COVID-19 impact in Crohn’s disease patients submitted to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),a disease that has been blamed for inducing or exacerbating symptoms in patients with autoimmune diseases.Crohn's disease(CD)is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects genetically susceptible patients who develop an abnormal mucosal immune response to the intestinal microbiota.Patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)are considered at risk for COVID-19.AIM To describe for the first time the impact of COVID-19 in CD patients who had undergone autologous,non-myeloablative HSCT.METHODS In this descriptive study a series of 19 patients were diagnosed with positive COVID-19.For two patients there were reports of the occurrence of two infectious episodes.Parameters related to HSCT,such as time elapsed since the procedure,vaccination status,CD status before and after infection,and clinical manifestations resulting from COVID-19,were evaluated.RESULTS Among the patients with COVID-19,three,who underwent Auto HSCT less than six months ago,relapsed and one,in addition to the CD symptoms,started to present thyroid impairment with positive anti-TPO.Only one of the patients required hospitalization for five days to treat COVID-19 and remained in CD clinical remission.Nine patients reported late symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.There were no deaths,and a statistical evaluation of the series of COVID-19 patients compared to those who did not present any infectious episode did not identify significant differences regarding the analyzed parameters.CONCLUSION Despite the change in CD status in three patients and the presence of nine patients with late symptoms,we can conclude that there was no significant adverse impact concerning COVID-19 in the evaluated patients who underwent HSCT to treat CD.

Sarcopenia and gut microbiota alterations in patients with hematological diseases before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia(SP) and its relationship with gut microbiota alterations in patients with hematological diseases before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).Methods: A total of 108 patients with various hematological disorders were selected from Peking University People’s Hospital. SP was screened and diagnosed based on the 2019 Asian Sarcopenia Diagnosis Strategy. Physical measurements and fecal samples were collected, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted. Alpha and beta diversity analyses were performed to evaluate gut microbiota composition and diversity.Results: After HSCT, significant decreases in calf circumference and body mass index(BMI) were observed,accompanied by a decline in physical function. Gut microbiota analyses revealed significant differences in the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Bacteroides, Blautia and Dorea species before and after HSCT(P<0.05). Before HSCT, sarcopenic patients had lower Dorea levels and higher Phascolarctobacterium levels than non-sarcopenia patients(P<0.01). After HSCT, no significant differences in species abundance were observed. Alpha diversity analysis showed significant differences in species diversity among the groups, with the highest diversity in the postHSCT 90-day group and the lowest in the post-HSCT 30-day group. Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in species composition between pre-and post-HSCT time points but not between SP groups. Linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEfSe) identified Alistipes, Rikenellaceae, Alistipes putredinis, Prevotellaceae defectiva and Blautia coccoides as biomarkers for the pre-HSCT sarcopenia group. Functional predictions showed significant differences in anaerobic, biofilm-forming and oxidative stress-tolerant functions among the groups(P<0.05).Conclusions: This study demonstrated a significant decline in physical function after HSCT and identified potential gut microbiota biomarkers and functional alterations associated with SP in patients with hematological disorders. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of aplastic anemia by relative with mutations and normal telomere length: A case report

BACKGROUND Immunosuppressive therapy and matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(MSD-HSCT)are the preferred treatments for aplastic anemia(AA).CASE SUMMARY In this report,we describe a 43-year-old male patient with severe AA who carried BRIP1(also known as FANCJ),TINF2,and TCIRG1 mutations.Screening of the family pedigree revealed the same TINF2 mutation in his mother and older brother,with his older brother also carrying the BRIP1 variant and demonstrating normal telomere length and hematopoietic function.The patient was successfully treated with oral cyclosporine A,eltrombopag,and acetylcysteine,achieving remission 4 years after receiving MSD-HSCT from his older brother.CONCLUSION This case provides a valuable clinical reference for individuals with suspected pathogenic gene mutations,normal telomere length,and hematopoietic function,highlighting them as potential donors for patients with AA.

Advantageous tactics with certain probiotics for the treatment of graft-versus-host-disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)becomes a standard form of cellular therapy for patients with malignant diseases.HSCT is the first-choice of immunotherapy,although HSCT can be associated with many complications such as graft-versus-host disease(GVHD)which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic HSCT.It has been shown that certain gut microbiota could exert protective and/or regenerative immunomodulatory effects by the production of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)such as butyrate in the experimental models of GVHD after allogeneic HSCT.Loss of gut commensal bacteria which can produce SCFAs may worsen dysbiosis,increasing the risk of GVHD.Expression of G-protein coupled receptors such as GPR41 seems to be upre-gulated in the presence of commensal bacteria,which might be associated with the biology of regulatory T cells(Tregs).Treg cells are a suppressive subset of CD4 positive T lymphocytes implicated in the prevention of GVHD after allogeneic HSCT.Here,we discuss the current findings of the relationship between the modification of gut microbiota and the GVHD-related immunity,which suggested that tactics with certain probiotics for the beneficial symbiosis in gut-immune axis might lead to the elevation of safety in the allogeneic HSCT.

Decitabine for Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) remains a main question on treatment failure. Current strategies for management that usually include salvage chemotherapy, donor lymphocytic infusion and second transplantation. Our study assessed the efficacy of decitabine(DAC) for treating patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) who relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT). We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 12 patients with relapsed ALL after allo-HSCT who received DAC therapy. Nine patients received DAC combined with chemotherapy and donor stem cell infusion, and 3 patients received single-agent DAC. Ten of the 12 patients achieved complete remission(CR), 1 achieved a partial remission(PR), and 1 had no response(NR) after treatment at the latest follow-up(LFU), the median survival was 11.2 months(range, 3.8–34, 7 months). The 1-and 2-year overall survival(OS) rates were 50%(6/12) and 25%(3/12), respectively. Five patients were still alive; 4 had maintained CR and 1 was alive with disease. Patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL had higher survival rate than patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative ALL(57.1% vs. 20%). No aggravated flares of graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) were observed during DAC treatment. Therefore, DAC may be a promising therapeutic agent for ALL recurrence after allo-HSCT.

Gut microbiome in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and specific changes associated with acute graft vs host disease

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(aHSCT)is a standard validated therapy for patients suffering from malignant and nonmalignant hematological diseases.However,aHSCT procedures are limited by potentially life-threatening complications,and one of the most serious complications is acute graft-versus-host disease(GVHD).During the last decades,DNA sequencing technologies were used to investigate relationship between composition or function of the gut microbiome and disease states.Even if it remains unclear whether these microbiome alterations are causative or secondary to the presence of the disease,they may be useful for diagnosis,prevention and therapy in aHSCT recipients.Here,we summarized the most recent findings of the association between human gut microbiome changes and acute GVHD in patients receiving aHSCT.

High-dose Chemotherapy Combined with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation as Frontline Therapy for Intermediate/High-risk Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

The role of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(auto-HSCT)following high-dose chemotherapy has been validated and accepted as a standard treatment for patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL).However,its clinical efficacy as frontline therapy remains to be elucidated.This study aimed to examine the feasibility of frontline auto-HSCT for newly diagnosed intermediate/high-risk DLBCL patients.We retrospectively reviewed the data of 223 patients treated with frontline auto-HSCT or chemotherapy alone(year 2008-2014)from four hospitals.The median follow-up time was 29.4 months.Between the two treatment arms among the intermediate/high-risk DLBCL patients,the 3-year overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)rates of patients given frontline auto-HSCT were 87.6%and 81.9%,respectively,and the chemotherapy-alone group showed 3-year OS and PFS rates of 64.9%and 59.59%,respectively.Compared with the chemotherapy-alone group,the frontline auto-HSCT could eliminate the adverse impact of non-germinal center B-cell(GCB)type.In addition,in the frontline auto-HSCT group,patients who achieved complete response(CR)at auto-HSCT had a longer survival time than those who did not achieve CR.Our results suggested that frontline auto-HSCT could improve the prognosis of intennediate/high-risk DLBCL patients.

Psychosocial aspects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)has become a conventional and potentially curative treatment for various hematological diseases.As more sophisticated procedures have been developed and mortality rates have decreased,attention has shifted to the psychosocial challenges associated with transplantation.The psychosocial difficulties accompanying transplantation are addressed in the context of both quality of life(QOL)and psychopathological research.Among the psychiatric comorbidities of HSCT,anxiety,depression,sleep and sexual disorders,delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder are the most studied conditions.Recently,more attention has been focused on the psychosocial burden of caregivers.Devising recommendations for the management of psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial interventions in HSCT sufferers and close relatives is a major concern to consultation–liaison psychiatrists and transplant teams.This review synthesizes and critically evaluates the current literature on the psychosocial aspects of HSCT and appraises the clinical significance of these outcomes.Issues of QOL assessment;psychosocial functioning and QOL in the course of HSCT;impact of graft-versus-host disease and other predictors of QOL and psychosocial functioning;comorbid psychiatric disorders;and interventions to maintain or improve QOL and reduce psychopathology and psychosocial burden on family members are presented.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Crohn's disease: Gaps, doubts and perspectives

Crohn's disease(CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any site of the digestive system. It occurs due to an immunological imbalance and is responsible for intestinal mucosal lesions and complications such as fistulas and stenoses. Treatment aims to stabilize the disease, reducing the symptoms and healing intestinal lesions. Surgical procedures are common in patients. Cell therapy was initially used to treat this disease in patients who also suffered from lymphoma and leukemia and were considered to be good candidates for autologous and allogeneic transplantation. After transplantation, an improvement was also observed in their CD. In 2003, the procedure began to be used to treat the disease itself, and several case series and randomized studies have been published since then; this approach currently comprises a new option in the treatment of CD. However, considerable doubt along with significant gaps in our knowledge continue to exist in relation to cell therapy for CD. Cell therapy is currently restricted to the autologous modality of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and, experimentally, to mesenchymal stromal cells to directly treat lesions of the anal mucosa. This article presents the supporting claims for transplantation as well as aspects related to the mobilization regime, conditioning and perspectives of cell therapy.

Endoscopic diagnosis of cytomegalovirus gastritis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

AIM:To clarify the endoscopic and clinical findings of cytomegalovirus(CMV) gastritis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-SCT).METHODS:Between 1999 and 2005,523 patients underwent allo-SCT at our hospital,and 115 of these patients with gastrointestinal symptoms underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy.RESULTS:CMV gastritis was diagnosed pathologically in seven patients(1.3%) with the other 108 patients serving as controls.Six of the seven patients developed positive CMV antigenemia,and five complained of abdominal pain.Development of abdominal pain preceded CMV antigenemia in four of the f ive patients.Endoscopic examination showed oozing(n=2),erosion(n=6),and redness(n=5) in the seven patients with CMV gastritis,while the control patients showed oozing(n=3),erosion(n=24),and redness(n=100).Erosion and oozing were more frequently documented in patients with CMV gastritis compared with the controls,and the differences were statistically significant(P=0.0012 and 0.029,respectively).CMV inclusion bodies were documented in 12 of 14 biopsy specimens obtained from erosive lesions,while they were identif ied in 4 of 15 biopsy specimens obtained from lesions other than erosions(P=0.0025).CONCLUSION:This study suggests that erosion and oozing,as well as abdominal pain,are useful indicators in the diagnosis of CMV gastritis following allo-SCT.

The Viral Load of Epstein-Barr Virus in Blood of Children after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Objective To detect the Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)viral load of children after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)using chip digital PCR(cdPCR).Methods The sensitivity of cdPCR was determined using EBV plasmids and the EBV B95-8 strain.The specificity of EBV cdPCR was evaluated using the EBV B95-8 strain and other herpesviruses(herpes simplex virus 1,herpes simplex virus 2,varicella zoster virus,human cytomegalovirus,human herpesvirus 6,and human herpesvirus 7).From May 2019 to September 2020,64 serum samples of children following HSCT were collected.EBV infection and the viral load of serum samples were detected by cdPCR.The epidemiological characteristics of EBV infections were analyzed in HSCT patients.Results The limit of detection of EBV cdPCR was 110 copies/mL,and the limit of detection of EBV quantitative PCR was 327 copies/mL for the pUC57-BALF5 plasmid.The result of EBV cdPCR was up to 121 copies/mL in the EBV B95-8 strain,and both were more sensitive than that of quantitative PCR.Using cdPCR,the incidence of EBV infection was 18.75%in 64 children after HSCT.The minimum EBV viral load was 140 copies/mL,and the maximum viral load was 3,209 copies/mL using cdPCR.The average hospital stay of children with EBV infection(184±91 days)was longer than that of children without EBV infection(125±79 days),P=0.026.Conclusion EBV cdPCR had good sensitivity and specificity.The incidence of EBV infection was 18.75%in 64 children after HSCT from May 2019 to September 2020.EBV cdPCR could therefore be a novel method to detect EBV viral load in children after HSCT.

Hematopoiesis reconstitution and anti-tumor effectiveness of Pai-Neng-Da capsule in acute leukemia patients with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND With the rapid development of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(haplo-HSCT),primary poor graft function(PGF)has become a lifethreatening complication.Effective therapies for PGF are inconclusive.New Chinese patent medicine Pai-Neng-Da(PND)Capsule exerts dual effect in promoting hematopoiesis recovery and regulating immunity.Still,the application of PND capsule in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,especially in the haplo-HSCT setting,has not yet been reported.AIM To evaluate the role of PND capsule in acute leukemia patients with haplo-HSCT.METHODS We retrospectively collected data of acute leukemia patients who underwent haplo-HSCT at the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University between April 1,2015 and June 30,2020.Twenty-nine consecutive patients received oral PND capsule from the sixth day to the first month after haplo-HSCT were included in the PND group.In addition,31 patients who did not receive PND capsule during haplo-HSCT were included in the non-PND group.Subsequently,we compared the therapeutic efficacy according to the western medical evaluation indexes and Chinese medical symptom scores,and the survival between the PND group and the non-PND group,using the chi-square test,Fisher’s exact test,and the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS The duration of platelet engraftment was shorter in the PND group than in the non-PND group(P=0.039).The PND group received a lower frequency of red blood cells and platelet transfusions than the non-PND group(P=0.033 and P=0.035,respectively).In addition,PND capsule marginally reduced the rate of PGF(P=0.027)and relapse(P=0.043).After 33(range,4-106)months of follow-up,the 3-year relapse-free survival(P=0.046)and progression-free survival(P=0.049)were improved in the PND group than in the non-PND group.Also,the therapeutic efficacy of the PND group according to Chinese medical symptom scores was significantly better than that of the non-PND group(P=0.022).Moreover,the adverse events caused by PND capsule were mild.Nevertheless,there were no significant differences in the duration of neutrophil engraftment,the risk of infection within 100 days after haplo-HSCT,the acute graft-versus-host disease,or the 3-year overall survival between the two groups.CONCLUSION PND capsule could promote hematopoiesis reconstitution,improve the therapeutic efficacy of Chinese medical symptom scores,present anti-tumor effectiveness,and prolong the survival of acute leukemia patients with haplo-HSCT.

Nephrotic syndrome in syngeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: A case report

BACKGROUND Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)is widely used in the treatment of hematological diseases.However,complications after transplantation,such as acute and chronic graft-vs-host disease(GVHD),still seriously affect the quality of life and even threaten the lives of patients.There is evidence that glomerular diseases can manifest as GVHD.However,GVHD should not occur as a result of syngeneic HSCT.CASE SUMMARY A 20-year-old male diagnosed with T lymphoblastic lymphoma(stage IIIA,aaIPI 1)in September 2013 was treated with six cycles of hyper-CVAD and achieved complete remission.He underwent syngeneic HSCT in June 2014,and had no kidney disease history before the transplant.However,nephrotic syndrome occurred 24 mo later in the patient after syngeneic HSCT.Renal biopsy was performed,which led to a diagnosis of atypical membranous nephropathy.After treatment with glucocorticoids combined with cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine,the nephrotic syndrome was completely relieved.CONCLUSION We report a case of delayed nephrotic syndrome after syngeneic HSCT.Antibodymediated autoimmune glomerular disease may be the underlying mechanism.After treatment with immunosuppressive agents,the nephrotic syndrome was completely relieved but further long-term follow-up is still needed.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a 3-year-old boy with congenital pyruvate kinase deficiency: A case report

BACKGROUND The understanding regarding genetic variation,pathophysiology,and complications associated with pyruvate kinase deficiency(PKD)in red blood cells has been explained largely,and supportive treatment is currently the main management strategy.Etiotropic managements,including transplantation and genome editing,supplying for substitute dugs of the pyruvate kinase,are all under research.CASE SUMMARY We herein report a 3-year-old boy with severe transfusion-dependent PKD cured by unrelated identical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation(PBSCT).Hemoglobin was corrected to a normal level by gene correction after PBSCT,with no complication related to the transplantation.CONCLUSION Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation could be a substitute for transfusiondependent PKD.

Overview of nutritional approach in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation:COVID-19 update

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is caused by the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2.Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)is a high-risk procedure.The novelty of COVID-19 has created more uncertainty during all phases of HSCT.It is thought that HSCT patients taking immunosuppressive agents are more likely to contract COVID-19 than healthy individuals are.Appropriate care precautions should be taken with patients undergoing HSCT to minimize the risk of COVID-19,and appropriate treatment methods must be followed in patients infected with COVID-19.Malnutrition has become a significant problem in HSCT patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.The causes of malnutrition in HSCT patients are multifactorial.However,the most important reason is the decrease in energy and nutrient intake.The HSCT procedure can lead to many complications such as dysgeusia,mucositis,diarrhea,constipation,xerostomia and vomiting/nausea.Improving the nutritional status of HSCT patients by managing each of these special complications with an appropriate nutritional approach is essential for successful engraftment.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific complications affecting the nutritional status of HSCT patients and their nutritional approach during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

Early diagnostic value of liver stiffness measurement in hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome induced by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)-sinusoidal obstruction syndrome(SOS),also known as veno-occlusive disease,is a clinical syndrome characterized by symptoms,such as right upper quadrant pain,jaundice,fluid retention,and hepatomegaly,and is caused by pre-treatment-related hepatotoxicity during the early stages after HSCT.Clinical diagnosis of HSCT-SOS is based on the revised Seattle or Baltimore standards.The revised standard by the European Society for Bone Marrow Transplantation in 2016 has good practicability and can be used in combination with these two standards.Eight studies have shown the value of liver stiffness measurement(LSM)in the early diagnosis of HSCT-SOS.Four studies investigated LSM specificity and sensitivity for the early diagnosis of HSCT-SOS.LSM can distinguish SOS from other post-HSCT complications,enabling a clear differential diagnosis.It has been shown that median LSM of patients with SOS is significantly higher than that of patients with other treatment-related liver complications(e.g.,acute cholecystitis,cholangitis,antifungal drug-related liver injury,liver graft-versus-host disease,isolated liver biochemical changes,and fulminant Epstein Barr virus related hepatitis reactivation).Therefore,the above data confirmed the utility of LSM and strongly suggested that LSM improves the positive predictive value of the SOS diagnostic clinical score after allogeneic HSCT.Early diagnosis of SOS is beneficial in preventing severe HSCT complications.

HIGH DOSE CHEMORADIOTHERAPY WITH AUTOLOGOUS HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION IN THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED HODGKIN's LYMPHOMA:A REPORT OF 11 CASES

Objective: High dose therapy (HDT) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has become one of the important salvage treatments for the Hodgkin抯 Lymphoma patients with relapsed or resistant disease, but its role as the primary treatment remains indefinite. This study was designed to further evaluate its status in the combined modality treatment, especially, to discuss its value in the primary treatment of the patients who had advanced disease with poor prognostic factors. Methods: Eleven patients who had advanced or relapsed disease with poor prognostic factors were enrolled in this study. Among them, 9 cases had primary treatment, and 2 cases had secondary treatment; one patient received autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), and 10 patients received autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). After induction treatment 4 cases achieved complete response (CR) and 7 cases achieved partial response (PR). High dose chemotherapy combined with total body irradiation (TBI) or total lymph node irradiation (TLI)/subtotal lymph node irradiation (STLI) were adopted in 7 cases and only high dose chemotherapy were adopted in 4 cases as the transplant preparative regimens. 5 cases received complementary irradiation in the primary sites after transplant. Results: The patients who had CR before transplantation were given consolidative therapy. Among the rest with PR, 2 cases achieved CR, 1 case PR, and 4 cases SD. Furthermore all these patients who maintained SD had bone involvement. With a median follow-up for all patients of 13(1-80) months, all of them are alive currently. Four cases are event-free survival (EFS); 4 cases with bone involvement are progression-free survival (PFS); 3 cases experienced relapse after transplant, one of them is EFS for 42 months again after a local relapsed site irradiation; the other two cases are being given further salvaged treatment now. According to the Life Tables method, the cumulative probability of 6-year PFS and OS is 55.68% and 100% respectively. The dominating transplant- related toxicity was bone marrow suppression in grades IV. No obvious cardiac, hepatic, and nephritic toxicity was found. No transplant related mortality. Conclusion: HDT combined with ASCT is a method worthwhile to further study for the treatment of the patients with advanced or relapsed Hodgkin抯 Lymphoma with poor prognostic factors.

Profiles of interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)may be related to the occurrence of complications,including graft-versus-host disease(GvHD)and infections.The pathogenesis of acute GvHD is connected with T lymphocytes,which identify alloantigens on host's antigen-presenting cells,activate production of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma)and interleukin-2(IL-2),and act on the immune effector cells and damage tissues and organs.AIM The aim of the study was to investigate and distinguish serum concentration profiles of IFN-gamma and IL-2 within a 30-d period after allo-HSCT.METHODS We enrolled 62 patients,i.e.,30(48%)male and 32(52%)female subjects[median age 49.5(19-68)years],after allo-HSCT from siblings(n=12)or unrelated donors(n=50)due to acute myeloid leukemia with myeloablative conditioning(n=26;42%)and with non-myeloablative conditioning(n=36;58%).All patients were given standard immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin-A and methotrexate and pre-transplant antithymocyte globulin in the unrelated setting.Blood samples were collected pre-transplant before and after(on day-1)the conditioning therapy and on days+2,+4,+6,+10,+20,and+30 after allo-HSCT.Serum levels of IL-2 and IFNgamma were determined using ELISA.RESULTS Patients were divided into four groups depending on the presence of acute GvHD and clinical manifestations of infection.Group I included patients with neither acute GvHD nor infections[n=15(24%)],group II consisted of patients with infections without acute GvHD[n=17(27%)],group III was comprised of patients with acute GvHD without infections[n=9(15%)],and group IV included patients with both acute GvHD and infections[n=21(34%)].IFN-gamma concentrations were higher in Group II than in other groups on days+20(P=0.014)and+30(P=0.008).Post-hoc tests showed lower concentrations of IFN-gamma on day+30 in groups I(P=0.039)and IV(P=0.017)compared to group II.The levels of IL-2 were mostly undetectable.CONCLUSION Serum levels of IFN-gamma following allo-HSCT progressively escalate.High serum levels of IFN-gamma are related to infectious complications rather than acute GvHD.Serum concentrations of IL-2 in most patients are undetectable.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 24 patients with β-thalassemia major

Objective To investigate the effect of allgeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( allo - HSCT ) for β - thalassemia major. Methods Twenty - four β - thalassemia major patients with median age of 4 years ( range: 2 -15 years) ,18 boys and 6 girls,received al-

Hemorrhagic cystitis following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation:risk factors and prophylaxis measures

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the optimal alkalized hydration solution for hemorrhagic cystitis ( HC) following unrelated donor allogeneic hem-