Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
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Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant. · Nov 2015
Interferon-α: A Potentially Effective Treatment for Minimal Residual Disease in Acute Leukemia/Myelodysplastic Syndrome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
In this prospective clinical study, the safety and efficacy of preemptive interferon-α (IFN-α) treatment were investigated and compared with preemptive donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) in patients who were minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT were eligible if they had acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome and were MRD-positive after HSCT. Patients who were able to receive DLI were assigned to a preemptive DLI group (n = 45); patients who could not or did not agree to receive DLI after HSCT received preemptive IFN-α. ⋯ The 1-year probability of disease-free survival after intervention was 68.2% for the IFN-α group and 60.0% for the DLI group (P = .517). In multivariate analysis, early-onset MRD, persistent MRD after intervention, and absence of cGVHD after intervention were significantly associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Thus, preemptive IFN-α may be a potential alternative for MRD-positive patients who cannot receive preemptive DLI after HSCT.
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Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant. · Nov 2015
Clinical Utility of Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Diagnosis of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome after Stem Cell Transplantation in Children and Adolescents.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical syndrome characterized by vision changes, altered mental status, and seizures, typically caused by an acute rise in blood pressure. PRES has been reported after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in association with hypertension from calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. The imaging evaluation of PRES after HSCT in children and young adults has not been well described. ⋯ The median time elapsed between negative CT and a positive MRI examination was 20 hours (range, 3.6 hours to 9 days). CT serves as an excellent screening test for acute pathology, such as intracranial hemorrhage; however, it lacks sensitivity for the diagnosis of PRES. Patients with clinical symptoms suggestive of PRES who have a negative CT should be treated appropriately for PRES and should undergo MRI of the brain as soon as clinically stable to confirm the diagnosis.