Current opinion in hematology
-
Curr. Opin. Hematol. · May 2007
ReviewRecombinant factor VIIa: its background, development and clinical use.
To examine the development of recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa); a new concept of inducing hemostasis. It was developed for use in hemophilia patients with inhibitors against FVIII or FIX with the vision to provide these patients with a therapeutical option to be used instead of FVIII or FIX. For the first time it was shown that pharmacological doses of FVIIa induced hemostasis. ⋯ Pharmacological doses of rFVIIa induce hemostasis in severe hemophilia and in nonhemophilia patients with profuse, heavy bleeding. rFVIIa enhances thrombin generation on activated platelets, thereby initiating the formation of strong, tight fibrin hemostatic plugs resistant to premature lysis. It also seems to be safe in high doses.
-
Curr. Opin. Hematol. · Mar 2007
ReviewThe role of lenalidomide in the treatment of patients with chromosome 5q deletion and other myelodysplastic syndromes.
The aim of this article is to discuss the relevant pathobiologic effects of lenalidomide and the most recent clinical evidence to support its use in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. ⋯ Lenalidomide is an active immunomodulatory agent for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome with encouraging erythropoetic and cytogenetic remitting activity that is karyotype dependent.
-
To outline the rationale, limitations, and execution of bloodless medical and surgical programs, highlighting characteristics that contribute to successful outcomes. ⋯ The objectives of bloodless medicine and surgery programs are straightforward but require staff with expertise in transfusion medicine, intensive teamwork, patient-specific customization, careful planning, and integrated use of multimodal strategies.
-
Our understanding of the biology and properties of mesenchymal stem cells or multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells has expanded dramatically over the last 3 years and is likely to have an impact on clinical practice in the near future, making a review of this topic both timely and relevant ⋯ Mesenchymal stromal cells are a biologically important cell population that are able to support hematopoiesis, can differentiate along mesenchymal and nonmesenchymal lineages in vitro, are capable of suppressing alloresponses and appear to be nonimmunogenic. These properties suggest emerging roles for mesenchymal stromal cells in cell therapy.