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Esa Jantunen

Publications and source records attributed to Esa Jantunen.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for vasculitis including Behcet's disease and polychondritis: a retrospective analysis of patients recorded in the European Bone Marrow Transplantation and European League Against Rheumatism databases and a review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in vasculitis. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who had received HSCT for vasculitic diseases and have been reported to the European League Against Rheumatism autoimmune disease or European Bone Marrow Transplantation ProMISe databases. Information about the disease and outcome was obtained by a questionnaire sent to the referring centres. Response of the disease to HSCT was defined as partial or complete responses according to the ability to reduce immunosuppression after HSCT. In addition, the Medline database was searched for reports on HSCT in patients with vasculitis. RESULTS: Detailed information was obtained for 15 patients, whose median age at HSCT was 37 years. The diagnoses were cryoglobulinaemia in four patients, Behçet's disease in three patients, Wegener's granulomatosis in three patients, and undifferentiated vasculitis, Churg-Strauss angiitis, polychondritis, Takayasu arteritis and polyarteritis nodosa in one patient each. 14 patients received autologous HSCT and 1 an allogeneic HSCT as the first transplant. In three patients, further transplantation was given because of relapse. The overall response, including all consecutive transplantations (HSCT/patient, n = 1-3, median 1.3) to HSCT, was 93%, with 46% complete responses and 46% partial responses; median (range) duration of response at the time of reporting was 45 (16-84) months. Three patients died, one from advanced disease, one from cancer and one from graft-versus-host disease. The Medline search showed five other patients who were effectively treated with HSCT for vasculitic diseases. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study suggests that autologous HSCT is feasible for vasculitis. Its value remains to be tested in prospective controlled studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Stem cell transplantation in autoimmune diseases: an update.

Immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory treatments are often used in patients with various autoimmune diseases (AID). However, since conventional treatments are rarely curative, alternative treatment methods have been looked for. Based on animal experiments and anecdotal case reports, stem cell transplantation (SCT) has received considerable attention in the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases during the last decade. This review summarizes current experience of SCT in patients this field. Although early experience shows some promise, randomized studies are necessary to evaluate the real value of autologous SCT in various autoimmune diseases. Since autologous SCT may not be curative in patients with AID, also evaluation of allogeneic SCT is important in the future.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Stem cell transplantation for peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) consist of many subtypes with variable clinical presentation. Long-term prognosis of most subtypes is unfavorable and novel therapeutic approaches are needed. This review attempts to summarize what is known on the feasibility and efficacy of high-dose therapy supported by stem cell transplantation (SCT) in PTCL. In patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL, the outcome of autologous SCT (ASCT) seems to be comparable to that of patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Although excellent treatment results have been encountered with ASCT in patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), the superiority of this approach over chemotherapy alone needs confirmation in randomized studies. In less favorable subtypes (e.g. alk-negative ALCL, PTCL not otherwise specified, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma) high-dose consolidation of the first remission should be studied in prospective trials. Minimal experience is currently available on allogeneic SCT in patients with PTCL. Given the high relapse rate after ASCT in high-risk patients and potential for graft-vs.-lymphoma effect, also this approach should be studied. Due to rarity of PTCL, international collaboration is mandatory in order to study the various aspects of SCT in this patient population.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in severe rheumatoid arthritis: a report from the EBMT and ABMTR.

OBJECTIVE: Since 1996, autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To date, published reports have been individual cases or series containing small numbers. This study combined the worldwide experience in a single analysis. METHODS: The Autoimmune Disease Databases of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry (ABMTR) were used to identify patients with RA treated with autologous HSCT. Further information relating to patient and treatment-specific variables was obtained by questionnaire. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were registered from 15 centers. Seventy-three patients had received autologous HSCT, and in 3 patients hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) were mobilized but not transplanted. Transplanted patients (median age 42 yrs, 74% female, 86% rheumatoid factor positive) had been previously treated with a mean of 5 (range 2-9) disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD). Significant functional impairment was present, with a median Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score of 1.4 (range 1.1-2.0) and Steinbrocker score mean 2.39 (SD 0.58). The high dose treatment regimen was cyclophosphamide (CYC) alone in the majority of patients, mostly 200 mg/kg (n = 62). Seven patients received anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in addition to CYC, 2 patients busulfan and CYC (BuCYC), and one patient CYC with total body irradiation and ATG. One patient received fludarabine with ATG. Following treatment, one patient received bone marrow but the rest received chemotherapy and/or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized peripheral blood stem cells. The harvest was unmanipulated in 28 patients, the rest receiving some form of lymphocyte depletion, mostly through CD34+ selection. Median followup was 16 months (range 3-55). Responses were measured using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Forty-nine patients (67%) achieved at least ACR 50% response at some point following transplant. There was a significant reduction in the level of disability measured by the HAQ (p < 0.005). Most patients restarted DMARD within 6 months for persistent or recurrent disease activity, which provided disease control in about half the cases. Response was significantly related to seronegative RA (p = 0.02) but not to duration of disease, number of previous DMARD, presence of HLA-DR4, or removal of lymphocytes from the graft. There was no direct transplant related mortality, although one patient, treated with the BuCYC regimen, died 5 months post-transplant from infection and incidental non-small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Autologous HSCT is a relatively safe form of salvage treatment in severe, resistant RA. In these open label studies significant responses were achieved in most patients, with over 50% achieving an ACR 50 or more response at 12 months. Although the procedure is not curative, recurrent or persistent disease activity may be subsequently controlled in some patients with DMARD. Clinical trials are necessary to develop this approach in patients with aggressive disease who have failed conventional treatment including anti-tumor necrosis factor agents.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Concomitant impairment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function during doxorubicin therapy: a prospective radionuclide ventriculographic and echocardiographic study.

Thirty adult lymphoma patients were studied prospectively with serial radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) and echocardiography (ECHO) to investigate whether changes in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function precede the impairment of LV systolic function during doxorubicin therapy. The patients received 8-10 cycles of CHOP to a cumulative doxorubicin dose of 400-500 mg/m2. RVG and ECHO were performed at baseline and after cumulative doxorubicin doses of 200, 400 and 500 mg/m2. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased from 58 +/- 1.3 to 49.6 +/- 1.7% (p < 0.001) and from 58 +/- 1.7 to 52.5 +/- 1.3% (p = 0.036) as assessed with RVG and 2D ECHO, respectively. Of the diastolic ECHO doppler indices peak E wave velocity decreased from 63.3 +/- 3.2 to 51.3 +/- 2.6 cm/s (p = 0.008) and LV filling during the first 1/3 of diastole (1/3FF) from 42.2 +/- 1.7 to 36.5 +/- 2.0% (p < 0.001). The decrease in LVEF was statistically significant after the cumulative doxorubicin dose of 200 mg/m2 as assessed with RVG and after 400 mg/m2 as assessed with 2D ECHO. The decrease in 1/3FF reached the statistical significance after the cumulative doxorubicin dose of 400 mg/m2 and the decrease in peak E wave velocity after 500 mg/m2. This study shows that during doxorubicin therapy there are significant changes both in systolic and diastolic LV function. In addition, these changes manifest at relatively low cumulative doxorubicin doses and occur concomitantly. Thus, the assessment of diastolic function provides no advantage over monitoring systolic function during doxorubicin therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

High-dose therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been considered a potential treatment approach in order to improve the poor prognosis in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), but its role has not yet been clearly established. We analyzed retrospectively the outcome and prognostic factors in 48 consecutive patients with MCL scheduled for ASCT in five transplant centers. In 14 patients (29%), a sufficient amount of stem cells could not be collected. Mobilization failure was associated with female sex, blastoid cytology, and low hemoglobin level. Altogether 35 patients underwent ASCT, 24 patients as part of the first-line treatment and 11 patients later. After transplantation 28 patients (80%) remained in or achieved remission. Two patients died of transplant-related complications. During the median follow-up time of 38 months, nine patients have relapsed. The median event-free survival (EFS) was 39 months. Age over 60 years and elevated C-reactive protein level at diagnosis were associated with poorer outcome after transelantation. ASCT is an effective treatment in MCL with a high response rate and a longer survival than seen in conventionally treated patients. However, no plateau was seen in the EFS curve after ASCT. Whether cure Can be achieved in a proportion of patients with ASCT is currently unknown and should be studied in larger patient series with a longer follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bisphosphonate therapy in multiple myeloma: past, present, future.

Bone disease characterised by osteolytic lesions, pathological fractures and hypercalcaemia is an important clinical feature in multiple myeloma. Pain, decreased performance status, and the need for palliative radiotherapy and surgical interventions are common sequelae. Bisphosphonates act primarily on osteoclasts to inhibit excessive bone resorption, and have therefore been investigated in myeloma patients to ameliorate the clinical consequences of the bone disease. Bisphosphonates are currently the therapy of choice in myeloma patients with hypercalcaemia. In long-term management, both oral clodronate and intravenous pamidronate are effective in reducing skeletal-related events. Zoledronic acid seems to be as effective as pamidronate. Whether bisphosphonates have antimyeloma activity is currently unknown. Cost-benefit analyses have shown reasonable efficacy with acceptable costs. Bisphosphonate therapy is now accepted as an important part of care in myeloma patients, although much still has to be learned in order to optimise this therapy in multiple myeloma.

Bone Diseases↗