Lymphocyte Level at Diagnosis in Hodgkin lymphoma: Could It be an Indicator of the Stage at Initial Diagnosis?

Background: Despite the existence of standard risk classification systems and effective treatment approaches, 34% to 37% of advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphomas (HLs) either relapse or progress. Our goal in our study was to show the relationship between initial lymphocyte count and stage while examining their effects on prognosis. The initial lymphocyte count, which is proven in advanced-stage patients, could be an important factor in terms of showing the prognosis in the early stage. Materials and Methods: Our study included 190 patients diagnosed with HL in our hospital between January 2010 and September 2020. HL subtypes, diagnosis stages, presence of bulky or mediastinal masses, lymphadenopathy areas, and demographic data of patients, such as age and sex. The aim was to obtain a cutoff in the statistical analysis performed to explore the relationship between lymphocyte level and stage, which is the main hypothesis of the study. Results: Of the 190 patients evaluated, 77 were female (40.5%) and 113 were male (59.5%). To obtain a cutoff in terms of lymphocyte level and stage relationship, a value of 2380/mm3 and below was found to be associated with stage 3-4 disease with a sensitivity of 86.44% and a specificity of 33.3% (AUC: 0.613 (0.539-0.682), p<0.007). Conclusion: This result can be improved in combination with conventional imaging methods used for staging purposes. Further studies may shed light on staging and especially the diagnosis of advanced-stage disease with high sensitivity.

A COVID-19 mystery: multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) associated with splenic rupture.

Severe inflammation and one or more extrapulmonary organ dysfunctions have been observed in those who had recently developed COVID-19, except for a macrophage activation syndrome-like picture. A 50-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with fever and a history of COVID-19 infection. More than one area of hemophagocytosis was found in the bone marrow aspiration. The HLH-2004 protocol was started with neurological involvement and she underwent splenectomy due to massive intra-abdominal bleeding secondary to splenic laceration on the 3rd day. Multiple microthrombosis and infarcts were observed in the splenectomy specimen. At the 4th week of the treatment, she was discharged with oral agents. Splenic microthrombosis and splenic rupture due to "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults" are the most important findings of this report.

Lateral flow assay (LFA) in the diagnosis of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA): a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is seen during coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), has been reported in different incidences, and is defined as COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). Detection of galactomannan antigen is an important diagnostic step in diagnosing IPA. Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) is the most frequently used method, and lateral flow assay (LFA) is increasingly used with high sensitivity and specificity for rapid diagnosis. The present study aimed to compare the sensitivity of LFA and ELISA in the diagnosis of CAPA in COVID-19 patients followed in our hospital's ICU for pandemic (ICU-P). METHODS: This study included patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 cases confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and were followed up in ICU-P between August 2021 and February 2022 with acute respiratory failure. The diagnosis of CAPA was based on the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 2020 (ECMM/ ISHAM) guideline. Galactomannan levels were determined using LFA and ELISA in serum samples taken simultaneously from the patients. RESULTS: Out of the 174 patients followed in the ICU-P, 56 did not meet any criteria for CAPA and were excluded from the analysis. The rate of patients diagnosed with proven CAPA was 5.7% (10 patients). A statistically significant result was obtained with LFA for the cut-off value of 0.5 ODI in the diagnosis of CAPA (p < 0.001). The same significant statistical relationship was found for the cut-off value of 1.0 ODI for the ELISA (p < 0.01). The sensitivity of LFA was 80% (95% CI: 0.55-1.05, p < 0.05), specificity 94% (95% CI: 0.89-0.98, p < 0.05); PPV 53% (95% CI: 0.28-0.79, p > 0.05) and NPV was 98% (95% CI: 0.95-1.01, p < 0.05). The risk of death was 1.66 (HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.02-2.86, p < 0.05) times higher in patients with an LFA result of ≥ 0.5 ODI than those with < 0.5 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is reckoned that LFA can be used in future clinical practice, particularly given its effectiveness in patients with hematological malignancies and accuracy in diagnosing CAPA.

Secondary Immunodeficiency Frequency in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: The Relationship with Stage and Treatment.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common hematological malignancies. In patients with CLL, serum immunoglobulin levels decrease over time due to both the disease itself and the chemo-immunotherapeutic agents used. It was aimed to reveal the relationship between hypogammaglobulinemia and disease stage, and chemo-immunotherapies. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained by retrospectively examining 74 patients who were followed-up between 2008-2019. The relationship between all parameters (demographic characteristics, RAI stages or therapy subtypes) and serum IgG levels was analyzed. Results: Thirty-two of 74 patients received a therapy. Twenty-two patients were on combined therapy with rituximab or only rituximab and 10 were treated with chemotherapeutic agents only. The frequency of hypogammaglobulinemia was 5.4% at the diagnosis, this rate was 55% in patients receiving a therapy. Hypogammaglobulinemia was higher in advanced stages. In patients with rituximab, higher levels of IgG decrease were observed. Conclusion: Serum IgG level was significantly lower in patients with advanced-stage, received chemotherapy, especially rituximab. In addition to basal IgG, immunoglobulin levels should be checked during treatment, and follow-up period. Early replacement intravenous immunoglobulins will be important to reduce severe infection attacks due to secondary immunodeficiency.

Serum albumin and ferritin levels: a practical indicator of prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia over 50 years of age?

BACKGROUND: Low albumin and high ferritin levels have negative effects on survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, the aim is to determine the role of these factors on survival in patients over 50 years of age with AML. METHODS: Eighty patients followed up between January 2014 and July 2019 were included in the study. Patients were categorised into three subgroups: The favorable, intermediate and high-risk groups. RESULTS: The overall survival of the favorable group was found to be longer in a statistically significant way. CONCLUSION: In this study, it has been shown that serum albumin and ferritin values are useful and simple laboratory values to show prognosis in AML over 50 years of age.

A new approach in acute myeloid leukemia (AML): Samatya-predicting score.

We aimed to examine the efficiency for prediction of prognosis and response in non-APL AML cases of the "Samatya-predicting score". A total of 213 patients diagnosed between January 2010-December 2020 were examined. Of the 158 patients included in the study, the median value of risk score was determined as 2,5. The sensitivity for mortality was 88% and the specificity was 42%. In terms of being non-responder to induction therapy, the sensitivity was 90,1%, the specificity was 25,3%. OS was shorter in those with high risk scores. This study makes an important contribution to the literature in terms of creating a different perspective to predict prognosis in AML.

Iron overload during the treatment of acute leukemia: pretransplant transfusion experience.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown the increased risk of mortality in cases with acute leukemia and iron overload. We aimed to determine the status of iron overload in patients with acute leukemia. MATERIALS & METHODS: Patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between January 2015 and December 2019 were included in the study. RESULTS: At 6 months, there were statistically more patients with serum ferritin >1000 in the AML group compared to the ALL group (p = 0,011). CONCLUSION: Iron overload occurs earlier in patients with AML; the difference disappears after 6 months of treatment. It is the correct point to emphasize that iron overload is an important factor of pretransplant morbidity, especially in AML cases.

Prognostic Role of Lymphocyte/Monocyte Ratio in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-lymphoproliferative disease with varying clinical characteristics, which occurs mostly in older ages. In studies from literature, we see that different parameters are examined to determine the prognosis of CLL. The main purpose of our study is to determine the relationship of lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR) value in CLL, which has been previously shown to be a prognostic factor in various solid organ tumors and some hematological malignancies. METHODS: A total of 173 patients who were followed up between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnostic age, gender, laboratory, absolute lymphocyte and monocyte count, LMR and overall survival (OS), treatment and responses, recurrence, cytogenetic subtype and mortality rates were examined. RESULTS: The median LMR was 26.7 and it was considered as cut-off value of 26. A positive correlation was found between LMR and Rai Stage. LMR was significantly higher in patients who have an indication for treatment or who died. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, in CLL, LMR has been shown to be over 26 in advanced stages, in relapse or with indication of a treatment. With the increase of LMR, it was found that survival and disease-free gap decreased.

A case report: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and systemic lupus erythematosus association.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is defined by acquired intravascular hemolytic anemia, thrombosis and bone marrow failure with pancytopenia. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also appears as an autoimmune disease. The coexistence of both is rarely reported. Here we report the case of a 30-year-old female presenting with pancytopenia and diagnosed as SLE, who also had a PNH clone. Bone marrow biopsy did not support hypoplastic anemia. The patient was then followed up with the consideration of the existence of a PNH clone with SLE. She was treated by the rheumatology department and complete blood count improved under immunosuppressive treatment. The coexistence of CD59-CD55 deficiency with autoimmune diseases has been reported. It is an important example in terms of receiving clinical response with SLE-specific treatment.

The relationship between serum ferritin level and fibrosis and splenomegaly in myelofibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Myelofibrosis (MF) is a disease in which the grade of bone marrow fibrosis increases in proportion to the degree of extramedullary hematopoiesis and splenomegaly. Associated with increased cytokines and inflammation, anemia deepens and an increase in serum ferritin levels is also expected. There are no studies addressing the relationship between ferritin and splenomegaly or fibrosis. In this study, the relationship between serum ferritin level and splenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis was examined. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study was performed retrospectively in 46 MF cases diagnosed between 2012 and 2020. MF was divided into 3 separate subgroups: Primary myelofibrosis, secondary myelofibrosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) with myelodsplastic syndrome. RESULTS: Thirty (28.3%) of cases were PMF, 26 (56.5%) were SMF and 7 (15.2%) were MDS/MPN. There was no relation found between serum ferritin and splenomegaly in none of the cases or subgroup analysis (for PMF p: 0.564, for SMF p: 0.192, for MDS/MPN p: 0.364). There was a statistically significant relationship between serum ferritin and marrow fibrosis within the group of ages 60 years and older (p: 0.016). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Disruption of hematopoiesis and progressive splenomegaly causes an increase in iron stores associated with an increased need for transfusion. This causes iron-related organ toxicity and bone marrow hematopoiesis disruption, leading to an increase in morbidity. We see that a significant relationship between ferritin and fibrosis has been revealed in the group aged 60 years and older. It is an unprecedented study in the literature in terms of both examining the relationship ferritin and fibrosis or splenomegaly and its results.