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M Stanzani

Publications and source records attributed to M Stanzani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation corrects biochemical derangements in MNGIE.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a multisystemic autosomal recessive disease due to primary thymidine phosphorylase (TP) deficiency. To restore TP activity, we performed reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantations (alloSCTs) in two patients. In the first, alloSCT failed to engraft, but the second achieved mixed donor chimerism, which partially restored buffy coat TP activity and lowered plasma nucleosides. Thus, alloSCT can correct biochemical abnormalities in the blood of patients with MNGIE, but clinical efficacy remains unproven.

Adult↗

Reduced incidence of GVHD without increase in relapse with low-dose rabbit ATG in the preparative regimen for unrelated bone marrow transplants in CML.

SUMMARY: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment prevents graft failure and results in a low incidence of GVHD, but an increased risk of relapse could be expected as a consequence of reduced GVHD. From September 1995 to June 2001, 28 consecutive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients underwent unrelated bone marrow transplants: 21 were in chronic phase (CP) and seven in advanced phase (AP). Median age was 35.5 years (range 20-50). HLA typing was based on high-resolution molecular techniques; in eight cases there were one or more allele mismatches. The preparative regimen consisted of TBI, EDX 120 mg/kg and rabbit ATG 15 mg/kg. All patients engrafted and no rejection occurred. Acute GVHD grade III-IV occurred in six patients (21%). Chronic GVHD occurred in 10 (40%) and it was extensive in one. Four out of seven patients transplanted in AP had a hematological relapse. Of 21 in CP, there was one cytogenetic and one molecular relapse: these two patients are now in complete remission with imatinib mesylate. With a median follow-up of 45.7 months, the 5-year survival is 76.2% for those transplanted in CP. These data demonstrate that transplants performed in CP, with low-dose ATG, are associated with a good outcome, low incidence of GVHD and no increase of relapse.

Adult↗

Use of anti-BDCA-2 antibody for detection of dendritic cells type-2 (DC2) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

TH2-inducing dendritic cells (DC2) are commonly identified as negative for lineage markers and positive for HLA-DR and CD123 expression. More recently, normal blood DC2 were shown also to be positive for BDCA-2 and BDCA-4 antigens. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether BDCA-2 expression on DC2 is impaired in patients undergoing an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and in healthy donors treated with G-CSF for HSC mobilization. Flow cytometry assays for DC2 detection using either a triple staining with anti-HLA-DR PerCP, anti-Lin(+) anti-CD34 FITC and anti-CD123 PE monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), or a double staining with anti-HLA-DR PE and anti-BDCA-2 FITC mAbs were compared in blood samples from patients who underwent an allogeneic HSCT (n = 30) or from healthy donors before (n = 11) and after (n = 8) G-CSF mobilization, as well as in healthy donors' leukapheresis products (n = 12) or bone marrow (n = 4). Staining of BDCA-2(+) cells with other markers such as anti-CD38, anti-CD54 and anti-CD58 were also performed. Median values of CD123(+) DC2 and BDCA-2(+) DC2 were not statistically different in the blood of patients previously treated with chemotherapy, nor in the blood or bone marrow of heathy donors. Also, a 5 day G-CSF treatment did not affect BDCA-2 or adhesion molecule expression on healthy donors' blood DC2 significantly. A correlation between all the results (n = 65) obtained with the two assays was demonstrated in a linear regression curve (r = 0.914) (P = 0.00001). BDCA-2 is a marker highly specific for DC2 that is not downregulated by chemotherapy or G-CSF treatment. Therefore, the anti-BDCA-2 mAb can be efficiently combined with other mAbs and used in studies addressing the role of DC2 in the allogeneic HSCT setting.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Morphologic changes leading to bronchiolitis obliterans in a patient with delayed non-infectious lung disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

A 37-year-old man developed delayed non-infectious lung disease after undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for acute myeloid leukaemia. Over a 15-month period, the progression of morphologic changes from cellular interstitial pneumonia to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and cicatricial bronchiolitis obliterans was documented. Pulmonary function tests, high-resolution CT, bronchoalveolar lavage, lung biopsy and extensive microbiological studies were used as diagnostic tools either at onset and during the follow-up. This represents the first reported case in which a model--supported by longitudinal biopsy results--for the evolution of histologic lesions toward bronchiolitis obliterans after BMT is suggested; therapeutic implications are discussed.

Adult↗

Delayed non-infectious lung disease in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: The studies on late-onset non-infectious respiratory complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) have been mainly focused on bronchiolitis obliterans to date. The aim of this work was to analyze the incidence, clinico-pathologic characteristics and outcome of the entire spectrum of entities falling into the group of delayed non-infectious lung disease (DLD). METHODS: Retrospective chart review was carried out of 112 patients who underwent allo-BMT for hematologic malignancies between April 1995 and November 1998 at a single Institution. The categorization of the pulmonary disease was made by analyzing clinical data, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and histology when possible. RESULTS: DLD occurred in 10 (10%) out of 97 recipients who survived at least 100 days following allo-BMT and was defined as bronchiolitis obliterans (BO; 4 cases), acute lung injury (ALI; 1 case) and subacute cellular interstitial pneumonia (SCIP; 5 cases). The BAL-profile was characterized by a marked increase of the neutrophil percentage in BO cases and of the lymphocyte (predominantly CD8+) percentage in parenchymal DLDs (SCIP, ALI). HRCT proved to be helpful to correctly identify BO cases, whereas histology was always needed to better define DLD presenting with an interstitial and/or alveolar pattern. The predominant airway involvement as well as the acute-onset of a respiratory illness with histological evidence of diffuse alveolar damage were associated with a worse prognosis because of a poor response to the immunosuppressive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: DLDs represent a group of entities heterogeneous in regard to variables such as onset and clinical behaviour (acute, subacute or chronic), predominant pattern of lung involvement (airway or parenchymal), response to treatment. Although immunopathologic mechanisms related to c-GVHD probably have a relevant pathogenic importance in this setting, the possible role of associated events (eg, drug toxicity and infections) at least in priming the lung damage need to be better clarified for its therapeutical implications.

Adolescent↗

Allergy to latex.

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Anesthesia, General↗

Different immune reconstitution in multiple myeloma, chronic myeloid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia patients after allogeneic transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells.

In this study we compared the lymphocyte reconstitution in 13 multiple myeloma (MM), nine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 10 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients after allogeneic G-CSF-mobilized PBSC transplantation from HLA-identical siblings. Conditioning regimens included standard total body irradiation + cyclophosphamide (CY), or busulphan + CY, whereas VP-16 was added in patients with advanced disease. Overall comparable numbers of mononuclear cells, CD34+ cells and CD3+ T cells were infused in each group. A significantly higher CD3+ T cell number was observed in MM and AML than in CML patients 1 month after transplant. However, MM patients showed a faster and better recovery of CD4+ T cells than both AML and CML patients at 3 months (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively) and 12 months (P = 0.01 vs AML, while P = NS vs CML) after transplant, and had a CD4:CD8 ratio > 1 with a median CD4+ T cell value > 400/microl 1 year after transplant. Development of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) did not affect CD4:CD8 ratios but patients who experienced acute GVHD > grade I had lower CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers at all time points. However, after excluding patients with GVHD > grade I, MM patients still showed a significantly higher CD4+ T cell value than patients with myeloproliferative diseases 1 year after transplant. These findings suggest that although allogeneic PBSC transplantation induces rapid immune reconstitution, different kinetics may occur among patients with hematological malignancies. In particular, the rapid reconstitution of CD4+ T cells in MM patients may contribute to the low transplant-related mortality achieved in this disease.

Acute Disease↗

Second chronic phase before transplantation is crucial for improving survival of blastic phase chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Because successful outcome after transplantation seems to depend in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) on disease status at the time of transplantation, we investigated whether FLAN (fludarabine, cytosine arabinoside, mitoxantrone) induction before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) may be useful in blastic phase (BP)-CML. Twenty patients with BP-CML were studied: 10 patients received FLAN induction chemotherapy before proceeding to early allo-SCT, whereas 10 patients were submitted to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) without remission induction. Eight out of 10 (80%) patients achieved second chronic phase after one course of therapy with FLAN and seven patients (six in second chronic phase and one with partial response) were then submitted to allo-SCT. Of the six patients transplanted in the second chronic phase, all achieved molecular remission, four are still in second chronic phase, with intervals ranging from 10 to 54 months, whereas one patient died from infection having relapsed 14 months after SCT and one died of transplant-related complications in the second chronic phase. Mean durations of second chronic phase and survival after allo-SCT were both significantly longer than in the group of 10 BP-CML patients submitted to allo-SCT without FLAN remission induction treatment [22.4 (range 1-61) vs. 3.5 months (range 1-10) with FLAN and 22.7 (range 2-61) vs. 6.4 (range 1-16) months without FLAN]. We conclude that FLAN induction therapy followed by early allo-SCT appears to be effective in the treatment of BP-CML and could provide a curative possibility for BP-CML patients.

Adult↗

Clinical relevance of acute pancreatitis in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell (bone marrow or peripheral blood) transplants.

This study investigated the clinical relevance of acute pancreatitis in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell (bone marrow or peripheral blood) transplants (BMT). We studied 26 patients undergoing BMT. The preparative regimen was busulfan and cyclophosphamide in 17 patients and total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide in 9 patients. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin A and short-term methotrexate in all 26 patients. The pancreas was studied using amylase and lipase serum levels, abdominal contrast-enhanced tomography, and/or ultrasound. Clinical and laboratory signs of acute pancreatitis were found in two patients with acute hepatointestinal GVHD, and in one patient with acute hepatic GVHD and cytomegalovirus infection. This patient died of multiorgan failure, with interstitial acute pancreatitis at autopsy; the other two patients recovered with general supportive care and GVHD therapy. We suggest that in the patients with complications after BMT, particularly acute hepatic/hepatointestinal GVHD, and cytomegalovirus infection, the possibility of acute pancreatitis should be considered.

Acute Disease↗

Discrepancy between serological complete remission and concomitant new bone lytic lesions after infusion of escalating low doses of donor lymphocytes in multiple myeloma: a case report.

A graft-versus-myeloma effect has been previously induced by infusing high numbers of donor lymphocytes after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) patients. A 43-year-old patient with MM refractory to standard chemotherapy and autologous transplantation received an allogeneic HLA-matched T cell-depleted marrow transplant from his sister after conditioning with single dose total-body irradiation, melphalan and cyclophosphamide. Twenty-four months after transplant neither a significant reduction of serum M protein nor evidence of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were observed. The patient was then treated with four escalating low doses of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) (0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 5.0 x 106 CD3+ T cells/kg, respectively) over a 13 month period. Following the second infusion a mild liver acute GVHD and a partial, but transient, response occurred. After the last DLI the patient achieved a complete remission and developed extensive chronic GVHD. However, concomitant with the disappearance of clonal plasma cells from the marrow and of serum M protein, two new bone lytic lesions appeared requiring treatment with radiotherapy. In conclusion, escalating low doses of DLI may be effective in MM and may prevent severe acute but not chronic GVHD. However, the efficacy of DLI in extramedullary MM lesions is still unclear.

Adult↗

Antibodies reactive with neutrophils following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants might induce immunological alterations leading to autoimmune-like syndromes. In particular neutrophil-associated antigens could represent the target for autoantibodies against neutrophils in patients receiving an allogeneic peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplantation, giving rise to granulocytopenia. With this aim we studied prospectively 43 allotransplanted patients for the presence of antibodies reacting with neutrophils (ARN), looking for a correlation with a post-engraftment neutropenia. Our data showed that the direct test for ARN was positive in 30 patients. Interestingly, 7/7 patients who received a T-cell-depleted marrow transplant developed ARN. Antibodies with a specific neutrophil-antigen reactivity were detected in 4 patients, 1 with an anti-CD16/FcbetaRIIIb receptor reactivity and 3 with anti-NA 1 reacting patterns, respectively. From a clinical point of view, it was not possible to demonstrate a close and significant relationship between neutropenia and ARN, although patients showing ARN had slightly lower absolute levels of peripheral neutrophils until 6 months after BMT. In conclusion, ARN may be detected in the majority of patients following allogeneic stem cell transplantation; in addition, since ex vivo or in vivo T-cell-depletion leads to a higher percentage of patients positive for ARN, it could be hypothesized that "autoimmune-like" disorders in transplanted patients might be related to a T-cell derangement due to different numbers and subsets of T lymphocytes.

Adult↗

Alloantigen presenting capacity, T cell alloreactivity and NK function of G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood cells.

In this study we addressed whether the proportion and the function of antigen presenting cells (APC), T and NK lymphocytes are modified in the apheresis product of six healthy donors who received a stem cell mobilizing treatment with glycosylated G-CSF at 10 microg/kg/day x 5 days s.c. Flow cytometry analysis showed comparable percentages of HLA-DR+, CD19+, CD86+, CD80+ and CD1a+ cells in preG-CSF-peripheral blood mononuclear cells (preG-PBMC) and after mobilization in G-PBMC, whereas the proportion of CD14+ monocytes significantly increased in G-PBMC (3+/-1% vs 17+/-8%, P = 0.003). Analysis of lymphocyte subsets in preG-PBMC and G-PBMC showed similar proportions of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD28+ T cells, but a significantly lower percentage of CD16+ (11+/-7% vs 4+/-1%, P=0.01), CD56+ (15+/-6% vs 5+/-2%, P= 0.008), CD57+ (16+/-9% vs 5+/-2%, P=0.04), CD25+ (19+/-2% vs 9+/-6%, p=0.009) and CD122+ (5+/-2% vs 2+/-1%, P = 0.05) cells in G-PBMC. Unfractionated preG-PBMC and G-PBMC were irradiated and tested in primary mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) with two HLA-incompatible responders and induced efficient alloresponses in four of six cases, whereas G-PBMC stimulated poorly in the remaining two cases. Also, in allo-MLC with irradiated G-PBMC we detected lower amounts of IFN-gamma (P = 0.04) and of IL-2 (P = 0.06) than in allo-MLC with preG-PBMC. Furthermore, freshly isolated preG-PBMC and G-PBMC from each donor exerted comparable allogeneic responses to HLA-incompatible irradiated mononuclear cells in all cases. However, G-PBMC showed no NK activity against K562 target cells at any effector:target ratio tested. These data suggest that normal G-PBMC may prevent Thl alloresponses, maintain efficient alloreactivity to HLA mismatched antigens and have impaired NK activity.

Antigen Presentation↗

[Kinetics of hepatic enzymes in anorexia nervosa].

Nervous anorexia in advanced stage causes a generalized deterioration of organs' and apparatuses' functions. In particular, well-known are disorders of both CNS and PNS, changes of the haematic crasis and worsening of the metabolic-endocrine axis. Less well-known, however, is the compromission of function. Analysis of the data obtained in this trial points out a statistically significant correlation between the loss of weight and the variation of level of some liver enzymes (SGPT, SGOT, LDH). These indexes of hepatic necrosis in our opinion, can therefore, be regarded as sound markers not only for a more careful evaluation of the clinical evolution of the anorexic patient, but also for a better monitoring of the effectiveness of diet therapy.

Adult↗

[Effect of calciparine in the mid-term treatment of peripheral arteriopathy of the lower extremities].

The authors examine a series of 20 patients suffering from AOCP (?) at Fontaine's 2nd stage treated with calciparine s.c. in a single daily dose of 12500 IU for three months. The parameters of clinical assessment of claudicatio intermittens show statistically significant increases of ILR and ILA which were not correlated to marked variations of the Windsor index. The extremely positive results in terms of the clinical trend of the disease are encouraging with a view to a more extensive application of this therapeutic approach in peripheral arterial disease of the lower limbs.

Aged↗

Tissue-type plasminogen activator and von Willebrand factor plasma levels as markers of endothelial involvement in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

In order to investigate the significance of high circulating levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), recently observed in patients with vascular diseases, we compared the plasma levels of vWF with those of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and the platelet content of serotonin (5-HT) in 40 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), primary or associated to systemic sclerosis (SSc), and in 14 patients with chronic peripheral obstructive disease due to arteriosclerosis (PAOD). VWF and t-PA plasma levels were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in SSc (vWF: 158.2, range 116.3-305.0%; t-PA: 10.2, range 6.4-17.8 ng/ml). By contrast, normal plasma levels of both vWF (85.3, range 53.5-157.0%) and t-PA (6.5, range 2.7-9.3 ng/ml) were observed in primary RP. VWF and t-PA were normal in PAOD patients, compared with age-matched healthy controls (vWF: 143.0, range 57.0-204.0%; t-PA: 7.5, range 3.4-13.6, ng/ml). The platelet content of 5-HT was within the normal range (37.3-99.7 ng/10(8) platelets) in RP patients, but significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in PAOD patients (39.0, range 14.7-91.4). Our data suggest that the different pattern of circulating vWF and t-PA between SSc and arteriosclerotic patients may be related to a different endothelial cell involvement. Whether this increase may reflect active attempts of regeneration and repair, indicating endothelial cell viability rather than damage is a matter of speculation.

Adult↗

Doppler flowmetry and the diagnosis of breast lumps.

The aim of the study was to ascertain the reliability of a Doppler signal in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Computerized blood flow analysis was performed on 117 patients who presented with a breast lump at the Division of Diagnostic Oncology of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. The values of systolic peak and diastolic frequency were evaluated in relation to the histologic diagnosis. Ten patients had a spontaneous regression of the lump and were excluded from the study. The number of evaluable cases with histologic confirmation was 107: 69 carcinomas and 38 benign lesions. Systolic peak values for the 69 carcinomas ranged from 1500 to 7400 Hz, with a mean value of 3243.4 Hz; diastolic frequency ranged from 200 to 3700 Hz, with mean value of 1413.9 Hz. No diagnostic signals were found in 4 breast cancers (false negatives). Twenty-three of 38 benign lesions (60.5%) and 65 of 69 malignant nodes (94.2%) were correctly diagnosed. The Doppler signal with computerized spectral analysis in addition to more specific ultrasonographic parameters could be considered a useful tool in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Adult↗