Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from matched related donors for acute myeloid leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the priority treatment option as the most effective prevention of relapse. When an HLA-matched sibling is available, these transplants are preferred. OBJECTIVES: We stratificated patients according to risk, disease state (an active disease, the 1st or 2nd complete remission ‒ CR1, CR2, which was achieved after the 1st or 2nd induction) and type of graft (from brother or sister). Finally, the overall survival (OS) of patients in individual groups was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective single-center study included 104 transplantations in 97 adult patients with AML who underwent HSCT from matched sibling donor in a period of 10 years between January 2011 and December 2020. RESULTS: 54 patients (55.7%) were alive as of the January 1, 2022. The median OS of the entire group, as well as the cohort with favorable (5y-OS 75.0%) and intermediate prognosis risk (5y‒OS 78.5%) was not reached. We found that patients, who required second induction therapy to achieve CR, had poorer OS after allogeneic HSCT, median 20.7 months (95% CI, 6.5-35.5) than those who achieved CR after first induction, median not reached (95% CI, 63.5‒63.5, p=0.0048). Statistically significant effect on OS shows transplantation in CR2 (HR 6.76, CI 95% 2.19‒20.80, p=0.0009), In addition, this parameter influenced OS more than achieving CR up to the 2nd induction course (HR 2.44, CI 95% 1.17‒5.11; p=0.0180) or entry to transplantation without CR (HR 2.81, CI 95% 1.09‒7.26; p=0.0326). CONCLUSION: The results presented in the work show the high efficiency of HSCT in each risk group. The number of induction therapies required to achieve CR is a good prognostic factor. The gender of a sibling has no impact on OS (Tab. 11, Fig. 7, Ref. 18). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, overall survival, remission status, donor tender.

Can we predict clinical cardiotoxicity with cardiac biomarkers in patients after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

The long-term prognosis of patients after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has greatly improved. Cardiac complications represent unresolved and potentially life-threatening conditions in these patients. We prospectively examined 37 consecutive patients with a median age of 28 years who underwent allogeneic HSCT. Biomarkers of cardiac injury were measured serially before the conditioning regimen, the first day after HSCT and then 14, 30, 90 and 180 days after HSCT. Echocardiography was performed before and 1 month after HSCT. Eleven patients (30%) had persistently increased NT-proBNP values, 14 patients (38%) had only transient elevations and 12 (32%) had no changes in NT-proBNP concentrations for a period exceeding 14 days after HSCT. Elevated NT-proBNP values at day 14 after HSCT remained an independent predictor of cardiotoxicity during the first 6 months after HSCT (P < 0.01). Patients with persistent elevations in NT-proBNP also had significant elevations in hs-cTnT concentrations (P < 0.01). Only patients with persistently increased NT-proBNP had a significant worsening in systolic and some diastolic echocardiographic parameters, and we observed in this group the highest values of both cardiomarkers during the 6-month period. Forty-five percent of these patients developed clinical manifestation of cardiotoxicity. Elevations in NT-proBNP concentrations at day 14 after HSCT can predict patients at risk of developing cardiac events during the first 6 months after HSCT. Simultaneous elevations of both cardiomarkers (NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT) persisting 14 days after HSCT had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 80.69%.

Micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy in hematological patients: a retrospective, multicenter study in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

The objective of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy during febrile neutropenia (FN) in 73 hematological patients from six centers in two countries. All patients received 100 mg of micafungin/day. The overall favorable response rate (RR) was 64.8% when the resolution of fever during neutropenia was included in the response criteria and 84.5% when excluded. A significantly lower favorable RR in patients with persistent fever and non-specific pulmonary infiltrates compared to patients with persistent fever only (82.8 vs. 52.4%, respectively; p = 0.011) was not found when resolution of fever was not included in the composite endpoint criteria (93.1 vs. 78.6%, respectively; p = 0.180). Breakthrough fungal disease developed in 2.7% of patients. Treatment was discontinued in 16.4% of cases. Only one patient (1.4%) discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. Posaconazole prophylaxis improved favorable RR when defervescence was included as composite endpoint criterion (p = 0.047), but not when it was excluded (p = 0.485). However, neutrophil recovery did not influence favorable RR (p = 0.803 and p = 0.112, respectively). These data suggest that micafungin is safe and effective as an empirical therapy in patients with FN.

Invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematological malignancies in the Czech and Slovak republics: Fungal InfectioN Database (FIND) analysis, 2005-2009.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and treatment outcomes of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with hematological malignancies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from proven/probable IA cases that occurred from 2005 to 2009 at 10 hematology centers was performed. RESULTS: We identified 176 IA cases that mainly occurred in patients with acute leukemias (58.5%), mostly those on induction/re-induction treatments (39.8%). Prolonged neutropenia was the most frequent risk factor for IA (61.4%). The lungs were the most frequently affected site (93.8%) and computed tomography detected abnormalities in all episodes; however, only 53.7% of patients had findings suggestive of IA. Galactomannan (GM) detection in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (positive in 79.1% and 78.8% of episodes, respectively) played a crucial role in IA diagnosis. Neutrophil count and antifungal prophylaxis did not influence the GM positivity rate, but empirical therapy decreased this rate (in serum). Of the IA cases, 53.2% responded to initial antifungal therapy. The combination of voriconazole and echinocandin, even as initial or salvage therapy, did not perform better than voriconazole monotherapy (p=0.924 for initial therapy and p=0.205 for salvage therapy). Neutrophil recovery had a significant role in the response to initial (but not salvage) antifungal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective analysis identified key diagnostic and treatment characteristics, and this understanding could improve the management of hematological malignancy patients with IA.

Serial measurements of cardiac biomarkers in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Previous therapy with anthracyclines (ANT) and conditioning regimen followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a high risk for development of cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to assess subclinical myocardial damage after HSCT using echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers--high sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and to identify patients at risk of developing clinical cardiotoxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients who were treated with allogeneic HSCT for hematologic diseases at median age of 28 years at time of HSCT were studied. Conditioning regimen included either chemotherapy without total body irradiation (TBI) or combination of chemotherapy with TBI. Twenty-nine (78.3%) patients were pretreated with ANT therapy. Cardiac biomarkers were serially measured before conditioning regimen and at days 1, 14 and 30 after HSCT. Cardiac systolic and diastolic functions were assessed before conditioning regimen and 1 month after HSCT by echocardiography. RESULTS: The changes in plasma NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT levels during the 30 days following the HSCT were statistically significant (P < 0.01 v.s. P < 0.01). Persistent elevations of NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT simultaneously for a period exceeding 14 days after HSCT were found in 29.7% patients. Serum concentrations of cardiomarkers were significantly elevated in ANT group compared to non-ANT group. These observations were underscored by the echocardiographic studies which did reveal significant changes in systolic and diastolic parameters. Five of 37 (13.5%) patients developed clinical manifestation of cardiotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Elevations in both cardiac biomarkers were found before clinical signs of cardiotoxicity developed. Persistent elevations in NT-pro-BNP and hs-cTnT concentrations simultaneously for a period exceeding 14 days might be used for identification of patients at risk of developing cardiotoxicity and requiring further cardiological follow up.