Biomedical subjects

M Karanth

Publications and source records attributed to M Karanth.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Increased acute GvHD and higher transplant-related mortality in non-caucasians undergoing standard sibling allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

We conducted a retrospective study to compare outcome in Caucasians and non-Caucasians undergoing standard sibling allogeneic SCT. End points of the study were to compare graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) occurrence and transplant-related mortality (TRM). There were 251 patients, 43 non-Caucasian and 208 Caucasian. A higher proportion of non-Caucasian patients developed acute GvHD (aGvHD) grade 2 or greater as compared to the Caucasian group (48 vs 26%, respectively) P = 0.02. With a median follow-up of 27 months, 26% (11/43) of non-Caucasians and 14% (29/208) of Caucasian patients had died from TRM, which accounted for 55% of all deaths in the non-Caucasian group compared to 33% in Caucasians, P = 0.02. Overall survival 12 months post transplant was 64 vs 69% in the non-Caucasian and Caucasian groups, respectively (P = 0.43). Although there were higher numbers of CMV-positive patients in the non-Caucasian group, there were no deaths from CMV reactivation in this subgroup. We conclude that there is increased TRM and aGvHD following standard sibling allograft in the non-Caucasian population and this could be due to either differences in tumour biology or extrinsic factors such as socio-economic factors, nutritional status, post transplant care or presenting with late stage disease.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2005

A rare presentation of zygomycosis (mucormycosis) and review of the literature.

Zygomycosis (mucormycosis) is a rare fungal infection seen most often in association with prolonged neutropenia. Intestinal zygomycosis is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose, but it is important not to miss, because early medical and surgical treatment can improve survival. This report describes a 56 year old woman who developed this infection while receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Medical and surgical measures proved unsuccessful because there was a delay in diagnosis and institution of appropriate treatment.

Female↗

PubMed2004

A randomised study comparing peripheral blood progenitor mobilisation using intermediate-dose cyclophosphamide plus lenograstim with lenograstim alone.

We conducted a prospective randomised study to compare the efficiency of out-patient progenitor cell mobilisation using either intermediate-dose cyclophosphamide (2 g/m(2)) and lenograstim at 5 micrograms/kg (Cyclo-G-CSF group, n=39) or lenograstim alone at 10 micrograms/kg (G-CSF group, n=40). The end points were to compare the impact of the two regimens on mobilisation efficiency, morbidity, time spent in hospital, the number of apheresis procedures required and engraftment kinetics. Successful mobilisation was achieved in 28/40 (70%) in the G-CSF group vs 22/39 (56.4%) for Cyclo-G-CSF (P=0.21). The median number of CD34+ cells mobilised was 2.3 x 10(6)/kg and 2.2 x 10(6)/kg for G-CSF and cyclo-G-CSF arms following a median of two apheresis procedures. Nausea and vomiting and total time spent in the hospital during mobilisation were significantly greater after Cyclo-G-CSF (P<0.05). Rapid neutrophil and platelet engraftment was achieved in all transplanted patients in both groups. In conclusion, G-CSF at 10 micrograms/kg was as efficient at mobilising progenitor cells as a combination of cyclophosphamide and G-CSF with reduced hospitalisation and side effects and prompt engraftment. When aggressive in-patient cytoreductive regimens are not required to both control disease and generate progenitor cells, the use of G-CSF alone appears preferable to combination with intermediate-dose cyclophosphamide.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗