Ciguatera poisoning in French Polynesia: A review of the distribution and toxicity of Gambierdiscus spp., and related impacts on food web components and human health.

Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) is a seafood poisoning highly prevalent in French Polynesia. This illness results from the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by Gambierdiscus, a benthic dinoflagellate. Ciguatera significantly degrades the health and economic well-being of local communities largely dependent on reef fisheries for their subsistence. French Polynesia has been the site of rich and active CP research since the 1960's. The environmental, toxicological, and epidemiological data obtained in the frame of large-scale field surveys and a country-wide CP case reporting program conducted over the past three decades in the five island groups of French Polynesia are reviewed. Results show toxin production in Gambierdiscus in the natural environment may vary considerably at a temporal and spatial scale, and that several locales clearly represent Gambierdiscus spp. "biodiversity hotspots". Current data also suggest the "hot" species G. polynesiensis could be the primary source of CTXs in local ciguateric biotopes, pending formal confirmation. The prevalence of ciguatoxic fish and the CTX levels observed in several locales were remarkably high, with herbivores and omnivores often as toxic as carnivores. Results also confirm the strong local influence of Gambierdiscus spp. on the CTX toxin profiles characterized across multiple food web components including in CP-prone marine invertebrates. The statistics, obtained in the frame of a long-term epidemiological surveillance program established in 2007, point towards an apparent decline in the number of CP cases in French Polynesia as a whole; however, incidence rates remain dangerously high in some islands. Several of the challenges and opportunities, most notably those linked to the strong cultural ramifications of CP among local communities, that need to be considered to define effective risk management strategies are addressed.

Benefit of continuous treatment for responders with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in the randomized FIRST trial.

The phase 3, randomized Frontline Investigation of Revlimid and Dexamethasone Versus Standard Thalidomide (FIRST) trial investigating lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone until disease progression (Rd continuous) vs melphalan, prednisone and thalidomide for 12 cycles (MPT) and Rd for 18 cycles (Rd18) in transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) showed that Rd continuous prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival compared with MPT. A subanalysis of the FIRST trial was conducted to determine the benefits of Rd continuous in patients with NDMM based on depth of response. Patients randomized 1:1:1 to Rd continuous, Rd18 or MPT were divided into subgroups based on best response: complete response (CR; n=290), ⩾very good partial response (VGPR; n=679), ⩾partial response (PR; n=1 225) or ⩽stable disease (n=299). Over 13% of patients receiving Rd continuous who achieved ⩾VGPR as best response did so beyond 18 months of treatment. Rd continuous reduced the risk of progression or death by 67%, 51% and 35% vs MPT in patients with CR, ⩾VGPR and ⩾PR, respectively. Similarly, Rd continuous reduced the risk of progression or death by 61%, 54% and 38% vs Rd18 in patients with CR, ⩾VGPR and ⩾PR, respectively. In patients with CR, ⩾VGPR or ⩾PR, 4-year survival rates in the Rd continuous arm (81.1%, 73.1% or 64.6%, respectively) were higher vs MPT (70.8%, 59.8% or 57.2%, respectively) and similar vs Rd18 (76.5%, 67.7% and 62.5%, respectively). Rd continuous improved efficacy outcomes in all responding patients, including those with CR, compared with fixed duration treatment.

A phase II trial of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) supported by hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in germ-cell tumors (GCTs) patients failing cisplatin-based chemotherapy: the Multicentric TAXIF II study.

BACKGROUND: High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) is an effective salvage treatment of germ-cell tumors (GCTs) patients. In the first salvage setting, 30%-70% of patients may achieve durable remissions. Even when HDCT is administered as subsequent salvage treatment, up to 20% of patients may still be definitively cured. However, patients with refractory/relapsed disease still have a very poor long-term prognosis, requiring earlier intervention of HDCT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This phase II trial was addressed to nonrefractory patients failing Cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Inclusion criteria included seminomatous GCT in relapse after two lines of chemotherapy, nonseminomatous GCT in relapse after first or second lines, partial remission after first line, primary mediastinal GCT in first relapse. Patients received two cycles combining Epirubicin and Paclitaxel (Epi-Tax), followed by three consecutive HDCT, one using a Paclitaxel/Thiotepa (Thio-Tax) association and two using the 5-day Ifosfamide-Carboplatin-Etoposide regimen. The main objective was to determine the complete response rate. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were included between September 2004 and December 2007: 44 received the first HDCT cycle, 39 two HDCT cycles, 29 could receive the whole protocol. Sixteen patients did not receive the entire protocol, including eight (17.7%) for toxic side-effects. Two patients (4.4%) died of toxicities, and 17 (37.7%) of disease progression. With a median follow-up time of 26 months (range, 4-51), the final overall response rate was 48.8% (including a complete response rate of 15.5% and a partial response/negative serum markers rate of 26.6%) in an intent-to-treat analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were 22 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 2-not reached] and 32 months (95% CI 4-49), respectively. The 2-year PFS was a plateau setup at 50% (95% CI 32-67) and the 2-year OS was 66% (95% CI 44-81). CONCLUSION: The TAXIF II protocol was effective in nonrefractory GCT patients failing Cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The toxic death rate remained acceptable in the field of HDCT regimens. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00231582.

An 8-year survey of strains identified in blood cultures in a clinical haematology unit.

The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological profile and the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria and fungi identified from blood cultures in the patients of the clinical haematology unit. A retrospective study was carried out over an 8-year period (2003-2010) in the clinical haematology unit of the Percy Military Medical Center. During this period, we collected 723 isolates: Gram-negative bacilli (70.8%) and Gram-positive cocci (18.7%). The four most commonly isolated species were Escherichia coli (18.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.8%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (6.2%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (5.4%). The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was 6.45% and that of coagulase-negative staphylococci 61.2%. No resistance to glycopeptides was observed. In E. coli, as in the Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia group, a 27% resistance to fluoroquinolones was observed. Concerning P. aeruginosa, the phenotypes were distributed over penicillinase (23.4%) and cephalosporinase (13.1% were resistant to ceftazidime). The impermeability rate of imipenem was 9.3%. The aggressiveness and duration of haematological treatments explains why infections remain one of the main complications of neutropenia. The emergence of new or unusual bacteria is highly likely. Antibiotic selective pressure and long periods of hospitalization could explain the emergence of multiresistant bacteria. As a consequence, epidemiological surveillance is indispensable.

SP/drug efflux functionality of hematopoietic progenitors is controlled by mesenchymal niche through VLA-4/CD44 axis.

Hematopoiesis is orchestrated by interactions between hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and stromal cells within bone marrow (BM) niches. Side population (SP) functionality is a major characteristic of HSPCs related to quiescence and resistance to drugs and environmental stresses. At steady state, SP cells are mainly present in the BM and are mostly absent from the circulation except in stress conditions, raising the hypothesis of the versatility of the SP functionality. However, the mechanism of SP phenotype regulation is unclear. Here we show for the first time that the SP functionality can be induced in lin(-) cells from unmobilized peripheral blood after nesting on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). This MSC-induced SP fraction contains HSPCs as demonstrated by their (i) CD34(+) cell percentage, (ii) quiescent status, (iii) in vitro proliferative and clonogenic potential, (iv) engraftment in NSG (NOD SCID gamma chain) mice and (v) stemness gene expression profile. We demonstrate that SP phenotype acquisition/reactivation by circulating lin(-) cells is dependent on interactions with MSCs through VLA-4/α4ß1-integrin and CD44. A similar integrin-dependent mechanism of SP phenotype acquisition in acute myeloid leukemia circulating blasts suggests an extrinsic regulation of ATP-binding cassette-transporter activity that could be of importance for a better understanding of adhesion-mediated chemoresistance mechanisms.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT: phenotypes and prognosis.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) is recognized as a new-onset obstructive lung defect (OLD) in pulmonary function testing and is related to pulmonary chronic GVHD. Little is known about the different phenotypes of patients with BOS and their outcomes. We reviewed the data of all allogeneic HSCT recipients referred to our pulmonary department for a non-infectious bronchial disease between 1999 and 2010. We identified 103 patients (BOS (n=77), asthma (n=11) and chronic bronchitis (n=15)). In patients with BOS, we identified two functional phenotypes: a typical OLD, that is, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio <0.7 (n=53), and an atypical OLD with a concomitant decrease in the FEV1 <80% and FVC <80% predicted with a normal total lung capacity (n=24). The typical OLD was characterized by more severe FEV1 and fewer centrilobular nodules on the computed tomography scan. The FEV1 was not significantly affected during the follow-up, regardless of the phenotype. In addition to acute and extensive chronic GVHD, only the occurrence of BOS soon after transplantation and the intentional treatment of BOS with steroids were associated with a poor survival. The determination of patient subgroups should be explored to improve the management of this condition.

Fractionated doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin combined with 3 + 7 induction chemotherapy as salvage treatment for young patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse.

Current salvage therapies for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are unsatisfactory. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of fractionated doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) combined with a standard 3 + 7 induction regimen in young patients with AML in first relapse. Salvage regimen consisted of GO 3 mg/m² on days 1, 4, and 7; cytarabine, 200 mg/m² on days 1-7; and daunorubicine, 60 mg/m²; or idarubicine, 12 mg/m² on days 1-3. Fourteen patients were treated between April 2008 and April 2011. Median age was 46 years (29-58), median white blood cell count is 3.4 109/L (0.9-19), and median first complete remission (CR) duration is 11 months (1-42). All the patients had previously received high or intermediate doses of cytarabine as consolidation therapy. Salvage treatment was performed as scheduled for the 14 patients, using daunorubicine in 12 patients and idarubicine in two. Overall response rate was 79 % with six CR and five CR with incomplete platelet recovery. Median times to neutrophil (>0.5 109/L) and platelet (>20 109/L) recovery were 29 days (23-32) and 36 days (28-48), respectively. Allogeneic transplantation was performed in the 11 responding patients within a median time of 4 months (3-10). Three mild and one moderate veno-occlusive disease (VOD) occurred after salvage and two moderate VOD after transplantation. Median and 2-year overall survival (OS) were 10 months and 42 %, respectively. For responders, estimated 2-year OS was 53 % (median OS not reached). This salvage regimen seems safe and effective in younger patients with AML in first relapse allowing allogeneic transplantation in CR2 for most patients.

Evaluation of allogeneic hematopoietic SCT in younger adults with adverse karyotype AML.

To illustrate methodological issues, we compared donor vs no-donor to transplant vs no-transplant comparisons in a cohort of 107 patients aged 50 years with adverse karyotype AML in first CR. Adverse karyotypes were defined as -7, del(7q), -5, del(5q), t(9;22), 11q23, 3q26 or complex abnormalities. Mantel-Byar estimations and hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) as a time-dependent variable were used to compare transplant vs no-transplant cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), relapse-free survival (RFS) and OS. In all, 52 patients had a sibling donor, but only 35 of them were transplanted in first CR, whereas 9 patients received HSCT from alternative stem cell sources. Donor-based analysis showed lower CIR in the donor group, not translating in prolonged RFS or OS. Conversely, transplant-based analysis showed that HSCT in the first CR improved the three CIR (multivariate hazard ratio (HR), 0.31; P<0.001), RFS (multivariate HR, 0.57; P=0.047) and OS (multivariate HR, 0.54; P=0.03) endpoints. At 5 years, OS was estimated at 33% in transplanted vs 18% in non-transplanted patients. The positive effect of HSCT was more pronounced in patients aged 35 years and/or in those transplanted in the more recent years. These results confirm that HSCT is likely the best curative option in younger patients with adverse karyotype AML.

Prognostic significance of DNA methyltransferase 3A mutations in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia: a study by the Acute Leukemia French Association.

Recently, DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) mutations have been identified in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the highest frequency being found within cytogenetically normal (CN) AML. In this study, diagnostic samples from 123 adults younger than 60 years with primary CN-AML homogeneously treated in the Acute Leukemia French Association-9801 and -9802 trials were screened for mutations in DNMT3A-conserved domains by direct sequencing. Patients were also assessed for the presence of FLT3 (fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-3), NPM1 (nucleophosmin), CEBPA, WT1 (Wilms tumor 1), IDH1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1) and IDH2 mutations. Thirty-eight mutations were detected in 36 patients (29%): 36 nucleotide substitutions, mostly affecting amino-acid residue R882 and two frameshift deletions. DNMT3A mutations were significantly associated with the French-American-British subtypes M4/M5 and the presence of NPM1 mutations. In the whole cohort, DNMT3A mutated patients had a shorter event-free survival (5-year EFS: 13% vs 32%, P = 0.02) and overall survival (5-year OS: 23% vs 45%, P = 0.02) compared with DNMT3A wild-type patients. In multivariate analysis including age, white blood cell count, NPM1/FLT3-internal tandem duplication/CEBPA risk group and DNMT3A mutational status, the presence of a DNMT3A mutation remained an independent adverse prognostic factor for EFS and OS, suggesting that testing for DNMT3A mutations could help further improve risk stratification in CN-AML.

[Evans syndrome: be careful of over-diagnosis]. / Syndrome d'Evans: attention aux diagnostics par excès.

INTRODUCTION: Evans syndrome (ES) is characterized by the coexistence of an autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Despite being frequently evocated in the simultaneous presence of anemia and thrombocytopenia, this rare disease only accounts for 0.8 to 3.7% of patients with ITP or AIHA. CASE REPORTS: We report three suspected cases of ES, diagnosed in the presence of thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia association, with a positive direct Coombs test in two patients. Standard ES treatment failure and occurrence of additional features subsequently led to correct diagnosis to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, myelodysplastic syndrome with AIHA, and ITP with hemorrhagic anemia, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bicytopenias, even in an immunological context, are not sufficient to ascertain ES diagnosis. Our cases illustrate the diagnostic difficulties that may arise in daily practice, and induce over-diagnosis of this rare disease.

Double reduced-intensity allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective study from the SFGM-TC.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the outcome of patients who underwent double allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens (RIC). Forty-five patients who received double RIC-AHSCT between 1997 and 2006 were retrospectively studied. The predominant diagnosis was acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n = 17). Other diagnoses were aplasic anemia (AA) (n = 5), myelodysplasic disorder (n = 5), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (n = 4), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CML) (n = 3), myeloma (n = 3), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n = 3), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (n = 2), Hodgkin's disease (HD) (n = 2), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (n = 1). Main indications for RIC-AHSCT 2 were relapse (n = 25, 56%) and early (n = 8, 18%) or late (n = 12, 26%) graft failure. Median delays to reach a neutrophil count of 0.5 × 10(9)/L and platelet counts of 50 × 10(9)/L were significantly smaller after the second AHSCT. Among 25 patients who relapsed after RIC-AHSCT 1, 14 patients (56%) presented a response improvement after RIC-AHSCT 2. In this group, 9 patients sustained a complete response and 5 patients a partial response. Moreover, among the 20 patients who had early or late graft failure following RIC-AHSCT 1, 9 (45%) finally reached an engraftment. Disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly improved after RIC-AHSCT 2. Thirteen patients (28%) died of transplant-related mortality (TRM) at a median delay of 69 days (range: 0-451) after RIC-AHSCT 2. Double RIC-AHSCT is a feasible procedure that allows a response or engraftment not observed after RIC-AHSCT 1. The main indication is relapse. However, TRM remains high.

Granulocytic sarcoma in a nonleukemic patient: place of radiotherapy and systemic therapies.

Granulocytic sarcoma is a rare extramedullary tumour, which most often occurs in the course of an acute or chronic leukaemia or myeloproliferative disorders. Rarely it is found before peripheral blood or bone marrow evidence of leukemia is present. We report an unusual case of acute paraplegia at first presentation of a spinal epidural granulocytic sarcoma without any haematological disorder. Therapeutic strategies are discussed in the light of the literature.

[Acute respiratory distress revealing acute myeloblastic leukaemia: case report]. / Détresse respiratoire aiguë révélant une leucémie aiguë myéloblastique. À propos d'un cas.

We report on the case of a patient diagnosed with acute leukaemic transformation of chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. Its development was characterised by blastic pulmonary localisation and response to corticosteroids. We discuss the etiologies of respiratory distress in acute myeloblastic leukaemia and the corticosteroid sensitivity of this myeloid disease.

[PET-scan in orbital Malt lymphoma and its value in diagnosis and management: a series of four cases]. / Diversité clinique du lymphome de Malt orbitaire et intérêt du PET-scan. A propos de quatre cas.

INTRODUCTION: The orbital location of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (Malt) lymphoma (ML) is rare and can appear in very different forms. Biopsy is decisive for diagnosis. Although the positron emission tomography (PET) scan is rarely used in ophthalmology, it appears useful in our experience. We report four cases illustrating the diversity of the orbital localization in ML. Case 1 is a 41-year-old woman presenting unilateral corticosteroid-resistant dacryoadenitis. The PET-scan clearly fixed at the orbit. After anatomopathologic confirmation, a 36-Gy orbital radiotherapy was carried out, leading to the clinical and tomographic remission. CASE REPORTS: Case 2 is a 61-year-old patient, presenting a small cell carcinoma of the lung, initially referred for unilateral exophthalmia. MRI highlighted a bilateral orbital infiltration, with a hot spot on the PET-scan. The clinical suspicion of orbital metastasis was not confirmed: the biopsy concluded in ML. Case 3 is a 64-year-old woman, referred for unilateral and resistant conjunctival hyperemia. Clinical diagnosis was myositis of the superior rectus muscle. The PET-scan did not fix in the orbit but revealed a pleural location. The muscular biopsy concluded once again in ML. Case 4 is a 68-year-old woman who had a history of sinusal ML. Diplopia with a second orbital location, non specific in CT but fixed in PET, was found. The biopsy concluded in ML with transformation toward an aggressive lymphoma. CONCLUSION: Although the lacrimal gland location is well-known, unspecific orbital infiltration and orbital myositis are less common, which highlights the value of a non invasive exploration before biopsy. The advantages of the PET scan in orbital ML has not been sufficiently studied. In our experience, it was useful in these four cases. Orbital ML can take on different aspects that are sometimes misleading. PET is very useful in diagnosis before the biopsy, in therapeutic decisions, and in follow-up after treatment even if it does not always fix in the orbit.

Which role for rituximab in hairy cell leukemia? Reflections on six cases.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare, chronic, B-cell, lymphoproliferative disorder. Treatment has been revolutionized by the advent of interferon (IFN)-alpha and purine analogs (PA). First-line therapy with PA yields complete response rates of 75-100%, with many long-lasting remissions. In the event of profound neutropenia and/or infectious complications, a short sequence of IFN-alpha may precede PA treatment. Because of the excellent results achieved with PA therapy, the potential role of rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that is highly effective against most B-cell lymphomas) in HCL has yet to be elucidated. Six HCL cases treated with rituximab are reported herein with a view to elucidating the potential role of the drug in HCL. The indications essentially consist of relapsing or refractory disease, avoiding the cumulative toxicity of PA, consolidation therapy in order to eradicate minimal residual disease, and first-line therapy for patients with contraindications to PA and IFN-alpha.

[Hematological disorders and hypereosinophilias]. / Hyperéosinophilies et affections hématologiques.

Hematological disorders are the third cause of hypereosinophilia, after allergic and parasitic diseases. Hematological disorders associated with hypereosinophilias can be classified as clonal, reactive or idiopathic, and recently the improvements of cytogenetic, molecular biology and immunology have allowed to revisit numerous cases previously diagnosed as idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Reactive eosinophilias are mainly associated with lymphoma or abnormal, often clonal T lymphoid population. Clonal eosinophilia is related either to various myeloid malignancies or to a genuine myeloproliferative disorder from the eosinophile lineage, the so-called chronic eosinophilic leukaemia. Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia can be associated with recurrent genes rearrangements involving PDGFRA, PDGFRB and FGFR1 or with clonal abnormalities not yet categorized. Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome remains an exclusive diagnosis in presence of moderate or severe unexplained eosinophilia with target organ damage. The purpose of the diagnostic work-up of hypereosinophilic syndrome is to evidence either an abnormal T cell population or a clonal haematopoiesis. Imatinib mesylate dramatically improves chronic eosinophilic leukaemias associated with PDGFR abnormalities, while corticosteroids are still the main treatment for the other patients. In a near future, advances could arise from identification of new genes involved in clonal eosinophilia or in alternative therapy such as the anti-IL-5 antibodies.

[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report]. / Le purpura thrombotique thrombocytopénique: à propos d'un cas.

We report a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in a 60 years-old woman with Sjogren's syndrome. Symptomatology on admission leads to evoke the diagnosis of TTP. Biological results allow to set the diagnosis. Actually, association of haemolytic anaemia, schizocytes and thrombocytopenia are in favour of TTP. Undetectable ADAMTS 13 activity (below 5%) confirms the diagnosis. In congenital TTP, plasma ADAMTS 13 is absent or severely reduced as a consequence of mutations in the two ADAMTS 13 gene. In acquired TTP, circulating antibodies inhibit plasma ADAMTS 13 activity. In those cases, further biological studies are needed to find a cause of TTP. Follow-up implies standard laboratory tests. Plasma exchanges are progressively tapered after normalization of platelets count.

New biological indicators to evaluate and monitor radiation-induced damage: an accident case report.

The aim of this work was to use several new biological indicators to evaluate damage to the main physiological systems in a victim exposed accidentally to ionizing radiation. Blood samples were used for biological dosimetry and for measurement of the plasma concentrations of several molecules: Flt3 ligand to assess the hematopoietic system, citrulline as an indicator of the digestive tract, and several oxysterols as lipid metabolism and vascular markers. The cytogenetic evaluation estimated the dose to the victim to be between 4.2 and 4.8 Gy, depending on the methodology used. Monitoring the Flt3 ligand demonstrated the severity of bone marrow aplasia. In contrast, the citrulline concentration showed the absence of gastrointestinal damage. Variations in oxysterol concentrations suggested radiation-induced damage to the liver and the cardiovascular system. These results were correlated with those from classic biochemical markers, which demonstrated severe damage to the hematopoietic system and suggested the appearance of subclinical damage to the liver and cardiovascular system. These results demonstrate for the first time the importance of a multiparameter biological approach in the evaluation of radiation damage after accidental irradiation.

Pharmaceutical care of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the introduction of a programme of optimising drug treatment, intensive education and self-monitoring of patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at an early stage (<20 gestational weeks), will improve management outcomes as determined by objective measures of patient knowledge about diabetes, glycaemia control, maternal/neonatal complications, and health-related quality of life. METHODS: The study was a randomized, controlled, longitudinal, prospective clinical trial performed at Al-Ain Hospital, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. Over an 18-month period, patients diagnosed with GDM were recruited and were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group, in a ratio of 3:2. Intervention patients received a structured pharmaceutical care service (including education and introduction of intensive self-monitoring) while control patients received traditional services. Patients were followed up from time of recruitment until 6 months postnatally at scheduled outpatient clinics. A range of clinical and humanistic outcome measures, including maternal and neonatal complications, were used to assess the impact of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients (99 intervention, 66 control) completed the study. The intervention patients exhibited a range of benefits from the provision of the programme when compared with control group patients. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvements were shown in the intervention group for knowledge of diabetes, health-related quality of life (as determined by the SF36), control of plasma glucose and HbA(1c), maternal complications [e.g. decreased incidence of pre-eclampsia (5.1% vs. 16.7%), eclampsia (1.0% vs. 7.6%), episodes of severe hyperglycaemia (3.0% vs. 19.7%) and need for Caesarean section (7.1% vs. 18.2%)], and neonatal complications [e.g. decreased incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia (2.0% vs. 10.6%), respiratory distress at birth (4.0% vs. 15.2%), hyperbilirubinaemia (1.0% vs. 12.1%) and large for gestational age (9.0% vs. 22.7%)]. CONCLUSION: The research provides clear evidence that provision of pharmaceutical care adds value to the management of GDM as exemplified by improved maternal and neonatal outcomes.