Lílian Piron Ruiz

Assessment of labile plasma iron in patients who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Body iron disorders have been reported after myeloablative conditioning in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There is a concern that labile plasma iron (LPI), the redox-active form of iron, can be involved in the occurrence of toxicity and other complications commonly observed in the early post-HSCT period. In order to better understand the LPI kinetics and its determinants and implications, we undertook sequential LPI determinations before and after conditioning until engraftment in 25 auto-HSCT patients. Increased LPI was present in only 5 patients before starting conditioning. Shortly after conditioning, LPI levels were increased in 23 patients, with peak at day 0, returning to normal range upon engraftment in 21 patients. Overall, LPI levels correlated weakly with serum ferritin and more strongly with transferrin saturation; however, both parameters were apparently not applicable as surrogate markers for increased LPI. Although this was a small cohort, logistic regression suggested that baseline LPI levels could predict occurrence of grade III or IV toxicity. In conclusion, LPI kinetics is influenced by aplasia following conditioning and engraftment. Measuring LPI before starting conditioning can offer an opportunity to predict toxicity and, perhaps, the need for chelation therapy.

A terapia celular no tratamento da isquemia crítica dos membros inferiores

The authors review the history of the researches on embryonic and umbilical cord vein stem cells, their advantages and disadvantages. They proceed with comments on adult stem cells, their concept, history, sources and role on tissue regenerative processes, mainly on the endothelium. They stress the importance of factors that mobilize the adult stem cells from the bone marrow: cytokines, angyopoietine and other growth factors. The adult stem cells are mobilized as endothelial progenitor cells, which have a common origin with the endothelial cells from the hemangioblasts. The mobilizing factors are activated under hypoxia and promote the homing of the endothelial progenitor cells on the ischemic sites in order to generate the neovasculogenesis, which is accomplished through three possible mechanisms: angiogenesis (new capillaries from sprouts of the existing ones), arteriogenesis (related to collateral circulation) and vasculogenesis (actual new vessels). An appraisal of the literature is made with regard to animal and clinical sets Finally, they stress that adult stem cells, although bearing an enormous potential, still demand a considerable amount of work to become a current therapeutic method.

Analysis of the feasibility of early hospital discharge after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the implications to nursing care

Introduction Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a conduct used to treat some hematologic diseases and to consolidate the treatment of others. In the field of nursing, the few published scientific studies on nursing care and early hospital discharge of transplant patients are deficient. Knowledge about the diseases treated using hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, providing guidance to patients and caregivers and patient monitoring are important nursing activities in this process. Guidance may contribute to long-term goals through patients’ short-term needs. Aim To analyze the results of early hospital discharge on the treatment of patients submitted to autologous transplantation and the influence of nursing care on this conduct. Methods A retrospective, quantitative, descriptive and transversal study was conducted. The hospital records of 112 consecutive patients submitted to autologous transplantation in the period from January to December 2009 were revisited. Of these, 12 patients, who remained in hospital for more than ten days after transplantation, were excluded from the study. Results The medical records of 100 patients with a median age of 48.5 years (19–69 years) were analyzed. All patients were mobilized and hematopoietic stem cells were collected by leukapheresis. The most common conditioning regimes were BU12Mel100 and BEAM 400. Toxicity during conditioning was easily managed in the outpatient clinic. Gastrointestinal toxicity, mostly Grades I and II, was seen in 69% of the patients, 62% of patients had diarrhea, 61% of the patients had nausea and vomiting and 58% had Grade I and II mucositis. Ten patients required hospitalization due to the conditioning regimen. Febrile neutropenia was seen in 58% of patients. Two patients died before Day +60 due to infections, one with aplasia. The median times to granulocyte and platelet engraftment were 12 days and 15 days, respectively, with median red blood cell and platelet transfusions until discharge of three and four units, respectively. Twenty-three patients required rehospitalization before being discharged from the outpatient clinic. Conclusion The median time to granulocyte engraftment was 12 days and during the aplasia phase few patients were hospitalized or suffered infections. The toxicity of the conditioning was the leading cause of rehospitalization. The nursing staff participated by providing guidance to patients and during the mobilization, transplant and outpatient follow-up phases, thus helping to successfully manage toxicity.

Ischemic retinopathy associated with Crohn's disease.

Purpose To report a case of a patient with ischemic retinopathy associated with Crohn’s disease. Case report This report presents a case of a 28-year-old female patient with Crohn’s disease and sudden decrease of visual acuity in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and multifocal electroretinography confirmed the clinical features of ischemic retinopathy. After systemic corticosteroid treatment, the patient developed epiretinal membrane without significant improvement in visual acuity. Discussion The patient presented with ischemic retinopathy associated with Crohn’s disease with deficiency of central visual acuity. Periodic examination by a retina specialist is recommended for patients being treated for Crohn’s disease.

A função multimodal do fator estimulador de colônias granulocitárias (G-CSF) na isquemia cerebral. Uma nova aplicação terapêutica?

O fator estimulador de celulas granulocitarias (G-CSF)e uma glicoproteina descrita ha mais de 20 anos, possui aprovacao da FDA(Food and Drug Administration) e do Ministerio da Saude no Brasil para tratamento de estados neutropenicos e no transplante de medula ossea. O G-CSF estimula os precursores dos granulocitos e regula crucialmente a sobrevivencia de neutrofilos maduros, pos-mitoticos,por meio da inibicao da apoptose. Alem do efeito sistemico, mais recentemente, tem-se demonstrado uma surpreendente atividade do G-CSF no sistema nervoso central. A administracao de G-CSF mobiliza celulas-tronco progenitoras da medula ossea para o sangue periferico atravessa a bareira hematoencefalica (BHE) e se dirige a area acometida do cerebro. A atividade do G-CSF no sistema nervoso central tem sido caracterizada como multimodal, pois, alem do efeito mobilizador de celulas da medula ossea, demonstrou-se uma acao direta neuroproterora mediante diferentes mecanismos, tais como a atividade antiapoptotica em neuronios, regeneracao da vascularizacao, efeito antiinflamatorio e estimulacao da neurogenese endogena. O objetivo deste relato e o de discutir essas nuances e uma possivel aplicabilidade do G-CSF na isquemia cerebral ...

Utilização de células-tronco de medula óssea para tratamento de isquemia crítica de membro inferior

We report on the case of a 49-year-old male patient who presented with embolic occlusion of all left leg arteries. After multiple and unsuccessful revascularization attempts and lumbar sympathectomy, he was referred to us with an indication of amputation at the upper third of the leg. We suggested implanting autogenous bone marrow stem cells in his calf. Excellent immediate results were obtained with suppression of rest pain, hypothermia and paleness, elevation of ankle/brachial index, peak systolic velocities and scintigraphic and angiographic indices. There was also a considerable enhancement of healing at the amputation site of the fourth and fifth toes.