Recombinant human erythropoietin reduces allogeneic blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery.

Blood loss is a significant problem encountered in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, and is considered to be one of the factors affecting the outcome of the operation. Traditionally these patients have been treated with blood transfusions. The introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) into clinical practice enabled assessment of its effectiveness to decrease the allogeneic blood transfusion requirement (BTR), thus avoiding or minimizing transfusion-related complications. Fifteen patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR, 10 patients) and total knee replacement (TKR, 5 patients) in our institute (from January-April 1997), were studied. After signing an informed consent they received daily s.c. rHuEpo (100 IU/kg for those with hemoglobin (Hb) > 13 g/dl, 300 IU/kg for Hb < 13) during the 10 days prior to surgery and the 4 days following the operation. Allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions were given as needed. Hb levels were measured on days -10, 0, +1.3 and 7 of the procedure and the BTR was recorded. The results were compared with those of previous patients operated on from January-December 1996. Patients who were eligible for the study but refused to participate served as controls. The mean Hb level in the study group prior to rHuEpo administration (day -10) was 13.41 g/dl, similar to those of the control group (13.47 g/dl on day 0). However, the mean Hb levels in the rHuEpo treated patients on days 0, 1, 3 and 7 were 14.37, 11.09, 10.99, and 11.2 g/dl, respectively. This way compared with the levels of 13.47 (p = 0.016), 9.88 (p = 0.024), 9.60 (p = 0.004) and 9.97 g/dl (p = 0.007) in the control patients. The difference between the rHuEpo treated patients and the control patients was more significant among the THR patients than among the TKR patients. Of the 10 rHuEpo-treated THR patients, only a single patient required one allogeneic blood unit, as compared with 23 units transfused to the 30 control patients. None of the rHuEpo-treated TKR patients required blood transfusion as opposed to 4 units needed by the 11 control patients. In total, only one allogeneic blood unit was required by the study group which way calculated to an average consumption of 0.066 blood unit per person, compared with 27 blood units used by the 41 controls, i.e. 0.66 blood units per person (p < 0.001). In the patients treated, rHuEpo was very well tolerated with no adverse effects.

Severe amyloidosis with mild multiple myeloma--an unusual course.

Amyloidosis may be primary or myeloma-associated. Skeletal lesions and the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells (<10% in primary, >20% in myeloma) account for the major differences between the two varieties. In the literature there are rare cases of primary amyloidosis presenting without myeloma and followed by development of myelomatous manifestations. Usually, the primary disease (i.e. the myeloma) is advanced, when amyloidosis is diagnosed. We describe a patient who had presented with a severe and progressive systemic amyloidosis and was diagnosed later to have a mild light chain myeloma. Aggressive treatment with melphalan, prednisone and colchicine resulted in a temporary partial remission, followed by a rapid downhill course, and the patient's death. The point of relatively mild myeloma following a rapidly progressive course of advanced amyloidosis is emphasized. Awareness of the possibility of such a combination may lead to early diagnosis, a more aggressive or novel therapeutic approach and, possibly, to a better prognosis.

Splenic lymphoma presenting as warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with pure red cell aplasia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a condition in which peripheral red blood cell (RBC) destruction is induced by the presence of an autoantibody. Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) represents an isolated process of decreased erythropoiesis. The combination of both is quite rare, with a very poor prognosis. We describe a patient with isolated splenic lymphoma whose presentation was a combination of AIHA and PRCA. The patient was resistant to all treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Erythroid colony assays were performed, in order to compare the effect of the patient's serum on colonies with that of a normal control. RESULTS: The patient's serum significantly suppressed normal erythroid colony growth. A red cell eluate revealed the presence of a warm autoantibody. CONCLUSIONS: The patient's serum contained warm autoantibody responsible for peripheral RBC destruction and a humoral factor, perhaps the warm autoantibody, which suppressed bone marrow erythropoiesis. Establishing an early diagnosis, and treatment of the underlying disease might result in a better prognosis.

Chronic relapsing thrombocytopenic purpura with severe neurological manifestations and full recovery.

Neurological complications in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are associated with poor prognosis and/or permanent damage. We report a young woman in whom the diagnosis of TTP was difficult because cardinal manifestations were absent at presentation. The patient relapsed, showing severe and dramatic neurological manifestations, including coma. She was treated with multiple therapeutic modalities and recovered fully with no neurological sequelae. The difficulties involved in the management of chronic relapsing TTP are discussed. In the absence of clear guidelines, patients are still subjected to different treatment modalities according to the personal opinions and approaches of physicians. Clearly, well-controlled clinical trials to address this problem are required.

[Therapeutic and toxic theophylline levels in asthma attacks--is there a need for additional theophylline?].

Although first-line therapy for bronchial asthma has changed over the past decade to anti-inflammatory medication such as inhaled corticosteroids and cromolyn with possible addition of beta-agonists, theophylline is still useful and therefore widely used. However, several studies have raised serious questions regarding its efficacy in acute asthmatic exacerbations. These studies, the narrow therapeutic range of the drug, the frequency of side effects and interactions with common drugs, and individual variation in clearance and metabolism, have prompted its reevaluation in the management of asthma. Therapeutic serum levels of theophylline are between 10 to 20 mcg/ml. Most adults achieve these concentrations with daily slow-release oral theophylline preparations, 200-400 mg (approximately 10 mg/Kg) twice a day. However, when such a patient presents to the emergency room (ER) in an asthmatic attack, immediate intravenous theophylline is often given, regardless of maintenance treatment. Since the rationale for this common therapeutic approach has been challenged, the current study was undertaken. Serum theophylline levels were measured in 23 consecutive asthmatics presenting to the ER in an acute attack. 15 (68%) had therapeutic levels (above 10 mcg/ml) and 2 had toxic levels (above 20 mcg/ml), prior to receiving the standard intravenous theophylline dose given for an attack. These data indicate that most patients with bronchial asthma on oral maintenance theophylline do not require additional intravenous theophylline when in an attack. It probably will not benefit them and may even induce serious theophylline toxicity.

Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of multiple myeloma-associated anemia.

UNLABELLED: Multiple myeloma (MM) is commonly associated with anemia. Several causes have been implicated but inadequate erythropoietin (Epo) production appears to be important. This single-institute open-label, non-comparative clinical trial was undertaken in order to evaluate serum Epo levels in patients with MM and to study the efficacy and toxicity of recombinant human Epo (rHuEpo) in the treatment of MM-associated anemia. MM patients with a baseline hemoglobin (Hb) level of < 11 g/dl received rHuEpo 150 U/kg 3 times/week subcutaneously, with a possible dose increase to 300 U/kg if no response was observed after 4 weeks. The study was designed for 12 weeks, although some responders continued rHuEpo. The study endpoints were determined by an increase in Hb and a decrease in blood transfusion requirements (BTR). Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study. The median serum Epo level was 150 mU/ml (range 11-232). Four patients did not complete the study for reasons unrelated to rHuEpo, but to their underlying MM. Twelve patients (70.6%) responded with an increase in their Hb levels. One patient (5.9%) responded partially. The median Hb level rose from 9.4 g/dl (range 7.3-10.7) at study commencement to 12.5 g/dl (range 9.0-15.2). Six of the 11 patients who were transfusion dependent enjoyed a complete abolition of BTR. The response was also interpreted as an improved quality of life: 3 patients reported a decrease of 1 level in their WHO performance status (PS) score; in 8 patients, the PS declined by 2 grades and 1 patient enjoyed PS reduction by 4 scores. Six patients continue to receive rHuEpo up to 18 months, with a good response and a smaller maintenance dose. Four patients reported flu-like symptoms, 2 suffered from a local irritation and 1 experienced a transient controlled elevation of blood pressure. SUMMARY: (1) Pretreatment endogenous serum Epo levels were relatively low in all patients studied with MM-associated anemia; (2) rHuEpo was well tolerated in these patients; (3) rHuEpo was highly effective in the treatment of anemia in MM, and (4) the response to rHuEpo is characterized by an increase in Hb levels, a reduction in BTR and an improvement in the WHO PS score.