Brentuximab vedotin and ESHAP is highly effective as second-line therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma patients (long-term results of a trial by the Spanish GELTAMO Group).

BACKGROUND: In this work, we assessed the efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin (BV) plus ESHAP (BRESHAP) as second-line therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (RRHL) to improve the results before autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, phase I-II trial of patients with RRHL after first-line chemotherapy. Treatment had three 21-day cycles of etoposide, solumedrol, high-dose AraC, and cisplatin. BV was administered at three dose levels (0.9, 1.2, and 1.8 mg/kg) intravenous on day ‒1 to 3 + 3 cohorts of patients. Final BV dose was 1.8 mg/kg. Responding patients proceeded to ASCT, followed by three BV courses (1.8 mg/kg, every 21 days). Main end points for evaluation were maximum tolerable dose and overall and complete response (CR) before ASCT. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were recruited (median age 36 years; range 18-66): 40 were primary refractory, 16 early relapse and 10 late relapse. There were 39 severe adverse events were reported in 22 patients, most frequently fever (n = 25, 35% neutropenic), including 3 deaths. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity presented in 28 cases: neutropenia (n = 21), thrombocytopenia (n = 14), and anemia (n = 7). Grade ≥3-4 extrahematological adverse events (≥5%) were non-neutropenic fever (n = 13) and hypomagnesaemia (n = 3). Sixty-four patients underwent stem-cell mobilization; all collected >2×10e6/kg CD34+ cells (median 5.75; range 2.12-33.4). Overall response before transplant was 91% (CI 84% to 98%), including 70% (CRs 95% CI 59% to 81%). 60 patients were transplanted with no failure engraftments. Post-transplant response was CR in 49 patients (82% CI 73% to 91%) and partial responses in six (10% CI 5% to 15%). After a mean follow-up of 27 months, the 30-month time to treatment to failure was 74% (95% CI 68% to 80%), progression-free survival 71% (95% CI 65% to 77%), and overall survival 91% (CI 84% to 98%). CONCLUSION: BRESHAP looks a safe and effective pre-transplant induction regimen, does not jeopardize transplant and allows long-term remissions and survival.

Comorbidities, not age, are predictive of survival after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients older than 50 years.

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) is the standard of care for young patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). However, there is limited experience of its efficacy and feasibility in older patients. The characteristics and outcomes of 121 patients aged ≥50 years (42 of them are ≥60 years old) with R/R HL who underwent AHCT were reviewed. After a median follow-up of 3.1 years, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) at 5 years were 64 and 55 %, respectively, with no differences between 50-59-year-old and ≥60-year-old patients. Hematological and extra-hematological toxicities after AHCT were comparable between the two groups of age. In univariate analysis, poorer OS and PFS were associated with disease status other than complete remission, hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) scores >1, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores >1. HCT-CI scores >1 were also associated with a higher risk of grade 3-4 extrahematologic toxicity. In multivariate analysis, HCT-CI and CCI remained significantly associated with OS and PFS after adjustment for disease status. Our data show that AHCT can be performed in selected patients with R/R HL ≥50 years with acceptable outcome and toxicity. Comorbidities appear to impact AHCT outcome more than age.

Effect of addition of rituximab to salvage chemotherapy on outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma relapsing after an autologous stem-cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: We have investigated if rituximab-based salvage regimens improve response rates and survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapsing after an autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed 82 patients with DLBCL who received salvage therapy for relapse or progression after ASCT. Patients were divided into two groups, according to whether rituximab-based salvage regimens were given (n = 42, 'R-' group) or not (n = 40, 'R+' group) after ASCT. RESULTS: Patients in the R+ group had better complete remission (CR) (55% versus 21.4%, P = 0.006) and overall response (OR) (75% versus 40.4%, P = 0.001) rates, and better 3-year event-free survival (EFS) (37% versus 9%, P = 0.002) and overall survival (OS) (50% versus 20%, P = 0.005) than patients in the R- group. Patients retreated with rituximab had better CR (42.9% versus 21.4%, P = 0.032) and OR (66.7% versus 40.4%, P = 0.019) rates, and better OS (36.2% versus 20% at 3 years, P = 0.05) and EFS (36.2% versus 9% at 3 years, P = 0.05) than patients who received chemotherapy alone at relapse after ASCT. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of rituximab to salvage chemotherapy improves response rates and EFS in patients with relapsed DLBCL after ASCT. These patients may benefit from rituximab retreatment, although larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

[Relationship between lipid profile and body mass index. Five-year follow-up in children aged 6-11 years old. The Rivas-Vaciamadrid study]. / Relación entre el perfil lipídico y el índice de masa corporal. Seguimiento de los 6 a los 11 años. Estudio Rivas-Vaciamadrid.

BACKGROUND: To study the relationship between lipid profile and body mass index (BMI) in children after a 5-year follow-up. METHOD: A total of 281 children were evaluated at the ages of 6 and 11 years. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apoproteins A1 (Apo A) and B100 (Apo B) were measured. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was determined and the Apo B/Apo A, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C indexes, and the atherogenic index were calculated. BMI was also calculated (BMI 5 kg/m2). Evolution parameters were calculated (EVO 5 value 11 years - value 6 years). Associations between BMI and lipid profile were studied. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity (according to the criteria of the International Obesity Task Force) was 4.98 % (6 years) and 16,72 % (11 years). In children who were in the fourth BMI quartile at the age of 11 years, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C levels were significantly higher and than those in children in the first quartile but HDL-C and Apo A levels were lower. A significant positive correlation was found between the evolution of BMI and the four indexes studied and TG, but this correlation was negative for HDL-C and Apo A. The evolution of the indexes was positive in 11-year-old obese children and negative in nonobese children. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid profile was worse in 11-year-old children in the fourth BMI quartile than in the remaining children. Obese children had higher values of the indexes studied, supporting the importance of obesity as a cardiovascular risk factor.

Effect of an avocado oil-rich diet over an angiotensin II-induced blood pressure response.

We studied the effect of an avocado oil-rich diet on (1) the blood pressure response to angiotensin II (AngII) and (2) the fatty acid composition of cardiac and renal membranes on male Wistar rats. The avocado oil-rich diet induced a slightly higher AngII-induced blood pressure response in the rats as compared to the control rats. In cardiac microsomes, avocado oil induced an increase in oleic acid content (13.18+/-0.33% versus 15.46+/-0.59%), while in renal microsomes, the oil decreased alpha-linolenic acid content (0.34+/-0.02% versus 0.16+/-0.12%), but increased the arachidonic acid proportion (24.02+/-0.54% versus 26.25+/-0.54%), compared to control. In conclusion, avocado oil-rich diet modifies the fatty acid content in cardiac and renal membranes in a tissue-specific manner. The rise in renal arachidonic acid suggests that diet content can be a key factor in vascular responses.

[Indurated erythema as the presenting form of a case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia]. / Eritema indurado como forma de presentación de un caso de leucemia mielomonocítica crónica.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is an oncohematologic disease with a mixed nature, myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic, and presenting features are usually the consequence of peripheral blood cytopenias (anemic syndrome, infections or bleeding). Specific or non-specific cutaneous involvement in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or chronic leukemias is exceptional, and it takes place often in advanced stages of the disease, as a preample of a transformation from chronic illness to acute leukemia. Recognition and early diagnosis of the skin lesion by cutaneous biopsy, in every patient with myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative disease, have therapeutic and prognostic significance. We describe a patient who presented with a non-especific cutaneous lesion, Bazin's erhythema induratum, as initial manifestation of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia; we also comment diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical evolution aspects.

HIV-associated primary body-cavity-based lymphoma: clinico-biologic features in three patients diagnosed at the same institution.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a recently individualized form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (WHO classification) that mainly develops in HIV infected males, more frequently in homosexuals and advanced stages of the disease (total CD4+ lymphocyte count below 100-200/mL). Occasionally, it appears in others immunodepressive states (such as solid organs postransplant period) and even, although very rarelly, in immunocompetents patients. From a pathogenetic point of view, PEL has been related to Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (also named human herpesvirus 8) and to the clinical antecedent of Kaposís sarcoma. Relative unfrequency of this disease, the absence of wide casuistics allowing a better characterization, and its unfavorable outcome, support the need of a deeper knowledge. We present here the clinical-biological findings of three patients that were diagnosed of pleural PEL in our institution in the last two years.

Linfoma primario de cavidades asociado a infección por VIH: características clínico-biológicas en tres pacientes diagnosticados en un mismo centro / Hiv-associated primary body-cavity-based lymphoma: clinico-biologic features in three patients diagnosed at the same institution

El linfoma primario de cavidades (LPC) constituye un variedad de linfoma no Hodgkin individualizada por la clasificación OMS, que se desarrolla principalmente en pacientes varones con infección por HIV, más frecuentemente homosexuales y en estadios avanzados de la enfermedad (recuento total de linfocitos CD4+ inferior a 100-200/µL), aunque en ocasiones pueden aparecer en otras circunstancias asociadas a estados de inmunodepresión (como puede ser en el postrasplante de órganos sólidos) e incluso, de forma muy ocasional, en pacientes inmunocompetentes. Desde un punto de vista patogenético se ha relacionado con el virus herpes asociado a sarcoma de Kaposi (también denominado virus herpes tipo 8) y al propio antecedente clínico de sarcoma de Kaposi. La relativa rareza de esta enfermedad, la falta de casuísticas amplias que logren caracterizarla mejor y su pronóstico tan desfavorable, obligan a profundizar en un mejor conocimiento de la misma. Presentamos los hallazgos clínico-biológicos de tres pacientes diagnosticados de LPC pleural en nuestro centro en los últimos dos años (AU)

Eritema indurado como forma de presentación de un caso de leucemia mielomonocítica crónica / Erythema induratum as presenting form in a case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

La leucemia mielomonocítica crónica (LMMC) constituye un proceso oncohematológico de naturaleza mixta, mieloproliferativa y mielodisplásica, siendo su forma habitual de presentación consecuencia, generalmente, de las citopenias en sangre periférica (síndrome anémico, infecciones o diátesis hemorrágica). La afectación cutánea en pacientes con síndromes mielodisplásicos o leucemias crónicas, ya bien sea específica o inespecífica, es una circunstancia excepcional, teniendo lugar más frecuentemente en estadios avanzados de la enfermedad como preámbulo a una transformación del proceso crónico en leucemia aguda. El reconocimiento y el diagnóstico precoces del tipo de afectación cutánea en cualquier paciente con síndrome mielodisplásico o mieloproliferativo crónico, obtenido dicho diagnóstico mediante biopsia de la lesión, resulta de gran importancia, pues conlleva un claro significado pronóstico y terapéutico. Describimos a continuación el caso de un paciente que presentó una lesión cutánea inespecífica, un eritema indurado de Bazin, como manifestación inicial de una LMMC; se comentan aspectos diagnósticos, terapéuticos y evolutivos del mismo (AU)

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[Lipid profile in children from Rivas-Vaciamadrid. Two-year follow-up]. / Perfil lipídico en niños de Rivas-Vaciamadrid. Seguimiento de 2 años.

AIM: Evaluate the lipid profiles in children after two years of follow-up. METHODS: Longitudinal cohort study. A two years follow-up of a group of children since they were 6 years old. Blood analysis were carried in every children measuring total cholesterol, triglycerides, cLDL, cHDL, apoproteins A and B. It also included TD/cHDL, cLDL/cHDL, Apo B/A ratios and atherogenic index. RESULTS: 200 mg/dl, cLDL > 135 mg/dl and Apo B > 100 mg/dl in the follow-up was of 9.51, 5.18 and 8 for those children who had in the initial study these same values. The values of lipid profile and of the index studied improved in the two years of follow-up. This improvement has an statistical signification only in men. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant correlation between the values of the lipid profile and the index measured in those children who were six years old in the beginning of the two years follow-up.

[The value of lipid profile and of CT/C-HDL, C-LDL/C-HDl, Apo B/A indexes and atherogenic index in 6-year-old children from Rivas- Vaciamadrid]. / Valores del perfil lipídico y de los índices CT/C-HDL, C-LDL/C-HDL, Apo B/A e índice aterogénico, en niños de 6 años de Rivas-Vaciamadrid.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the lipid profiles in children six years of age according to sex and to compare this with other Spanish studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A transverse epidemiological study was performed. All six year old children in our area were studied. The following tests were performed in all children: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C, apoproteins A and B after fasting for ten hours. In addition, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and Apo B/A ratios and atherogenic index (ATI) were calculated. RESULTS: A population of 673 subjects (352 males and 321 females) were studied. The value of TC, triglycerides, LDL-C, Apo B, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C were significantly greater in females compared to males. Males had higher levels of HDL-C and ApoA. The values were similar to those obtain in Madrid in 1992, except that the values of HL-C were significantly higher in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: In six year old children, the lipid profile in girls is worse than in boys. The data from our study do not show that the lipidic risk is getting worse during the past years in Spanish children.