Factors associated with an increased risk of vertebral fracture in monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance.

Monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS) have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of fractures. This study describes prospectively the bone status of MGUS patients and determines the factors associated with vertebral fracture. We included prospectively 201 patients with MGUS, incidentally discovered, and with no known history of osteoporosis: mean age 66.6±12.5 years, 48.3% women, 51.7% immunoglobulin G (IgG), 33.3% IgM and 10.4% IgA. Light chain was kappa in 64.2% patients. All patients had spinal radiographs and bone mineral density measurement in addition to gammopathy assessment. At least one prevalent non-traumatic vertebral fracture was discovered in 18.4% patients and equally distributed between men and women. Fractured patients were older, had a lower bone density and had also more frequently a lambda light chain isotype. Compared with patients with κ light chain, the odds ratio of being fractured for patients with λ light chain was 4.32 (95% confidence interval 1.80-11.16; P=0.002). These results suggest a high prevalence of non-traumatic vertebral fractures in MGUS associated with lambda light chain isotype and not only explained by low bone density.

Results of a Prospective Study of High-Dose or Conventional Anthracycline-Cyclophosphamide Regimen Plus Radiotherapy for Localized Adult Non-Hodgkin's Primary Bone Lymphoma.

Background. Primary bone lymphoma (PBL) is a rare entity that has only been reviewed in one prospective and small retrospective studies, from which it is difficult to establish treatment guidelines. We prospectively evaluated high-dose or conventional anthracycline-cyclophosphamide dose and radiotherapy for PBL. Patients and Methods. The GOELAMS prospective multicenter study (1986-1998) enrolled adults with localized high-grade PBL according to age and performance status (PS). Patients <60 years received a high-dose CHOP regimen (VCAP) and those ≥60 years a conventional anthracycline-cyclophosphamide regimen (VCEP-bleomycin); all received intrathecal chemotherapy and local radiotherapy. Results. Among the 26 patients included (VCAP: 19; VCEP-bleomycin: 7), 39% had poor PS ≥2. With a median follow-up of 8 years, overall survival, event-free survival, and relapse-free survival were 64%, 62%, and 65%, respectively, with no significant difference between treatment groups. Poor PS was significantly associated with shorter OS and EFS. Conclusions. Our results confirm the efficacy of our age-based therapeutic strategy. High-doses anthracycline-cyclophosphamide did not improve the outcome. VCEP-bleomycin is effective and well tolerated for old patients. The intensification must be considered for patients with PS ≥2, a poor prognostic factor.

[Refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) associated with marked thrombocytosis: a provisional entity in the WHO classification of haematological malignancies]. / Thrombocytose majeure et anémie réfractaire avec sidéroblastes en couronne: une entité provisoire dans la classification OMS des hémopathies.

The WHO classification describes a group of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases, including a provisional entity, refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) associated with marked thrombocytosis, underlining that is a provisional entity without consensus of belonging to myelodysplastic rather than to myeloproliferative syndromes. The authors report two cases with features of refractory anaemia with excess of ringed sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis. In the first case, RARS is concomitant with thrombocytosis and fits the WHO criteria for this temporary entity. The second case is a typical RARS, who developed a thrombocytosis after several years and emphasizes that a link, at least progressive, exists between RARS and myeloproliferative disorders. The authors summed up the various situations related to secondary or primary acquired sideroblastic anaemia, likewise to primitive and reactive thrombocytosis. The cases of RARS + marked thrombocytosis reported in the literature are few in number and do not allow to settle between a particular form of myelodysplastic syndrome and a myeloproliferative disorder, a fully justified reason to classify these patients in a temporary group. To date, there is no codified therapy for this disorders.

[Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome: toward a new molecular-targeted therapy and a new cytomorphological and molecular definition]. / Hyperéosinophilie essentielle: nouvelle thérapeutique ciblée et nouvelle définition cytologique et moléculaire.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is characterised by chronic hypereosinophilia leading to tissue damage, and after exclusion of reactive eosinophilia. Until recently no specific or efficient therapeutic was available. In 2003, a recurrent interstitial deletion 4q12 leading to the fusion of the FIP1L1 and PDGFRA genes was detected in hypereosinophilic syndromes. The resulting protein has constitutive tyrosine kinase activity which explains clinical and cytological remission of hypereosinophilic syndrome after treatment by a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate or Glivec, usually used in chronic myeloid leukaemia. Here we report a patient with hypereosinophilic syndrome associated to peculiar morphology of neutrophilic series and the 4q12 deletion. He presented clinical and haematological remission since the introduction of imatinib mesylate therapy.