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Biomedical subjects

H Rochant

Publications and source records attributed to H Rochant.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Usefulness of consensus conferences: the case of albumin.

The usefulness of consensus conferences has been questioned. We have assessed the impact of a 1989 consensus conference about the treatment of hypovolaemia on prescribing practice at our hospital. Data available from the blood bank enabled us to follow albumin use and costs by department between 1987 and 1991. Medical journals, direct mail, and meetings were used to disseminate the recommendations of the consensus conference, which were that the only indications for albumin are massive haemorrhage, plasmapheresis, massive hypoalbuminaemia, and volume expansion in pregnancy; for hypovolaemia caused by septic shock or vasoplegia, fluid gelatins and crystalloids should be used. In the year after the conference, and in subsequent years, albumin use and costs were 40% lower than before the conference, even though total medical expenditure continued to rise and numbers of patients admitted did not change. We believe that consensus conferences can be a useful means of improving medical practice. The features that ensured success in this programme were the small number of prescribers, the homogeneous setting, and the frequent restatement of the recommendations.

Consensus Statements as Topic

Induction of cytolytic function in resting peripheral blood CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells through IL2/p 75 IL2-receptor interaction: a study in the allogeneic human bone marrow transplantation model.

CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells which circulate in increased proportions in the blood of long-term surviving BMT patients are for the most part high-density resting lymphocytes lacking IL2R-alpha (p55) expression. We show that they can be induced by IL2 to manifest cytolytic function after 24-48 hr stimulation by using rather high concentrations of IL2 (at least 50 U/ml). This function was much more readily induced in high-density CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells than in high-density CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells and occurred in the presence of minimal cell proliferation. Other cytokines involved in primary CTL differentiation (IFN-gamma, IL4 and IL6) were without effect suggesting that CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells are, in the BMT model, in vivo preactivated CTL ready to differentiate into cytolytic effectors under the sole IL2 stimulus. TU27 Mab directed at IL2R-beta (p75) subunit almost completely prevented IL2-induced cytolytic function of CD8+ T cells while 33B3.1 Mab directed at IL2R-alpha (p55) subunit was ineffective, suggesting that the signal for this function has its origin in IL2R-beta chains constitutively expressed by these cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Abnormally expanded CD8+/Leu-7+ lymphocytes persisting in long-term bone marrow-transplanted patients are resting pre-cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.

We analyzed the functional status of the small CD8+/Leu-7+ T-lymphocytes that circulate in increased proportions in the blood of many allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients. Purified CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells were tested for their effect on T-cell proliferative responses. In contrast to CD8+/Leu-7-T-lymphocytes, such cells behaved as suppressor cells for lectin-induced mitogenic responses of the donor's peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, they did not interfere with the in vitro responsiveness to specific stimuli such as protein purified derivative (PPD) or alloantigens. We demonstrate that CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells are resting pre-cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) that can be induced by mitogenic lectins to express their cytolytic program in a non-specific, non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted manner against phytohemagglutinin-treated lymphoblasts or K562 target cells. The lectin-triggered cytotoxicity was achieved within a few days, together with limited cell division. Our results suggest that circulating CD8+/Leu-7+ T cells from BMT recipients are in vivo primed CTL awaiting cellular activation.

Antigens, CD

Congenital sideroblastic anemia without clinical iron overload. A case report.

An 18 year old boy presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia. Erythrocytic abnormalities and family studies suggested congenital sideroblastic anemia (CSA), but atypical features included absence of clinical iron overload, scanty iron deposits in mitochondria of late erythroblasts and reticulocytes, and a high platelet count. An unusual adhesion between bone marrow macrophages and reticulocytes was observed by electron microscopy. Haematological response was seen following pyridoxine administration, thus fending support to the diagnosis of CSA.

Adolescent

Frequent detection of minimal residual disease by use of the polymerase chain reaction in long-term survivors after bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows the detection of minimal amounts of nucleic sequences and has been successfully used to test for the chronic myeloid leukemia-specific bcr/abl transcripts. We studied blood samples from 17 patients who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for CML, using a modified polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the detection of leukemic mRNA. This nested PCR technique was found to be highly sensitive, detecting the chimeric bcr/abl transcript in 16 of 17 patients including several long-term survivors. Cytogenetic techniques failed to detect Ph mitoses. The clinical significance of the persisting bcr/abl transcript for long periods following BMT is poorly understood and remains to be elucidated by further studies.

Bone Marrow Transplantation

Central nervous system relapses after bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission.

This study defines the risk of central nervous system (CNS) relapse in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in remission, with no posttransplant prophylactic CNS therapy. Ninety-two consecutive patients in complete remission received BMT for ALL (n = 82) or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with poor prognostic factors at diagnosis (n = 10). Sixty-six patients received allogeneic BMT (Allo-BMT) and 26 patients, without an identical sibling, underwent autologous BMT (Auto-BMT). Fifteen patients had CNS involvement at diagnosis and underwent BMT in first remission. Eight patients experienced CNS relapse after BMT, corresponding to a probability of 11% at 3 years. Apart from a history of prior CNS involvement, no patient characteristic evaluated statistically influenced CNS relapse after BMT. The probability of CNS relapse was 5.5% for the 70 patients without history of CNS involvement and 27.5% for the 22 patients with prior CNS involvement. However, subgroup analysis showed that the increased risk of CNS relapse is mainly observed in Auto-BMT patients with history of prior CNS involvement, particularly in patients undergoing BMT in first remission (three of five Auto-BMT versus one of ten Allo-BMT). Taking into account the multiple factors which influence the occurrence and the treatment of CNS leukemia, the results on this retrospective study suggests that (1) for patients without CNS involvement at diagnosis and for whom BMT is performed in first remission, cranial irradiation before BMT and posttransplant prophylactic CNS therapy can be omitted because of the low probability of CNS relapse after BMT (3.4%), when total-body irradiation (TBI) is included in the conditioning regimen; and (2) the difference observed between Allo-BMT and Auto-BMT patients with previous CNS involvement and undergoing BMT in first remission could indicate that graft-versus-host leukemia acts even in the CNS in Allo-BMT patients.

Adolescent

[Mixed lympho-epidermal cell cultures: value in bone marrow grafts].

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the major complication of allogeneic HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation. GVHD is induced by the activation of mature T cells in the graft which react against minor antigens of the recipient. Mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte cultures (MELC), which constitute an in vitro model of epidermal cell-lymphocyte interactions, make it possible to study the presentation of antigens to the lymphoid cells by epidermal Langerhans cells. We performed MELC in 66 patients who had received an HLA-identical bone marrow transplant for malignant blood disease. The bone marrow received by 29 recipients had been depleted of mature T cells, whereas 37 recipients had received a non-depleted bone marrow. A complete, uni- and multivariate statistical analysis was carried out on recipients of non-depleted bone marrow to evaluate the risk factors for acute and chronic GVHD. This study showed that MELC between donor and recipient was the most predictive parameter for the occurrence of GVHD. Other factors were a history of previous pregnancies in female donors and a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. These results may be of value in the selection of donors and for a better determination of the need for bone marrow depletion.

Animals

Adult patients presenting with pancytopenia: a reappraisal of underlying pathology and diagnostic procedures in 213 cases.

We reviewed 213 consecutive adult pancytopenic patients to determine the frequency of underlying pathology, to analyze our diagnostic procedure, and to determine the value of peripheral blood data for diagnosis. Pancytopenia was defined as the association of hemoglobin level below 12 g/dl in males and 11.5 g/dl in females, leukopenia below 4 x 10(9)/L, and thrombocytopenia below 150 x 10(9)/L. The bone marrow aspirates were normo- or hypercellular in 140 cases (66%). Bone marrow biopsies, performed in 93 cases, documented the presence of myelofibrosis in 67 cases. Aplastic anemia was diagnosed in 10% of the cases. Malignant myeloid disorders (acute myeloid leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, acute myeloid disorders with myelofibrosis) represented 42% of the cases and various malignant lymphoid disorders 18%. Vitamin deficiencies accounted for 7.5% and nonhematological pathology 10% of the cases. The bone marrow aspirate was sufficient for the diagnosis in 55% of the cases, and the trephine biopsy was necessary in 30%. In the remaining cases, other complementary tests were necessary to achieve final diagnosis. A discriminant analysis, focused on the hemogram data, showed that parameters obtained by analysis of blood smears were helpful for the diagnosis, especially the presence or absence of blast cells and/or of abnormal lymphoid cells.

Adolescent

Immunophenotype of leukemic blasts with small peroxidase-positive granules detected by electron microscopy.

Forty-three cases of undifferentiated leukemias by light microscopy examination were diagnosed as acute myeloblastic leukemias by ultrastructural revelation of peroxidase and were subsequently studied by immunological markers. In 41 of these cases, blasts were labeled by at least one of the antimyeloid MoAbs (My 7, My 9, and 80H5). An antimyeloperoxidase polyclonal antibody was used in 23 cases and was clearly positive in 11 of them, while cytochemistry by light microscopy was negative. These myeloblasts were frequently mixed with a minority of blasts from other lineages especially promegakaryoblasts. It is noteworthy that in 6 cases myeloid and lymphoid markers (E rosette receptor, common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (cALLA), CD 9, CD 19 antigens (anti-B4 MoAb] were detected on a fraction of blast cells, suggesting a bilineage leukemia. However, in double labeling experiments, blasts with myeloperoxidase coexpressed lymphoid and myeloid markers including cALLA and CD 19 antigen. In one case, blasts had a typical non-B, non-T acute lymphoblastic leukemia phenotype (HLA-DR, CD 9, CD 19, cALLA positive) without staining by any of the antimyeloid MoAbs. However, 70% of the blasts were labeled by the antimyeloperoxidase antibody and expressed peroxidase-positive granules at ultrastructural level. In conclusion, most of the AML undiagnosed by optical cytochemistry are identified by antimyeloid antibodies. Some of these cases are also stained by some antilymphoid MoAbs. Use of antibodies against myeloperoxidase may improve the diagnosis of difficult cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

In vitro inhibition of normal human hematopoiesis by marrow CD3+, CD8+, HLA-DR+, HNK1+ lymphocytes.

We previously demonstrated that after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) a subset of CD8, HNK1, and DR-positive T lymphocytes are able to inhibit CFU-GM and BFU-E growth with an HLA-DR restriction. In this study we investigated whether these cells, present in normal marrow in low concentration (less than 1%), play the same role. HNK1-positive sorted marrow cells forming rosettes (E+C) were able to inhibit BFU-E and CFU-GM growth when added back to the marrow E-C at a ratio of 1:10 (HNK1+ E+C/E-C) in a range from 40% to 60%. This inhibitory effect was also detected for a cellular ratio of 1:100, which is the normal marrow value for this subset of T cell. HNK1+ DR+-sorted E+C after double-immunofluorescent labeling also showed the same inhibitory activity as the HNK1+ E+C, whereas the negative fraction including all the other E+C had no detectable inhibitory activity. CD3 and CD8 antigens were also present on the membrane of these cells, as demonstrated in two cases by double-immunofluorescent labeling performed with anti-CD3 or anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and HNK1 MoAb, respectively, and subsequent cell sorting. Blocking experiments, performed by adding in culture anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 MoAbs to HNK1+ T cells showed that only the last MoAb was able to prevent inhibition of hematopoietic colony growth. These results confirmed that one subset of CD3+, CD8+, HNK1+, and DR+ T cells was responsible for in vitro inhibition of normal hematopoiesis. In addition, this inhibition was genetically restricted to HLA-class II antigens, since in three co-culture experiments with unrelated bone marrow cells inhibition occurred only when cells with one haplo-identical HLA-DR antigen was added back to the culture. Indeed, this effect was really HLA-DR restricted, since in blocking experiments with different anti-HLA class II MoAbs (anti-DR, anti-DP, and anti-DQ MoAbs) only an anti-HLA-DR MoAb was able to prevent the colony growth inhibition by CD3+ HNK1+, or CD8+ HNK1+ E+C. In conclusion, the CD3+, HNK1+, CD8+, DR+ cells may be the T-cell subset able to inhibit normal hematopoiesis with an HLA-DR restriction.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte

Treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Preliminary results of a trial from the French Group.

We present here the results of a cooperative trial in 244 adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Induction therapy with vincristine, cytoxan, and prednisone (VCP) gave the same complete remission rate after one course as more aggressive induction with vincristine, rubidazone, araC, and prednisone (VRAP) due to increased toxic death in the aggressive arm. Because of high efficacy of salvage therapy with VRAP regimen in patients failing to achieve CR with VCP regimen, patients initially randomized to receive VCP had a significantly higher CR rate than patients initially receiving VRAP (87% vs. 73%, p = 0.01). Patients randomized to receive postremission consolidation using adriamycin, araC, and asparaginase (AAA) prior to maintenance had a significantly longer remission than patients not receiving consolidation (p less than 0.005). At the time of analysis allogeneic bone marrow transplantation does not significantly increase disease-free survival when compared with intensive consolidation chemotherapy.

Adult

In vitro inhibition of hematopoiesis by HNK1, DR-positive T cells and monocytes after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Blood CFU-GM and BFU-E, grown from 17 patients who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), were studied by the plasma-clot technique before day 45, and at a time when their blood count was approximately normal. The number of colonies varied from one patient to another, but was always lower than in normal subjects. Removal of cells forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (E+C) increased colony growth in four out of eight cases, whereas removal of adherent cells (AC) had the same effect in five out of six cases. Addition of E+C or AC after their initial removal restored the inhibition of colony growth. This suppression was noted at a 1:1 to 8:1 cellular ratio and ranged from 25% to 75%. The phenotype of the suppressive cells was further characterized by complement-mediated lysis with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and fluorescent labeling. Two types of cells associated with inhibition of colony growth were identified: the first were E+C positive, characterized by the T3, HNK1, DR, and T8 determinants; the second were identified by the MO2 MoAb, indicating their monocytic origin, together with their properties of adherence. Similar suppressor cells of CFU-GM were found in the marrow of two other allogeneic BMT patients. A direct suppressive effect of the two types of cells was demonstrated in one experiment when MO2+ and/or HNK1+ cells collected by cell sorting were added back to cultures depleted in MO2+ and HNK1+ cells by complement-mediated lysis and were both found to decrease colony growth. Purified HNK1+ cells led to moderate inhibition of colony growth, which was not enhanced by increasing their concentration. This suppressive effect of hematopoiesis could be the consequence of an allogeneic reaction, since no inhibition was affected by T cells or monocytes in seven autologous BMTs and one syngeneic BMT.

Adolescent

Ultrastructural and cytochemical characterization of blasts from early erythroblastic leukemias.

Among nine cases of early erythroblastic leukemia previously diagnosed using a panel of antibodies, two patients have erythroid blasts expressing glycophorin A, seven patients have blasts with a more immature phenotype. These immature blasts were labeled by the FA6-152 monoclonal antibody when studied with the immunogold technique. The blasts exhibited large nucleoli, and their cytoplasm contained numerous ribosomes and large mitochondria. In the Golgi apparatus several granules resembled the theta granules as previously described and contained ferritin molecules in the absence of rhopheocytosis. A large proportion of these blasts exhibited a platelet peroxidase (PPO)-like activity. As the blasts from the two other patients with a more mature phenotype and glycophorin A reactivity lacked this PPO, this enzyme seems to be restricted to the more immature cells. Since in these leukemic samples immature erythroid blasts were admixed to promegakaryoblasts, immunogold labeling was also performed with antiplatelet antibodies. This latter population which was labeled with C17, a monoclonal antibody to platelet glycoprotein IIIa, showed strong PPO activity but lacked theta granules and ferritin. In the normal bone marrow enriched by panning for CFU-E (8%) and depleted in progenitors of other lineages, blast cells showing characteristics similar to leukemic erythroid blasts were seen. They exhibited theta granules and ferritin and a proportion of them also had a PPO-like activity. Thus, a PPO reaction is not restricted to the platelet-megakaryocyte line. In conclusion, a PPO-like activity and ferritin molecules were present in immature leukemic erythroid blasts. Similar cells could be identified from normal bone marrow.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Hepatic vein thrombosis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. A spectrum from asymptomatic occlusion of hepatic venules to fatal Budd-Chiari syndrome.

In a series of 40 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, 5 (12%) were found to be afflicted with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The clinico-pathological features in these 5 patients and in 26 well-documented previously reported cases could be ascribed to three groups of increasing severity: thrombosis limited to small-sized hepatic veins with no or transient ascites, partial thrombosis of large-sized hepatic veins with chronic ascites, and complete thrombosis of large-sized hepatic veins with a life-threatening course. These three groups did not differ with regard to sex, age, and duration and characteristics of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. In view of the relationship between prognosis and the extent of hepatic vein obstruction, we suggest that early therapy directed toward limiting the extension of thrombosis, or toward dissolving formed thrombi, should improve the prognosis of this severe complication of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Adult

Expression of blood group A antigen during erythroid differentiation in A1 and A2 subjects.

The expression of blood group A antigen on marrow and blood cells from A1 and A2 subjects was investigated by the binding of Helix pomatia and Dolichos biflorus lectins using immunofluorescence. These two lectins stained BFU-E-derived colonies from A subjects in the early days of culture before the expression of glycophorin. The erythroid origin of these cells was ascertained by the coexpression of two other very early erythroid markers. In bone marrow, the ultrastructural immunogold method revealed that the entire erythroid lineage including proerythroblasts was labeled by HPA, whereas no staining was observed on granulomonocytic cells including myeloblasts. Platelets from A subjects were HPA-labeled and so were platelets from an O subject preincubated in A plasma. Megakaryocytes obtained in CFU-MK-derived colonies were weakly and heterogeneously labeled by the HPA lectin. Cultures from A1 and A2 subjects were the reflection of the genetic differences only when investigations were performed on mature erythroblasts. In contrast, the great majority of immature erythroblasts both from A2 and A1 subjects were equally labeled by both lectins; during further erythroid maturation, binding of both lectins markedly diminished only on A2 erythroblasts. When marrow erythroblasts were investigated at electron microscopic level, heterogeneity of labeling among all stages of maturation was clearly observed in A2 subjects, with staining stronger on immature than on mature erythroblasts. Therefore, the genetic differences between A1 and A2 subjects are revealed during terminal erythroid differentiation.

ABO Blood-Group System