Haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse after complete remission by standard induction chemotherapy

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of haploidentical hematopoietic stem - cell transplantation ( Haplo - PBSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse after complete remission by standard induction chemotherapy. Methods Eighty - nine cases of AML in first relapse after complete remission by standard DA

Advancements in autoimmune hepatitis management:Perspectives for future guidelines

The first-line treatment for autoimmune hepatitis involves the use of prednisone or prednisolone either as monotherapy or in combination with azathioprine(AZA).Budesonide has shown promise in inducing a complete biochemical response(CBR)with fewer adverse effects and is considered an optional first-line treatment,particularly for patients without cirrhosis;however,it is worth noting that the design of that study favored budesonide.A recent real-life study revealed higher CBR rates with prednisone when equivalent initial doses were administered.Current guidelines recommend mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)for patients who are intolerant to AZA.It is important to mention that the evidence supporting this recommendation is weak,primarily consisting of case series.Nevertheless,MMF has demonstrated superiority to AZA in the context of renal transplant.Recent comparative studies have shown higher CBR rates,lower therapeutic failure rates,and reduced intolerance in the MMF group.These findings may influence future guidelines,potentially leading to a significant modification in the first-line treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.Until recently,the only alternative to corticosteroids was lifelong maintenance treatment with AZA,which comes with notable risks,such as skin cancer and lymphoma.Prospective trials are essential for a more comprehensive assessment of treatment suspension strategies,whether relying on histological criteria,strict biochemical criteria,or a combination of both.Single-center studies using chloroquine diphosphate have shown promising results in significantly reducing relapse rates compared to placebo.However,these interesting findings have yet to be replicated by other research groups.Additionally,second-line drugs,such as tacrolimus,rituximab,and infliximab,should be subjected to controlled trials for further evaluation.

High Remission Rates in a Brazilian Cohort of Initial Rheumatoid Arthritis after 15 Years of Follow-Up

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic rheumatic disease which is usually treated with corticosteroids and immunobiologicals. The goal of this article is to carry out an assessment of disease activity indices in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Individuals from the Initial Rheumatoid Arthritis Brasília Cohort, which is an incident cohort of early RA diagnosed patients, were monitored at the Rheumatology Service of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB), University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil. A cross-sectional analysis was carried out from 2017 to 2018 to evaluate patients with 15 or more years of follow-up, through a direct interview and review of medical records. The main focus of the study is on the assessment of disease activity, based on the indices: 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on Creactive protein (DAS 28 CPR) and based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS 28 ESR), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI). The reference remission criteria used were the Composite Disease Activity Indices. Results: 107 patients were evaluated, mostly women, mean age of 55.1 years. Concerning the disease characteristics, 75.5% of the patients were positive for rheumatoid factor and 12 (11.3%) had documented erosive disease. The mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) at the time of assessment was 0.6 (median 0.35). The indices analyzed showed: DAS28-ESR 48.6% of patients were in remission and 12.1% had low activity levels, DAS28-CRP 55.1% and 11.2%, SDAI 42% and 26.1%, CDAI 41.1% and 27.1%. These remission and low disease activity levels are higher than those generally found in the literature. Conclusion: This study presents a cohort of patients with RA who started treatment at an early stage of the disease and who achieved higher rates of remission and lower disease activity than those reported in the literature.