Ilhami Berber

A life-saving therapy in Class I HELLP syndrome: Therapeutic plasma exchange

HELLP syndrome, which can affect multiple organ systems and cause maternal and fetal mortality, is a serious complication of pregnancy characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, elevation of liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia. Delivering the infant usually suffices for the treatment of this syndrome. In cases with Class I HELLP syndrome, however, the clinical picture may rapidly deteriorate despite delivery. In this paper we presented the outcomes with the use of therapeutic plasma exchange in cases with class I HELLP syndrome. This study included 21 patients diagnosed with the Class I HELLP syndrome at Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Hematology between 2011 and 2014. A central venous catheter was placed and plasma exchange therapy was begun in patients unresponsive to delivery, steroid, and supportive therapy (blood and blood products, antihypertensive therapy, intravenous fluid administration, and antibiotics) within 24 hours after the diagnosis of Class I HELLP syndrome according to the Mississippi Criteria. All patients underwent therapeutic plasma exchange for three sessions each with a 1:1 volume. Hemogram and biochemical parameters of the patients were evaluated before and after the procedure. According to results, there was a statistically significant decrease in total bilirubin, LDH, AST, and ALT levels whereas a significant increase in platelet count was observed. Hemoglobin levels were increased, although this increase was not statistically significant. HELLP syndrome is primarily treated with the delivery of infant; however, some cases may show disease progression despite completion of delivery. As a potential cause of both maternal and fetal mortality, HELLP syndrome condition should be aggressively treated. Therapeutic plasma exchange is one of the available treatment options. Our study has found that postpartum use of plasma exchange therapy within 24 hours is an efficient and lifesaving treatment choice in Class I HELLP syndrome.

Leukapheresis in acute myeloid leukemia patients with hyperleukocytosis: A single center experience

Hyperleukocytosis is defined as WBC count above 100,000/mm(3) in peripheral blood. Increased WBC count leads to leukocyte aggregation, increased blood viscosity, and consequently results in stasis in small blood vessels. Ultimate neurological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal complications, coagulopathy, and tumor lysis syndrome cause increase in morbidity and mortality. Leukapheresis is a treatment modality used for hyperleukocytosis. In patients presenting with hyperleukocytosis the indications for leukapheresis were accepted as having symptoms of leukostasis and prophylactic. Indications for leukapheresis in prophylactic group evaluated according to WBC count. We report a single center experience about leukapheresis in managing 31 AML patients with hyperleukocytosis. In addition to demographic characteristics, disease-related clinical and laboratory findings of the patients were recorded. Survival rates were also calculated. Ten patients were female. The most common of AML subtype was AML-M2. The median number of leukapheresis per patient was 2 and totally 60 leukapheresis cycles were performed in all patients. There was a significant decrease in WBC count and LDH level after leukapheresis as compared with the baseline values (p < 0.05). Early and total mortality were 16.1% and 58.0%, respectively. Alive and died patients were evaluated according to baseline WBC, LDH; increased WBC count and LDH level were found in died patients (p < 0.05). According to leukapheresis indications, patients were divided into two groups: 14 patients in symptomatic leukostasis, 17 patients in prophylaxis. No statistically significant differences were noted between both groups in leukapheresis effectiveness, mean survival time, early and total mortality rate (p > 0.05). None of our patients suffered serious side effects and tumor lysis syndrome during or after apheresis. Leukapheresis is an effective and safe approach to reduce WBC counts in patients with AML with hyperleukocytosis. Further evidence-based data obtained from larger sample sizes are required to better understand the impact of prophylaxis leukapheresis on early and total mortality of AML patients with hyperleukocytosis.

An unexpected complication of bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy: arteriovenous fistula.

Objective: To report a case of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) following bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 76-year-old man was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Pain and hematoma were detected in his left leg and hip 4 days after bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy. A pelvic arteriography was performed, and a diagnosis of AVF was made. Conclusion: This case shows that clinicians should be aware of AVF, especially in cases with refractory bleeding after bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy despite normal blood coagulation parameters.

Therapeutic plasma-exchange in hematologic disease: Results from a single center in Eastern Anatolia

Therapeutic plasma-exchange (TPE) is used as primary and adjunctive therapy in treatment of several hematologic diseases. We retrospectively evaluated the results of TPE in hematologic diseases during 2008-2012. A total of 301 TPE procedures were performed in 44 patients (19 male and 25 female, with mean age of 50.6±15years). Fifteen of 44 patients had thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), 14 patients had HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count), 10 patients had multiple myeloma-hyperviscosity and the rest five patients had snake bite. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was used as replacement fluid. Complete response (CR) was achieved on 13 patients (87%) in primarily TTP. CR was achieved in all other three diseases. Total complications were detected in 8.1% of the TPE procedures. Adverse events (AEs), were seen in 5.4% of all procedures. None of the patients died from any complication. AE occurred in 4% (Grade-I), 1% (Grade-II), and 0.3% (Grade-III) of the procedures. The most common AE were nausea/vomiting, hypotension, pruritus and abdominal pain. TPE is effectively and safely carried out in our center in hematologic diseases.

Evaluation of Ferric and Ferrous Iron Therapies in Women with Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Introduction. Different ferric and ferrous iron preparations can be used as oral iron supplements. Our aim was to compare the effects of oral ferric and ferrous iron therapies in women with iron deficiency anaemia. Methods. The present study included 104 women diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia after evaluation. In the evaluations performed to detect the aetiology underlying the iron deficiency anaemia, it was found and treated. After the detection of the iron deficiency anaemia aetiology and treatment of the underlying aetiology, the ferric group consisted of 30 patients treated with oral ferric protein succinylate tablets (2 × 40 mg elemental iron/day), and the second group consisted of 34 patients treated with oral ferrous glycine sulphate tablets (2 × 40 mg elemental iron/day) for three months. In all patients, the following laboratory evaluations were performed before beginning treatment and after treatment. Results. The mean haemoglobin and haematocrit increases were 0.95 g/dL and 2.62% in the ferric group, while they were 2.25 g/dL and 5.91% in the ferrous group, respectively. A significant difference was found between the groups regarding the increase in haemoglobin and haematocrit values (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Data are submitted on the good tolerability, higher efficacy, and lower cost of the ferrous preparation used in our study.

Assessing Safety of Pneumatic Tube System (PTS) for Patients with Very Low Hematologic Parameters

Background Preventive interventions save lives during the process of chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies, when a hematology laboratory can ensure accurate results. The use of a pneumatic tube system (PTS) is associated with measurement errors and unnecessary transfusions. The aim of this study was to evaluate pre-analytical errors associated with transportation method (PTS versus hand-delivered) and to investigate whether there are unnecessary transfusion events in pancytopenia leukemia patients with very low hematological parameters. Material/Methods A total of 140 paired blood collections were performed for hemogram and biochemistry assays. Paired EDTA and serum gel blood samples were collected from 58 cases with acute leukemia on different days. For each pair, one sample was hand-delivered by a courier (Group 1) while the other sample was transported through a PTS (Group 2). Results The hand-delivered method showed that some platelet transfusions were unnecessary for different thrombocyte cut-off values. Calculated unnecessary platelet (PLT) transfusion ratios when using PTS (PLT <30×103/μL, 16.3%; PLT <25×103/μL, 16.4%; PLT <20×103/μL, 80.3%; PLT <15×103/μL, 48.6%; and PLT <10×103/μL, 150.0%) were found to be statistically significant (p=0.002, p=0.046, p<0.000, p=0.028, and p<0.000, respectively). In contrast, for RBC transfusion ratios, although the ratios were high in Group 2, we found no significant difference between the two groups; (HGB <8.0 g/dL, 23.3%; HGB <9.0 g/dL, 25.0%, HGB<10.0 g/dL, 19.3%) and (p=0.002, p=0.085, p<0.160, and p=0.235, respectively). Conclusions Although our results cannot be universally applied, physicians should be careful, skeptical, and suspicious of transfusion decisions in hematology clinics and consider potential analytical and pre-analytical errors in cases of severe cytopenia when using PTS.

The Role of Azacitidine in the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results of a Retrospective Multicenter Study

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of azacitidine (AZA) in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including patients with >30% bone marrow (BM) blasts. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, 130 patients of ≥60 years o ld who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy or had progressed despite conventional treatment were included. Results: The median age was 73 years and 61.5% of patients had >30% BM blasts. Patients received AZA for a median of four cycles (range: 1-21). Initial overall response [including complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete recovery/partial remission] was 36.2%. Hematologic improvement (HI) of any kind was documented in 37.7% of all patients. HI was also documented in 27.1% of patients who were unresponsive to treatment. Median overall survival (OS) was 18 months for responders and 12 months for nonresponders (p=0.005). In the unresponsive patient group, any HI improved OS compared to patients without any HI (median OS was 14 months versus 10 months, p=0.068). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of <2, increasing number of AZA cycles (≥5 courses), and any HI predicted better OS. Age, AML type, and BM blast percentage had no impact. Conclusion: We conclude that AZA is effective and well tolerated in elderly comorbid AML patients, irrespective of BM blast count, and HI should be considered a sufficient response to continue treatment with AZA.

Leukapheresis Treatment in Elderly Acute Leukemia Patients With Hyperleukocytosis: A Single Center Experience

Leukapheresis is an invasive treatment modality used for hyperleukocytosis. Various drugs and fluids are used during the leukapheresis. Aging itself and associated factors such as increased comorbidity, decreased tolerance to drugs, increased drug toxicity give rise to the application of other treatment modalities in elderly patients. Treatment of acute leukemia in the elderly differs from young patients. Consequently, we assumed that outcome, effectiveness, and side effects of leukapheresis treatment used for acute leukemia patients with hyperleukocytosis may be different in elderly compared to younger patients.

Does the preference of peripheral versus central venous access in peripheral blood stem cell collection/yield change stem cell kinetics in autologous stem cell transplantation?

Central venous access is often used during apheresis procedure in stem cell collection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether central or peripheral venous access has an effect on stem cell yield and the kinetics of the procedure and the product in patients undergoing ASCT after high dose therapy. A total of 327 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The use of peripheral venous access for stem cell yield was significantly more frequent in males compared to females (p = 0.005). Total volume of the product was significantly lower in central venous access group (p = 0.046). As being a less invasive procedure, peripheral venous access can be used for stem cell yield in eligible selected patients.

Clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of elderly patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: A retrospective multicenter study.

We aimed to investigate whether older age leads to limitations in the starting dose of imatinib in daily treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, and to determine the compliance of elderly patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) therapy.