Biomedical subjects

G Avvisati

Publications and source records attributed to G Avvisati.

130 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Erythropoietin treatment of idiopathic myelofibrosis.

BACKGROUND: In order to determine whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) may play a role in treating anemia in idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF), a pilot study using high doses of rHuEPO was conducted on patients with IMF. METHODS AND RESULTS: From September, 1990 to December, 1992, 7 patients (6 males and 1 female, median age 68 years) affected by IMF entered the trial. RHuEPO was administered subcutaneously 5 days a week at a dosage of 160 U/kg daily for three months. Out of 7 patients, 4 obtained a response. These responders received additional maintenance treatment with rHuEPO until relapse. Response duration was 6, 7, 10+, and 16 months, respectively. Treatment was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that rHuEPO may play a role in the treatment of anemia in some IMF patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. An interim report.

BACKGROUND: It has recently been demonstrated that erythropoietin increases hemoglobin levels in anemia secondary to chronic renal failure. Some recent experiences have suggested a possible role in the treatment of anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). METHODS AND RESULTS: From April, 1990 to March, 1991, 16 patients (11 males and 5 females, median age 58.5 years) affected by low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) to ameliorate Hb levels and reduce transfusional requirement. All patients received high doses of rHuEPO (400 U/Kg s.c. twice weekly for 3 months). A partial response, defined as a stable increase in Hb levels > 1g/dL and/or a reduction in transfusional need > 50% lasting at least 3 months, was achieved by 5/16 patients. Those who responded received an additional course of treatment with rHuEPO at an increased dosage (600 U/Kg twice weekly for 3 months), and one of these five showed a progressive rise in Hb level up to normalization, while the other 4 remained stable. The treatment was well tolerated and no adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that some patients with MDS may benefit from rHuEPO treatment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The estimated incidence of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is approximately 6 cases per 10 million people per year with no apparent differences between sexes. The age of APL cases is younger than that of other acute myeloid leukemias (AML). Spatial and temporal clusters of APL have been reported. These observations suggest a possible selective role for environmental and/or occupational factors in APL development. METHODS: A multicenter case-control study was carried out on risk factors for acute leukemias and preleukemias. In this report data related to APL are selectively analyzed from the larger study to identify specific risk factors. RESULTS: The case-control study on 38 cases of APL showed a strong association with shoemaking (odds ration 6.3, 95% confidence interval 1.3-31.1). A moderate leukemogenic effect from living in houses built with tuff, a polous building material containing gamma-emitting radionuclides and having a high radon concentration, and from using hair dyes was also suggested. CONCLUSIONS: These data, together with the reported spatial and temporal clustering of APL, support the hypothesis of specific environmental and/or occupational risk factors for APL among other AML subtypes and indicate the need for additional ad hoc multicenter studies.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

All-trans retinoic acid in hematological malignancies, an update. GER (Gruppo Ematologico Retinoidi).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: During the past ten years, the study of retinoids has undergone a total transformation. The Italian Society of Experimental Hematology decided to discuss these advances at a meeting in Florence on April 18, 1996. INFORMATION SOURCES: The material examined in the present review includes articles and abstracts published in journals covered by the Science Citation Index and Medline. In addition, all the authors of the present article have been actively working in the field of retinoids and have contributed several papers. Summaries of their oral presentations at the Florence meeting are reported in the Appendix to this review article. STATE OF ART AND PERSPECTIVES: One of the most important advances has been the elucidation of new molecular mechanisms of control of gene expression by retinoids. A number of new retinoids have been synthesized by chemists, some of which are being screened for potential clinical use, and a few have already had a tremendous impact on clinical practice. The most important achievements have been obtained in acute promyelocytic leukemia. In 1988 a Chinese group working in Shanghai showed that using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) alone 94% of acute promyelocytic leukemic patients obtained complete remission through differentiation of the leukemic clone. This result transformed a dream into reality and allowed researchers to move from laboratory experience to clinical applications of this differentiating therapy. Expanding the spectrum of hematological malignancies that may respond to ATRA remains a challenge; however, several results show some activity of retinoids alone or in combination with other drugs in juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), myelodysplastic syndrome, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and CML. Particularly interesting are the studies that explored the potential clinical synergism of ATRA-based combination therapies with growth factors, other differentiating agents such as vitamin D3, immunomodulators like interferons, or chemotherapeutic agents, in particular Ara-C, all of which show promising in vitro effects when used in combination with retinoids.

Adult↗