Reijane Alves de Assis

Endoscopy Biopsy in Different Sites for the Diagnosis of Lower and Upper Gastrointestinal Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Cell dose is a major criterion for cord blood unit (CBU) selection for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). The aim of this study was the characterization of CBU cellular composition after thaw, and comparisonwith corresponding values at cryopreservation as reported by cord blood (CB) banks. The study included 87 CBUs, that were thawed for infusion in the context of single (n1⁄43) or dual-unit (n1⁄442) allo-SCT in adults with hematologic malignancies, from 8/2006 to 6/2013. Upon thawing, the cryoprotective solution (DMSO 10%) was either removed by centrifugation/washing (38 CBUs) or diluted in a less hypertonic solution of Dextran 40/Human Albumin 2.5% (49 CBUs). Total nucleated cells (TNC) were measured with a hematology analyzer, while enumeration of CD34+ stem cells was performed by singleplatform flow cytometry, according to ISHAGE guidelines. In 49 units, TNC and CD34+ cell viability was evaluated by addition of 7-AAD dye and sequential Boolean gating strategy. TNC counts after thawing were lower compared to their values at freezing (Wilcoxon test, p <10-4), and the difference was more pronounced in the units that were washed prior to infusion (Tables 1 and 2). Total cell viability was low (mean value, 42.6%), but this was mainly due to neutrophils. Regarding CD34+ cells, there was a significant difference between absolute counts at cryopreservation and at thaw (p<10-4). Despite reduction postthaw, the counts of both TNC and CD34+ cells did correlate with the corresponding values at cryopreservation by Spearman’s analysis. Of note, washing seemed slightly advantageous in terms of CD34+ recovery (Tables 1 and 2). CD34+ cells retained high viability after thaw, with 90% of CBUs (44 out of 49 tested) demonstrating CD34+ viability 80%. Viability of <50% was noticed in only one CBU that failed to engraft. In conclusion, CB cellular content and especially the CD34+ cell count is frequently shown to be inferior at thaw compared to cryopreservation. This probably reflects both the lack of standardization of CD34+ cell measurement and the effect of thawing procedure. Therefore, CD34+ cell viability may be a more meaningful marker for determining CBU quality. GVH/GVL

Iron overload in Brazilian thalassemic patients.

UNLABELLED ABSTRACTObjectives:To evaluate the use of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with β-thalassemia and to compare T2* magnetic resonance imaging results with serum ferritin levels and the redox active fraction of labile plasma iron. METHODS We have retrospectively evaluated 115 chronically transfused patients (65 women). We tested serum ferritin with chemiluminescence, fraction of labile plasma iron by cellular fluorescence and used T2* MRI to assess iron content in the heart, liver, and pancreas. Hepatic iron concentration was determined in liver biopsies of 11 patients and the results were compared with liver T2* magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS The mean serum ferritin was 2,676.5 +/- 2,051.7 ng/mL. A fraction of labile plasma iron was abnormal (> 0,6 Units/mL) in 48/83 patients (57%). The mean liver T2* value was 3.91 ± 3.95 ms, suggesting liver siderosis in most patients (92.1%). The mean myocardial T2* value was 24.96 ± 14.17 ms and the incidence of cardiac siderosis (T2* < 20 ms) was 36%, of which 19% (22/115) were severe cases (T2* < 10 ms). The mean pancreas T2* value was 11.12 ± 11.20 ms, and 83.5% of patients had pancreatic iron deposition (T2* < 21 ms). There was significant curvilinear and inverse correlation between liver T2* magnetic resonance imaging and hepatic iron concentration (r= -0.878; p < 0.001) and moderate correlation between pancreas and myocardial T2* MRI (r = 0.546; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION A high rate of hepatic, pancreatic and cardiac impairment by iron overload was demonstrated. Ferritin levels could not predict liver, heart or pancreas iron overload as measured by T2* magnetic resonance imaging. There was no correlation between liver, pancreas, liver and myocardial iron overload, neither between ferritin and fraction of labile plasma iron with liver, heart and pancreas T2* values.

Use of gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

OBJECTIVE To analyze the outcome of patients treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional therapy treated at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. METHODS 14 patients who had high risk features (secondary leukemia, unfavorable cytogenetics, and refractory disease) were treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional therapy and their outcome was analysed by reviewing their medical records. RESULTS Overall response rate was 58%, with 43% achieving complete response, with a median follow-up of 11 months, event-free survival was 3 months. Eleven patients died, 6 of them due to refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Only four patients presented with grade 3 to 4 toxicities and only one patient had sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after bone marrow transplant. CONCLUSION gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with chemotherapy is a feasible treatment regimen in acute myeloid leukemia patients. However, further studies are necessary to clarify which subgroup of patients may beneft from this treatment.