Biomedical subjects

E Anaissie

Publications and source records attributed to E Anaissie.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography contributes to the diagnosis and management of infections in patients with multiple myeloma: a study of 165 infectious episodes.

PURPOSE: Correctly identifying infection in cancer patients can be challenging. Limited data suggest that positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) may be useful for diagnosing infection. To determine the role of FDG-PET in the diagnosis of infection in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 248 patients who had FDG-PET performed for MM staging or infection work-up revealing increased uptake at extramedullary sites and/or bones and joints that would be atypical for MM between October 2001 and May 2004 were reviewed to identify infections and evaluate FDG-PET contribution to patient outcome. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-five infections were identified in 143 adults with MM. Infections involved the respiratory tract [99; pneumonia (93), sinusitis (six)], bone, joint and soft tissues [26; discitis (10), osteomyelitis (nine), septic arthritis (one), cellulitis (six)], vascular system [18; septic thrombophlebitis (nine), infection of implantable catheter (eight), septic emboli (one)], gastrointestinal tract [12; colitis (seven), abdominal abscess (three), and diverticulitis and esophagitis (one each)], and dentition [periodontal abscess (10)]. Infections were caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses. FDG-PET detected infection even in patients with severe neutropenia and lymphopenia (30 episodes). The FDG-PET findings identified infections not detectable by other methods (46 episodes), determined extent of infection (32 episodes), and led to modification of work-up and therapy (55 episodes). Twenty silent, but clinically relevant, infections were detected among patients undergoing staging FDG-PET. CONCLUSION: In patients with MM, FDG-PET is a useful tool for diagnosing and managing infections even in the setting of severe immunosuppression.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Serial measurement of serum C-reactive protein levels can identify patients at risk for severe complications following autologous stem cell transplantation.

The value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a predictor of complications in neutropenic patients needs to be further defined. We sought to identify an association between severe complications and daily CRP levels measured in 104 multiple myeloma patients during the 3 week period following high-dose melphalan and autologous transplant. Significantly higher mean CRP levels and CRP velocity of increase were observed among patients with severe complications. A cut-off point of 100 mg/l (CRP levels) and 15 mg/l/day (CRP velocity) identified patients likely to suffer severe complications with 86 and 75% sensitivity, respectively. Prospective validation of this model is currently underway.

C-Reactive Protein↗

PubMed2005

Malignant pleural effusion of multiple myeloma: prognostic factors and outcome.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in multiple myeloma (MM) is rare. Approximately 80 cases have been reported. To delineate optimal treatment and prognostic variables in these patients, we reviewed 11 MM patients with MPE. MPE developed at median of 12 months from diagnosis of MM. All the patients had high-risk disease based on complex karyotypic abnormalities including deletions of chromosome-13 (n=9), elevated beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) (n=9), high C-reactive protein (CRP) (n=8), high plasma cell labeling index (n=5) or high LDH (n=5). A significant increase in B2M, LDH, and CRP was observed at the onset of MPE. The initial diagnosis of MPE was based on positive cytology (n=9), pleural fluid cIg/DNA (n=9) or pleural fluid cytogenetics (n=4). Pleural tissue infiltration was found on pleural biopsy and autopsy in one patient each. Systemic chemotherapy comprising dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide and cisplatin (DCEP) (n=7) and pleurodesis (n=7) were effective in resolving MPE but survival was short. High dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support for MPE in six patients conferred no clear survival advantage. These patients died at median of four months from onset of MPE. Patients with bone marrow complex karyotypic abnormalities including deletion-13 (n=9) had a shorter (median--18 months) overall survival compared to patients with normal cytogenetics (median--38 months). MPE in patients with MM is often associated with high-risk disease including deletion 13 chromosomal abnormality and heralds a poor prognosis despite aggressive local and systemic treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Dialysis-dependent renal failure in patients with myeloma can be reversed by high-dose myeloablative therapy and autotransplant.

To evaluate the role of high-dose melphalan and autologous transplant (AT) in reversing dialysis-dependent renal failure, 59 patients still on dialysis at the time of AT were analyzed. A total of 37 patients had been on dialysis < or =6 months. A 5-year event-free and overall survival rate of all patients after AT was 24 and 36%, respectively. Of 54 patients evaluable for renal function improvement, 13 (24%) became dialysis independent at a median of 4 months after AT (range: 1-16). Dialysis duration < or =6 months prior to first AT and pre-transplant creatinine clearance >10 ml/min were significant for renal function recovery: 12 of 36 (33%) < or =6 months vs one of 18 patients (6%) >6 months on dialysis recovered renal function; 10 of 26 (38%) with >10 ml/min vs three of 28 (11%) with < or =10 ml/min of creatinine clearance (both P<0.05). Quality of response after autotransplant was also significant: 12 of 31 (39%) being greater than partial remission after AT vs one of 21 patients (5%) attaining partial remission or less became independent of dialysis (P<0.05). Our data suggest that significant renal failure can be reversible and AT should be considered early in the disease course.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Infections due to emerging and uncommon medically important fungal pathogens.

The emergence of less common but medically important fungal pathogens contributes to the rate of morbidity and mortality, especially in the increasingly expanding population of immunocompromised patients. These pathogens include septate filamentous fungi (e.g., Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., Trichoderma spp.), nonseptate Zygomycetes, the endemic dimorphic pathogen Penicillium marneffei, and non-Cryptococcus, non-Candida pathogenic yeast (e.g., Trichosporon spp.). The medical community is thus called upon to acquire an understanding of the microbiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of these previously uncommon pathogens in order to become familiar with the options for prevention and treatment.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Human fusariosis.

Fusarium species frequently implicated in human infections include F. solani, F. oxysporum and F. moniliforme. Among immunocompetent patients, tissue breakdown (as caused by trauma, severe burns or foreign body) is the risk factor for fusariosis. Infections include keratitis, onychomycosis and occasionally peritonitis and cellulitis. Treatment is usually successful and requires removal of the foreign body as well as antifungal therapy. Among immunocompromised patients, mainly patients with haematological malignancies, Fusarium spp. are the second most common pathogenic mould. Risk factors for disseminated fusariosis include severe immunosuppression (neutropenia, lymphopenia, graft-versus-host disease, corticosteroids), colonisation, tissue damage, and receipt of a graft from an HLA-mismatched or unrelated donor. Clinical presentation includes refractory fever (> 90%), skin lesions and sino-pulmonary infections ( approximately 75%). Type of skin lesions includes ecthyma-like, target, and multiple subcutaneous nodules. Skin lesions lead to diagnosis in > 50% of patients and precede fungemia by approximately 5 days. In contrast to disseminated aspergillosis, disseminated fusariosis can be diagnosed by blood cultures in 40% of patients. Histopathology reveals hyaline acute-branching septate hyphae similar to those found in aspergillosis. Mortality from fusarial infections in immunocompromised patients ranges from 50% to 80%. Host immune status is the single most important factor predicting outcome. Persistent neutropenia and corticosteroid therapy significantly affect survival. Optimal treatment has not been established. Anecdotal successes have been reported with various agents (high-dose amphotericin B, lipid-based amphotericin B formulations, itraconazole, voriconazole) and with cytokine-stimulated granulocyte transfusions. Preventing fusariosis relies on detection and treatment of cutaneous damage prior to commencing immunosuppression and decreasing environmental exposure to Fusaria (via air and water).

Fusarium↗

PubMed2002

Transplantation as salvage therapy for high-risk patients with myeloma in relapse.

Patients with myeloma relapsing after tandem transplant have a poor survival and treatment options are limited. The role of additional salvage transplant procedures for these patients is unknown. To evaluate the benefit and identify prognostic factors, the outcome of 76 consecutive patients with recurrent myeloma after tandem transplant receiving salvage transplants (ST) was analyzed. Prior to ST, 23 patients (30%) had shown chemosensitive response to preceding salvage chemotherapy: two complete remissions (CR); eight near CRs (nCR: only immunofixation positive); 13 partial remissions (PR >or=75% reduction in M protein). Fifty received an autologous transplant, 22 a sibling-matched allogeneic transplant, and four a matched-unrelated allogeneic transplant. Overall response after ST was 59%: eight CRs (11%); 14 nCRs (18%); 23 PRs (30%). Overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 19%; 2 year event-free survival rate (EFS) 7%. On univariate analysis for survival, only pre-transplant chemosensitive relapse (P < 0.05), serum albumin >3 g/dl (P = 0.001), normal LDH (P = 0.04), and long interval between the second transplant and relapse/progression were significant beneficial factors. In a Cox proportional hazard model, chemosensitive relapse, and albumin >3 g/dl were significant for better OS: hazard ratio (HR) 1.4, 1.7, respectively, while normal LDH, and absence of CA13 were significant for better EFS: HR 1.8, 1.7, respectively. Patients with albumin >3 g/dl who had chemosensitive disease before ST (n = 16) had a median survival of 16 months, compared to 7 months (n = 34) and 2 months (n = 26) for patients with only one (n = 34) or no favorable prognostic factors (n = 28), respectively (P < 0.001). Their survival at 2 years post-ST was 43%, 17% and 11%, respectively. Our study suggests further transplantation should only be considered in the setting of a clinical trial in patients with favorable prognostic factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Clinical activity of arsenic trioxide for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Arsenic has been used since ancient times as a therapeutic agent. However, until recently its use in modern medicine has been restricted to the treatment of a limited number of parasitic infections. In the early 1990s, reports from China described impressive results with arsenic trioxide in patients with de novo, relapsed, and refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Other investigators subsequently confirmed these results leading to approval of its use for relapsed or refractory APL in the United States. Investigations of this agent have demonstrated that its efficacy in APL and preclinical tumor models is dependent upon a number of mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis, effects on cellular differentiation, cell cycling, and tumor angiogenesis. Subsequent preclinical studies showed significant activity of arsenic trioxide in multiple myeloma (MM). Based on this, in a phase II trial, we have evaluated the activity of arsenic trioxide in 14 patients with relapsed MM, refractory to conventional salvage therapy. With the dose and schedule used, treatment with arsenic trioxide produced responses in three patients and prolonged stable disease in a fourth patient, with the longest response lasting 6 weeks. Although treatment was reasonably well tolerated, in these patients with extensive prior therapy, 11 developed cytopenia, five associated with infectious complications and three developed deep vein thromboses. The results of this small trial support further investigation of this novel drug for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory MM.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Activated protein C resistance in the absence of factor V Leiden mutation is a common finding in multiple myeloma and is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic complications.

Thromboembolism is not uncommon in multiple myeloma (MM) patients on treatment, but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. We report the results of a prospective randomized trial of 62 newly diagnosed MM patients tested at baseline for hypercoagulability and treated with intensive chemotherapy with or without thalidomide in a randomized fashion. During the induction phase, 12 patients (19%) developed evidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which was significantly more common in the thalidomide arm (36%) than in the control group (3%) (P = 0.001). Fourteen patients (23%) were found to have a baseline-reduced response to activated protein C (APC) in the absence of factor V Leiden mutation. Using a Kaplan-Meier analysis, a significantly higher proportion of patients with APC resistance developed DVT (5/14 versus 7/38; P = 0.04) irrespective of thalidomide administration. The risk of DVT was highest (50%) in patients with APC resistance on thalidomide. None of the patients with normal APC response and not receiving thalidomide developed DVT. In conclusion, in this series, acquired APC resistance was present in almost one-quarter of newly diagnosed myeloma patients and significantly increased the risk of DVT.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗

PubMed2001

Revisiting the source of candidemia: skin or gut?

The source of candidemia has been the subject of considerable debate, with some suggesting a origin in the gastrointestinal tract and others suggesting a skin origin. To evaluate the potential sources of candidemia, we performed a computerized search of the MEDLINE database for studies published from January 1966 through September 2000 and we identified relevant abstracts presented at national meetings. We reviewed the literature with special emphasis on studies that used appropriate definitions, evaluated both gut and skin as sources, and conducted molecular-relatedness studies. Among 203 candidemia studies published, we identified 21 that evaluated a specific source for candidemia and only 5 that performed molecular typing. Those studies and additional experimental, epidemiologic, and molecular-relatedness studies strongly suggested that the gut is an important source of candidemia, and studies that supported the skin as a source for this infection were surprisingly incomplete.

Candidiasis, Cutaneous↗

PubMed2001

Increased risk of deep-vein thrombosis in patients with multiple myeloma receiving thalidomide and chemotherapy.

The occurrence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, who were randomly assigned to receive identical induction chemotherapy with or without thalidomide, are reported in this study. The 2 study arms were comparable with respect to key myeloma prognostic factors and known risk factors for DVT. One hundred patients received induction chemotherapy including 4 cycles of continuous infusion of combinations of dexamethasone, vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin, and each patient completed at least one induction cycle. DVT developed in 14 of 50 patients (28%) randomly assigned to receive thalidomide but in only 2 of 50 patients (4%) not given the agent (P =.002). All episodes of DVT occurred during the first 3 cycles of induction. Administration of thalidomide was resumed safely in 75% of patients receiving anticoagulation therapy. Thus, thalidomide given in combination with multiagent chemotherapy and dexamethasone is associated with a significantly increased risk of DVT, which appears to be safely treated with anticoagulation and does not necessarily warrant discontinuation of thalidomide.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Extended survival in advanced and refractory multiple myeloma after single-agent thalidomide: identification of prognostic factors in a phase 2 study of 169 patients.

This report of a phase 2 trial of thalidomide (THAL) (200 mg/d; 200 mg increment every 2 weeks to 800 mg) for 169 patients with advanced myeloma (MM) (abnormal cytogenetics (CG), 67%; prior autotransplant, 76%) extends earlier results in 84 patients. A 25% myeloma protein reduction was obtained in 37% of patients (50% reduction in 30% of patients; near-complete or complete remission in 14%) and was more frequent with low plasma cell labeling index (PCLI) (below 0.5%) and normal CG. Two-year event-free and overall survival rates were 20% +/- 6% and 48% +/- 6%, respectively, and these were superior with normal CG, PCLI of less than 0.5%, and beta(2)-microglobulin of 3 mg/L. Response rates were higher and survival was longer especially in high-risk patients given more than 42 g THAL in 3 months (median cumulative dose) (landmark analysis); this supports a THAL dose-response effect in advanced MM.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

High response rate in refractory and poor-risk multiple myeloma after allotransplantation using a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen and donor lymphocyte infusions.

Standard allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) regimens have been associated with a high transplant-related mortality (TRM) in multiple myeloma (MM). Nonmyeloablative therapy can establish stable engraftment after allo-SCT and maintain the antitumor effect with less toxicity, which is important in heavily pretreated and elderly patients. We report on 16 poor-risk MM patients receiving allo-SCT from an HLA-matched (n = 14) or mismatched (n = 2) sibling following conditioning with melphalan 100 mg/m(2) (MEL-100). Ten patients had refractory relapse, 4 responsive relapse, and 2 patients were in near complete remission (nCR) with poor-prognosis disease. Patients had received 1 (n = 9) or 2 (n = 7) prior autotransplants. Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) were given to 14 patients with no clinical evidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD) either to attain full donor chimerism (n = 4) or to eradicate residual disease (n = 10). Fifteen patients showed myeloid engraftment, and 12 patients were full donor chimeras at day +21. No TRM was observed during the first 100 days. Acute GVHD developed in 10 patients; 1 had fatal grade IV GVHD. Seven progressed to chronic GVHD, limited in 3 and extensive in 4 patients. At a median follow-up of 1 year, 5 patients achieved and sustained CR, 3 nCR, and 4 partial remission. Of 4 patients progressing after transplantation, 3 achieved a remission following further chemotherapy and DLI. Remarkable graft versus myeloma responses were seen in chemotherapy-refractory patients. Two patients died of progressive disease, and 3 died of GVHD complications without active disease. GVHD remains a major problem with this procedure.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Thalidomide in the management of multiple myeloma.

Thalidomide has recently been shown to have significant activity in refractory multiple myeloma (MM). A follow-up of the original phase II trial, expanded to 169 patients, shows 2-year survival of 60%; patients receiving > or =42 g over 3 months had a higher response rate and superior survival than those receiving lower doses. The addition of thalidomide to dexamethasone and chemotherapy for the management of post-transplant relapses results in higher response rates. The early results of the Total Therapy II trial for newly diagnosed MM patients show an unprecedented complete remission (CR) and near-CR rate of 69% after two melphalan-based transplants (whether or not receiving thalidomide). In addition, available clinical trial information involving at least 20 patients confirms that thalidomide is active in one third of patients in single-agent trials for refractory disease, with response rates increasing to 50% to 60% in combination with dexamethasone and to as high as 80% in combination with dexamethasone and chemotherapy. When applied as primary therapy in smoldering myeloma, one third of patients experienced 50% paraprotein reduction (PPR); in combination with dexamethasone pulsing, 70% to 80% of symptomatic patients responded. Thus, thalidomide is a major new tool in the treatment armamentarium of MM. The virtual lack of myelosuppression makes it an ideal agent for combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Newer, more potent, and less toxic derivatives of thalidomide are being evaluated.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

Thalidomide in the management of multiple myeloma.

A phase II trial of thalidomide in refractory multiple myeloma was initiated using a dose schedule that escalated from 200 mg/d to 800 mg/d. More than two thirds of patients had cytogenetic abnormalities and more than half had received at least two cycles of high-dose therapy. A paraprotein reduction of at least 25% was noted in 37% of patients and 14% had either a complete remission (CR) or a near CR. No treatment-related mortality was observed. With a median follow-up of almost 2 years, the 2-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) estimates were 15% and 60%, respectively. A reduction of paraprotein levels by greater than 50% was associated with a significant reduction in bone marrow plasmacytosis and beta(2)-microglobulin levels (beta2M), and greater recovery of hemoglobin and IgM levels compared to patients whose paraprotein was reduced by a lesser degree. Responses occurred more frequently among patients with a lower plasma cell labeling index (PCLI) and normal cytogenetics. Comparing response and survival by thalidomide dose for low- and high-risk groups revealed a thalidomide dose-response effect in the high-risk group of patients. The virtual absence of myelosuppressive toxicity, except in heavily pretreated patients with compromised bone marrow function, suggests that thalidomide is an ideal agent to be used in combination with cytotoxic agents and dexamethasone. Several trials are currently underway at the Arkansas Myeloma and Transplantation Research Center to determine the clinical benefit of adding thalidomide to post-transplant salvage therapy and in the upfront management of patients.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

Preceding chemotherapy, tumour load and age influence engraftment in multiple myeloma patients mobilized with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor alone.

Haematopoietic growth factors, especially granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), are frequently utilized alone for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) procurement to avoid the morbidity associated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDT). Moreover, the cytotoxic agents used may not be the most optimal therapy for the malignancy. It also makes scheduling of apheresis easier. Factors having an impact on PBSC procurement and engraftment after HDT were analysed in 117 multiple myeloma patients mobilized with G-CSF (10-16 microg/kg, median 12 microg/kg) alone using Cox regression analysis. A median of 6.2 x 10(6) CD34 cells/kg (range 0.6-34.1) were procured during leukapheresis and a median of 2.5 x 10(6) CD34 cells was infused after the first HDT (range 0.3-23.9). The only factor significantly affecting optimal PBSC procurement was duration of preceding conventional chemotherapy (P = 0.002). Granulocyte recovery was prompt in almost all patients, 75% of whom attained a granulocyte count of 0.5 x 10(9)/l by day 13 (median 11, range 7-19). However, platelet recovery to both 20 x 10(9)/l (median 12 d, range 8-50+) and 50 x 10(9)/l (median 20 d, range 7-205+) varied widely. On univariate analysis, factors influencing platelet recovery were the number of CD34 cells/kg infused, age, beta(2)-microglobulin levels, response to preceding therapy, bone marrow plasmacytosis and duration of prior therapy. Factors attaining significance on multivariate analysis included number of CD34 cells/kg infused (P = 0.007), beta(2)-microglobulin levels (P = 0.0001), most probably representing disease load, and age (P = 0.002). Patients with high tumour burden, i.e. beta(2)-microglobulin levels > 2.5 mg/l, probably benefit from chemotherapy for mobilization both in terms of cytoreduction and adequate stem cell mobilization resulting in accelerated engraftment.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2001

Autologous stem cell transplantation in elderly multiple myeloma patients over the age of 70 years.

The feasibility and efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) in patients aged > or = 70 years was analysed. Newly diagnosed (n = 34) and refractory multiple myeloma (n = 36) patients were studied. The median age was 72 years (range: 70-82.6). CD34+ cells were mobilized with chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 35) or G-CSF alone (n = 35), yielding medians of 11.8 x 10(6) versus 8 x 10(6) cells/kg respectively (P = 0.007). Because of excessive mortality (16%) in the first 25 patients who received melphalan 200 mg/m2 (MEL-200), the dose was subsequently decreased to 140 mg/m2 (MEL-140). Median times to absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 0.5 x 10(9)/l and to platelets > 20 x 10(9)/l were 11 and 13 d respectively. Thirty-one patients (44%) received tandem auto-SCT. Complete remission (CR) was 20% after the first SCT and 27% after tandem SCT. Median CR duration was 1.5 years and was significantly longer for patients with < or = 12 months of prior chemotherapy (2.6 versus 1.0 years, P = 0.0008). The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) (+ standard error, SE) were projected at 20% + 9% and 31% + 10% respectively. Tandem SCTs positively affected EFS (4.0 versus 0.7 years; P = 0.003) and OS (4.0 versus 1.4 years; P = 0.02) compared with single auto-SCT. In conclusion, MEL-140 is less toxic and appears equally as efficacious as MEL-200 in elderly patients. The benefits of tandem SCT in this patient population need further evaluation in a randomized trial.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Results of autologous stem cell transplant in multiple myeloma patients with renal failure.

Data are presented on 81 multiple myeloma (MM) patients with renal failure (creatinine > 176.8 micromol/l) at the time of autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT), including 38 patients on dialysis. The median age was 53 years (range: 29-69) and 26% had received more than 12 months of prior chemotherapy. CD34+ cells were mobilized with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone (n = 51) or chemotherapy plus G-CSF (n = 27), yielding medians of 10 and 16 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg respectively (P = 0.003). Sixty patients (27 on dialysis) received melphalan 200 mg/m2 (MEL-200). Because of excessive toxicity, the subsequent 21 patients (11 on dialysis) received MEL 140 mg/m2 (MEL-140). Thirty-one patients (38%) completed tandem auto-SCT, including 11 on dialysis. Treatment-related mortality (TRM) was 6% and 13% after the first and second auto-SCT. Median times to absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 0.5 x 109/l and to platelets > 50 x 109/l were 11 and 41 d respectively. Non-haematological toxicities included mucositis, pneumonitis, dysrhythmias and encephalopathy. At a median follow up of 31 months, 30 patients have died. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 21 patients (26%) after first SCT and 31 patients (38%) after tandem SCT. Two patients discontinued dialysis after SCT. Median durations of complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) have not been reached; probabilities of event-free survival (EFS) and OS at 3 years were 48% and 55% respectively. Dialysis dependence and MEL dose did not affect EFS or OS. Sensitive disease prior to SCT, normal albumin level and younger age were independent prognostic factors for better OS. In conclusion, renal failure had no impact on the quality of stem cell collections and did not affect engraftment. MEL-140 had an acceptable toxicity and appeared equally effective as MEL-200. In the setting of renal failure, the role of auto-SCT early in the disease course and benefits of tandem SCT require further evaluation.

Adult↗