Results of Levofloxacin Prophylaxis Timing in Autologous and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Despite preventive measures and varying antibiotic recommendations, bacterial infections continue to pose a significant threat to individuals undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Levofloxacin prophylaxis is commonly used, but the optimal timing for initiation is debated. This study aims to assess infection outcomes based on timing of levofloxacin prophylaxis (initiation at the first day of conditioning vs. after infusion of stem cells) in autologous and allogeneic HSCT patients. Methods We compared infectious episodes, responsible pathogens, and clinical outcomes based on the implementation of levofloxacin prophylaxis in patients receiving autologous or allogeneic HSCT procedures. This retrospective single-center study involved a review of the medical records of autologous and allogeneic HSCT patients treated at our adult stem cell transplantation unit between 2018 and 2020. The study included 23 patients who underwent autologous HSCT and 12 patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT. We compared the demographic data, febrile neutropenia, proven bacterial infections, and 30-day survival among the autologous and allogeneic transplant groups, including those who received oral levofloxacin 500 mg/day prophylaxis. Results Positive blood cultures (26.1% vs. 75%; p = 0.011), mean neutrophil engraftment (10.6±1.2 vs. 14.8±1.3; p<0.001), and mean platelet engraftment (11.2±1.1 vs. 15.4±3.2; p = 0.004) were all lower in autologous transplant patients versus their allogeneic counterparts. When each type of HSCT was evaluated within the same type, there were no observed differences in infection frequency, infection type, or 30-day mortality between the patient groups with different levofloxacin initiation times. Conclusion Healthcare professionals should choose the most appropriate timing for initiating levofloxacin prophylaxis based on individual patient factors and clinical circumstances while considering the cost-effectiveness implications. Further research with a larger sample size and prospective design is needed to support our findings.

Granulocyte Transfusions in Neutropenic Infections: Insights From a Single-Center Study.

Introduction Despite the development of modern antibiotic and antifungal therapies, neutropenic infections remain life-threatening. Granulocyte transfusion (GTX) is a less frequently used treatment modality in patients with refractory neutropenic infections. The role of donor GTX remains controversial, partly because of the lack of proper clinical trials. This study aimed to contribute to the literature by evaluating the efficacy and side effects of granulocyte transfusions in our center. Methods Eight febrile neutropenic patients with confirmed infections received granulocyte transfusions from ABO-compatible related and unrelated donors. Donors received filgrastim and dexamethasone stimulation, and granulocyte suspensions were irradiated and administered within six hours. Monitoring, antibiotic therapy, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support were maintained. Results Our study observed a 28-day survival rate of 25%, which was lower than that reported in previous literature. The median number of transfusions was 3, with an average eight-day duration post-infection diagnosis, and no side effects were observed. Conclusion While some patients benefited from GTX, overall survival rates remained modest, indicating the need for further research. Prospective, well-powered randomized controlled trials are essential to address patient selection, dosing, and duration to determine the clinical utility of GTX. This study underscores the complexity of GTX in real-world clinical practice and provides insight into the ongoing debate regarding its efficacy in treating severe neutropenic infections.

Bidirectional ABO Mismatch Is Associated With Elevated Mortality in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Insights From a Single-Center Experience.

Background Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a promising therapy for various disorders and provides new opportunities for patients. ABO incompatibility in allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) remains a topic of debate because of its potential impact on clinical outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the survival outcomes of patients who underwent ABO-incompatible HSCT and evaluate the occurrence of pure red cell aplasia. Methods This retrospective study included 20 patients who underwent ABO-incompatible HSCT. Data on patient characteristics, transplant details, and follow-ups were collected. Conditioning regimens and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis strategies were employed. Results Neutrophil and platelet engraftment durations did not differ significantly between major and bidirectional mismatches. Pure red cell aplasia occurred in 4 patients (20%) with major mismatches, all of whom responded well to bortezomib treatment. Patients with a bidirectional mismatch exhibited a 3.57-fold increase (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.28; p<0.05) in the risk of mortality compared to those in the major mismatch group. Conclusion The results indicate that ABO mismatch, whether bidirectional or major, does not significantly affect neutrophil and platelet engraftment duration, suggesting that ABO incompatibility may not be a major factor influencing hematological recovery in allo-HSCT. Interestingly, patients with bidirectional mismatch exhibited a significantly higher mortality rate than those with major mismatch. This finding suggests that a bidirectional ABO mismatch may have an unfavorable prognosis in terms of overall survival in allo-HSCT patients.

Comprehensive mastocytosis data analysis from a single center.

Mastocytosis is a very rare disorder and is divided into three prognostically distinct variants by World Health Organization: Cutaneous mastocytosis (CM), systemic mastocytosis (SM), and mast cell sarcoma or localized mast cell (MC) tumors. The wide range of complaints may cause patients to consult various clinics, with resulting mis- or underdiagnosis. Therefore, cooperation between different subspecialties is of paramount importance. In this article, we have compiled 104 adult mastocytosis cases diagnosed and followed in our Hematology and other clinics. 86 (82.7%) of 104 patients had systemic mastocytosis. Osteoporosis, disease-related complications, and secondary malignancies are important topics in this group. We know that indolent form has great survival. But smoldering or aggressive mastocytosis has a poor prognosis. CM and indolent SM have a significantly better prognosis compared to aggressive SM (p < 0.001). We found that the presence of more than 25% of mast cells in the bone marrow, the presence of concomitant marrow dysplasia, and the presence of disease-related complications affect survival (p < 0.001). In addition to the WHO classification, the IPSM scoring system is indicative of the prognosis in this rare disease.

Transient elastography of liver: Could it be a guide for diagnosis and management strategy in hepatic veno-occlusive disease (sinusoidal obstruction syndrome)?

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), also termed sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), is a rare and life threatening complication of hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Many conditions can mimic the clinical signs of VOD/SOS. Differential diagnosis and diagnosis of the disease at an early stage is important, since the severe form of the disease has higher mortality rates and early-initiated specific treatment has better response rates. A sensitive and specific non-invasive imaging technique that can diagnose the disease at an early stage is still an unmet need today. We aimed to determine the role of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with transient elastograph (TE) for the diagnosis of VOD/SOS after allogeneic HSCT. Between January 2019 and October 2021, a total of 49 patients underwent allogeneic HSCT and were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-one adult patients who had a two or more LSM value were included in the study. Revised European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) was the criteria used for the diagnosis of VOD/SOS. Two of 31 patients developed VOD/SOS (6.4 %). Very high LSM values were detected in all patients who developed VOD/SOS. Early and specific VOD/SOS treatment resulted in improvement of LSM values together with other related features. However, LSM values did not increase significantly in patients with high a bilirubin level (≥2 mg/dl) without VOD/SOS. This study demonstrates that TE might be a promising non-invasive imaging method for diagnosis, follow-up and differential diagnosis of this dismal complication of HSCT. Yet, these results need to be supported by prospective studies.

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (sinusoidal obstruction syndrome) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adult patients: Diagnosis, incidence, prophylaxis, and treatment.

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) affecting the liver is a rare, possibly life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) damage triggered by various factors (especially conditioning regimen) results in post sinusoidal portal hypertension due to obstruction of the hepatic vein. Diagnosis is guided by traditional clinical diagnostic criteria; the modified Seattle criteria, the Baltimore and revised European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), specifically. While there are promising results of imaging techniques studies in the diagnosis of VOD/SOS, none of those imaging techniques are routinely utilized in diagnosis yet. However, risk stratification is essential; conflicting results have been shown in studies aiming to define risk factors for development of VOD/SOS conducted to date. The only approved drug for the treatment of VOD/SOS yet is defibrotide, with early treatment offering higher chances of survival. In this review, we will focus on pathogenesis, clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria, risk factors, prophylaxis, and treatment of the VOD/SOS occurring post-HSCT.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and degree of cardiovascular disease risk in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and degree of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study on 102 adult patients with PsA and a control group of 102 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MetS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The Framingham risk scores of 10-year risk of CVDs and coronary heart disease (CHD) were also calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was higher in patients with PsA than in those with RA, according to the NCEP-ATP III (40.6% vs. 24.7%, respectively; p=0.019) and IDF (46.8% vs. 27.9%, respectively; p=0.05) criteria. The prevalence of MetS was higher in female patients with PsA (p=0.009) than in male patients. A significantly increased prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was determined in patients with PsA (p=0.019). No significant difference existed between the two groups with respect to 10-year CVD (p=0.333) and CHD (p=0.798) risks. Additionally, there were no significant differences between the clinical subtypes of PsA with regard to MetS (p=0.229). CONCLUSION: MetS prevalence increased in patients with PsA compared with those with RA, whereas the risks were similar for CVDs and CHD. For this reason, optimal protection measures should be taken and guidelines should be applied to achieve adequate metabolic control in patients with PsA.