMO e 7 estão em tratamento. A avaliação final dos pacientes de LH transplantados mostrou uma SG de 88,5% e SLD de 61,5% em 6 anos, SG dos pacientes quimiossensiveis de 81% e dos quimioresistentes de 72,6%. É possível concluir que o TCTH Autólogo se coloca como excelente terapia de resgate em relação à tolerância, bem como na sobrevida global.

Dengue: profile of hematological and biochemical dynamics

AIM: The objective of this study was to correlate laboratory tests during the evolution of dengue fever, comparing frequencies between the different clinical forms in order to use test results to predict the severity of the disease. METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive and retrospective study of 154 patients with clinical and serological diagnoses of dengue fever who, in the period from January to May 2008, were admitted in a tertiary state hospital in the city of Fortaleza that is a referral center for infectious diseases. The patients were allocated to two groups according to age: under 15 years old (n = 66) and 15 years or older (n = 88). The tests analyzed were blood count, platelet count, and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations. RESULTS: Thrombocytopenia and elevated transaminases were observed in patients with classic dengue fever. The main laboratory abnormalities found in dengue hemorrhagic fever were thrombocytopenia, hemoconcentration and elevated transaminases, similar to severe dengue with the exception of hemoconcentration. Most laboratory abnormalities started on the 3rd day but were more evident on the 5th day with restoration of values by the 11th day; this was more prominent in under 15-year-olds and with the more severe clinical forms. CONCLUSIONS: These results are relevant in assessing the disease because they can be used as markers for more severe forms and can help by enabling the adaptation of the therapeutic conduct to the needs of individual patients.

Serum concentrations of nitrite and malondialdehyde as markers of oxidative stress in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia is a neoplasm characterized by clonal expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells resulting from the (9:22)(q34,11) translocation. The tyrosine kinase abl fusion protein,the initial leukemogenic event in chronic myeloid leukemia, is constitutively activated thus inducing the production of reactive oxygen species. Of particular relevance is the fact that an increase in reactive oxygen species can facilitate genomic instability and may contribute to disease progression. OBJETIVE: To evaluate oxidative stress by determining the levels of malondialdehyde and nitrite in chronic myeloid leukemia patients under treatment with 1st and 2nd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors monitored at a referral hospital in Fortaleza, Ceará. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed of 64 male and female adults. Patients were stratified according to treatment. The levels of malondialdehyde and nitrite were determined by spectrophotometry. Statistical differences between groups were observed using the Student t-test and Fisher's exact test. The results are expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. The significance level was set for a p-value < 0.05 in all analyses. RESULTS: The results show significantly higher mean concentrations of nitrite and malondialdehyde in chronic myeloid leukemia patients using second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors compared to patients on imatinib. Conclusion: It follows that chronic myeloid leukemia patients present higher oxidative activity and that the increases in oxidative damage markers can indicate resistance to 1st generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Bone marrow cytomorphological changes in patients co-infected with visceral leishmaniasis and human immunodeficiency virus

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe systemic infectious disease.(1) It has been recognized as an opportunistic disease in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).(2,3) The analysis of the bone marrow of patients co-infected with VL and HIV showed dysplasia of erythroid, granulocytic and megakaryocytic lineages (Figure 1), besides the presence of plasmacytosis, cytoplasmic bodies, hemophagocytosis, granuloma and intracellular and extracellular leishmania amastigotes (Figure 2). These findings are found in the analysis of bone marrow of patients co-infected with HIV and VL; knowledge of these findings may be useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients.

Fatores de risco associados a trombose em pacientes do estado do Ceará / Risk factors of thrombosis in patients of the state of Ceará

Trombose refere-se à formação de constituintes sanguíneos de massa anormal dentro dos vasos e envolve a interação de fatores vasculares, celulares e humorais na corrente sanguínea circulante e pode desenvolver-se em artérias ou veias, sendo designada arterial ou venosa. Tanto a trombose arterial quanto a venosa são patologias de grande interesse médico com alto índice de morbidade e mortalidade. Este estudo objetivou verificar a associação de fatores de risco e o desenvolvimento de trombose venosa e arterial em pacientes do Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Estado do Ceará (Hemoce). Foram entrevistados 189 pacientes com eventos tromboembólicos e 349 voluntários saudáveis quanto aos fatores ambientais sabidamente envolvidos no desenvolvimento de trombose. Em análises univariadas e multivariadas, fumo (OR- 17,3, 14,9 e 33,3), o álcool (OR- 6,4, 5,8 e 13,5), a idade acima de 40 anos (OR-2) e o sexo feminino (OR- 3,7 e 4,1) foram estatisticamente significativos. O uso do fumo e do álcool, a idade avançada e o sexo feminino contribuíram para a ocorrência de trombose nos pacientes do estado do Ceará.

Thrombosis is the development of a solid mass or plug formed in the living heart or vessels from constituents of the blood and involves vascular, cells and humors factors. Arterial and venous thrombosis are very interesting of medicine because of the high-risk mortality and morbidly. This study aimed of to look at the association between of the factors risk and development of arterial and venous thrombosis in patients of the Hemoterapy and Hematology Center of Ceará (Hemoce). The participants comprised 189 patients with thrombo-embolic events and 349 health control group. At univariate multivariate analysis the factors studied, tabagism (OR- 17,3, 14,9 e 33,3), age > 40 years old (OR-2), alchol (OR- 6,4, 5,8 e 13,5) and femele (OR- 3,7 e 4,1) were significant statistic.

Aloimunidade contra antígenos HLA de classe I em pacientes com síndromes mielodisplásicas e anemia aplástica / Aloimmunity against HLA class I antigens in patients with myelodisplastic syndrome and aplastic anemia

As síndromes mielodisplásicas (SMD) e a anemia aplástica (AA) apresentam citopenias periféricas necessitando, com freqüência, de reposições transfusionais contínuas de concentrados de hemácias e/ou de concentrados de plaquetas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-HLA de classe I em pacientes portadores das SMD e AA atendidos no ambulatório de Hematologia do Hemoce/UFC. Foram analisados 110 pacientes, sendo 70 com SMD e 40 com AA. A pesquisa de anticorpos anti-HLA de classe I foi realizada frente a um painel (PRA), utilizando-se a técnica de microlinfocitotoxicidade dependente do complemento. Vinte (28,6 por cento) dos 70 pacientes com as SMD e 18 (45 por cento) dos 40 pacientes com AA desenvolveram anticorpos anti-HLA contra o PRA. Esses pacientes que receberam uma carga de antígenos estranhos advindos de múltiplas transfusões de vários doadores de CH e/ou CP, geralmente desenvolvem aloanticorpos contra os antígenos HLA presentes na superfície das plaquetas e dos leucócitos que contaminam esses concentrados. A produção desses anticorpos pode trazer sérias complicações para o tratamento dos pacientes com SMD e AA. As avaliações sistemáticas para detecção de anticorpos anti-HLA após a reposição transfusional podem ser valiosas para adoção de estratégias transfusionais mais adequadas para esta população de pacientes.

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or aplastic anemia (AA) present peripheral cytopenias and require continuous transfusions of red cell and/or platelet concentrates. The objective of this study is to verify the existence of anti-HLA class 1 antibodies in patients with MDS and AA treated at the hematology Out patient Clinic of Hemoce/UFC. A total of 110 patients were analyzed, 70 with MDS and 40 with AA. Anti-HLA class 1 antibody detection was achieved with an antibody reactivity panel using the complement-dependent microlymphocytotoxicity technique. A total of 20 (28.6 percent) of the 70 patients with MDS and 18 (45 percent) of the 40 patients with AA developed anti-HLA antibodies against the antibody panel. In general, patients who received a load of foreign antigens originating from multi-donor red cell and platelet concentrate transfusions, developed alloantibodies against the HLA antigens that exist on the surface of platelets and on white blood cells that contaminate these concentrates. The production of these antibodies may cause serious complications in the treatment of MDS and AA patientss.

Post-transfusion red cell alloimmunisation in patients with acute disorders and medical emergencies

Alloimmunisation following red cell transfusion is a complication in patients with chronic diseases requiring multiple transfusions. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of alloimmunisation, to identify involved alloantibodies, to establish risk factors and to quantify the alloimmunisation risk in patients with acute disorders who received red cell transfusion at the Instituto Dr. José Frota from January 1999 to January 2001. Of the 5,690 recipients who received 16,547 units of red blood cells, 4,025 were men and 1,665 were women. Recipients with previous alloimmunisation or with time of hospital stay less than one week were excluded (n = 501). Red cell alloantibodies were detected in 120 recipients (2.1 percent): 60 men (1.49 percent) and 60 women (3.60 percent). Alloimmunisation was 2.4 fold more frequent in women and 93.33 percent of the women were pregnant prevously. The average number of units transfused in the alloimmunised recipients was 4.68: 4.97 units in men and 4.40 units in women. In non-alloimmunised recipients the average was 2.87 units and the risk of alloimmunisation was 0.83 percent: 0.59 percent in men and 1.44 percent in women. The most frequent allo-antibodies were: anti-E (18.25 percent) and anti-D (16.06 percent) from a total of 137 allo-antibodies detected. The median time for detection of allo-antibodies was 20.88 days. The risk of alloimmunisation detected was high considering the average number of units transfused. The age of recipients and the longer life expectancy increase the probability of further transfusion requirements in this group. Our findings point out the necessity of modifications in the current medical transfusion support indication, including in patients with acute disorders in order to prevent alloimmunisation.

A aloimunização eritrocitária após transfusão de concentrado de hemácias é uma complicação em pacientes com doenças crônicas que necessitam de transfusões de repetição. Esse estudo objetivou determinar a freqüência de aloimunização, identificar os aloanticorpos, estabelecer os fatores de risco envolvidos e quantificar o risco de aloimunização em pacientes com condições clínicas agudas, submetidos à transfusão de concentrados de hemácias no Instituto Doutor José Frota, utilizando a técnica de gel centrifugação. Foram analisados 5.690 receptores transfundidos com 16.547 concentrados de hemácias, sendo 4.025 do sexo masculino e 1.665 do sexo feminino. Foram excluídos 501 receptores com aloimunização prévia ou tempo de permanência hospitalar inferior a uma semana. Em 120 receptores (2,1 por cento) foram detectados aloanticorpos eritrocitários, sendo 60 do sexo masculino (1,49 por cento) e 60 do sexo feminino (3,60 por cento). A aloimunização foi 2,4 vezes mais freqüente no sexo feminino, sendo que 93,33 por cento das mulheres tinham história de gestação prévia. A média transfusional nos receptores aloimunizados foi de 4,68 bolsas, sendo 4,97 bolsas nos homens e 4,40 bolsas nas as mulheres. Nos pacientes não aloimunizados a média transfusional foi de 2,87 bolsas. O risco de aloimunização foi de 0,83 por cento, sendo 0,59 no sexo masculino e 1,44 por cento no sexo feminino. Os aloanticorpos detectados com maior freqüência foram anti-E (18,25 por cento) e anti-D (16,06 por cento) de um total de 137 aloanticorpos. O tempo médio de detecção dos aloanticorpos foi de 20,88 dias. O risco de aloimunização observado foi elevado para a média transfusional de receptores. A média de idade dos pacientes e o aumento da expectativa de vida aumentam a possibilidade de que transfusões posteriores sejam necessárias, sinalizando a necessidade de modificar o atual suporte hemoterápico a esses pacientes.

Hematogônias: distinção com blastos da leucemia linfóide aguda de células B por citometria de fluxo / Hematogones: differentiation from B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia by flow cytometry

Hematogônias são precursores normais de linhagem B que apresentam características morfológicas e, algumas vezes, imunológicas similares aos linfoblastos das leucemias linfóides agudas (LLA). O objetivo desse trabalho é realizar análise comparativa por citometria de fluxo, utilizando três cores, entre sub-populações de hematogônias e blastos da LLA-B, em crianças. O Grupo 1 constou de amostras de medulas ósseas, não neoplásicas, que apresentaram hematogônias identificadas pela microscopia óptica e o Grupo 2 de casos novos de LLA-B. O painel de anticorpos monoclonais utilizado era direcionado para: CD19, CD10, CD45, CD34, IgM, TdT e CD22. A análise das hematogônias, utilizando como parâmetro a intensidade de fluorescência de CD10 X CD45, mostrou três sub-populações representando células imaturas, intermediárias e maduras. A expressão dos marcadores CD34, IgM, TdT e CD22 reforçou esses achados. Os blastos leucêmicos se apresentaram formando uma única população, com expressão de positividade apenas para antígenos de imaturidade. Considerando não só a presença ou ausência de um determinado antígeno, mas sim a sua intensidade de expressão, verificamos que hematogônias e blastos apresentam perfis imunofenotípicos diferentes.

Hematogones are normal B-lineage cell precursors with morphologic and sometimes immunophenotypic, similarities to neoplastic lymphoblasts. The aim of this work is to compare using flow cytometry sub-populations of B-lineage cells: normal bone marrow precursors (hematogones) and lymphoblasts. Normal bone marrow from patients with hematogones observed by optical microscopy and new cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia of B-cell precursors were included in the study. Antibodies directed against CD19, CD10, CD45, CD34, IgM and CD22 were used. Analysis of hematogones, using CD10 x CD45 fluorescence intensity as a parameter, showed three sub-populations: immature, intermediary and mature marker expressions. CD34, IgM, TdT and CD22 marker expressions reinforced these results. The leukemic blasts cells formed a single population with positive expression for only immature antigens. In conclusion, hematogones and blast cells demonstrated different immunophenotypic profiles. Hematogones exhibit a broad spectrum of immature, intermediary and mature cells in one sample and blast cells have essentially immature features.