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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Modern diagnostics in chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPDs).

According to the new WHO classification a group of chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPDs) were defined: chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), chronic eosinophilic leukemia and hypereosinophilic syndrome (CEL/HES), polycythemia vera (PV), chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (with extramedullary hematopoiesis, CIMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and so called CMPD/unclassifiable. As clinical features and laboratory findings differ widely between these diseases several diagnostic approaches are mandatory at diagnosis for classification and are needed also for follow up studies, especially for the measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD). We here outline the laboratory set up at diagnosis and during follow up in CMPDs with specific focus on the respective therapeutical consequences. Only by using a comprehensive diagnostic panel including cytomorphology, cytogenetics, and molecular genetic methods establishing the correct diagnosis, optimizing treatment as well as evaluating treatment response is possible in CMPDs today.

Blood Cell Count↗

Introduction

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗

Syngeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a comparison with allogeneic and autologous transplantation--The Lymphoma Working Committee of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

PURPOSE: To compare results of syngeneic, allogeneic, and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The databases of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation were used to identify 89 NHL patients who received syngeneic transplants. These patients were compared with NHL patients identified from the IBMTR and the Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry who received allogeneic (T-cell depleted and T-cell replete) and autologous (purged and unpurged) transplants. RESULTS: No significant differences in relapse rates were observed when results of allogeneic transplantation were compared with syngeneic transplantation for any histology. T-cell depletion of allografts was not associated with a higher relapse risk, but was associated with improved overall survival for patients with low-grade and intermediate-grade histology. Patients who received unpurged autografts for low-grade NHL had a five-fold (P =.008) greater risk of relapse than recipients of syngeneic transplants, and recipients of unpurged autografts had a two-fold (P =.0009) greater relapse risk than patients who received purged autografts. Among low-grade NHL patients, the use of purging was associated with significantly better disease-free survival (P =.003) and overall survival (P =.04) when compared with patients who received unpurged autografts. CONCLUSION: These analyses failed to find evidence of a graft-versus-lymphoma effect, but do provide indirect evidence to support the hypothesis that tumor contamination may contribute to lymphoma relapse, and that purging may be beneficial for patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for low-grade NHL.

Adolescent↗

Recommended screening and preventive practices for long-term survivors after hematopoietic cell transplantation: joint recommendations of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

More than 40000 hematopoietic cell transplants (HCTs) are performed worldwide each year. With improvements in transplant technology, larger numbers of transplant recipients survive free of the disease for which they were transplanted. However, there are late complications that can cause substantial morbidity. Many survivors are no longer under the care of transplant centers, and many community health care providers may be unfamiliar with health matters relevant to HCT. The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), and American Society for Bone Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) have developed these recommendations to offer care providers suggested screening and prevention practices for autologous and allogeneic HCT survivors.

Community Health Centers↗

Recommended screening and preventive practices for long-term survivors after hematopoietic cell transplantation: joint recommendations of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT/CIBMTR/ASBMT).

More than 40,000 hematopoietic cell transplants (HCTs) are performed worldwide each year. With improvements in transplant technology, larger numbers of transplant recipients survive free of the disease for which they were transplanted. However, there are late complications that can cause substantial morbidity. Many survivors are no longer under the care of transplant centers and many community health-care providers may be unfamiliar with health matters relevant to HCT. The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) have developed these recommendations to offer care providers suggested screening and prevention practices for autologous and allogeneic HCT survivors.

Delivery of Health Care↗

Peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation versus autologous bone marrow transplantation in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a new matched-pair analysis of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Data. Lymphoma Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

PURPOSE: To address the question of short-term and long-term advantages of peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) over autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), we have reviewed the data of 3,214 patients with lymphoma, 2,859 undergoing ABMT, and 355 undergoing PBSCT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis of prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) was conducted separately for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (N = 1,915) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) (N = 1,299). In multivariate analysis, the relevant factors were status at transplant for NHL and sex, size of largest mass at transplant, status at transplant, and conditioning regimen for HD. The pair analysis was carried out by matching NHL and HD patients separately by their prognostic factors. Additionally, NHL patients were matched for histology, whereas both HD and NHL patients were matched for date of transplant. With this method, 454 patients were matched in the NHL group and 256 were matched in the HD group. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) and PFS unexpectedy were better for ABMT versus PBSCT patients in the HD group (OS, 65.3% at 4 years for ABMT v 52.7% for PBSCT; P = .0198). There was no difference in OS or PFS in the NHL group (OS, 56.6% at 4 years for ABMT v 52.7% for PBSCT; P = .4148). The overall relapse or progression rate at 4 years for NHL was 42% after ABMT and 49.2% after PBSCT (P = .1220); for HD, it was 40% and 58.6%, respectively (P = .0164). Transplant-related mortality was lower, but not significantly, with PBSCT: 7.0% for ABMT versus 3.5% for PBSCT in NHL (P = .1356) and 7% for ABMT versus 4.7% for PBSCT in HD (P = .6056). Hematologic recovery occurred faster significantly with PBSCT irrespective of disease. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the advantage of PBSCT in terms of hematopoietic reconstitution, but it fails to show any superiority in the long term. Poorer results for both progression free and overall survival observed in HD patients who are receiving PBSCT are unexplained and should be confirmed with randomized studies.

Adult↗

European best practice guidelines for renal transplantation. Section IV: Long-term management of the transplant recipient. IV.6.1. Cancer risk after renal transplantation. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD): prevention and treatment.

GUIDELINES: A. In the first year after organ transplantation, recipients are at the greatest risk of developing lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLDs), which are induced most often by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and patients should therefore be screened prior to or at the time of transplantation for EBV antibodies. B. In the rare cases (<5%) where the recipient is EBV seronegative, he or she has a 95% likelihood of receiving an organ from an EBV-seropositive donor, which translates into a high risk of primary EBV infection with seroconversion soon after transplantation. In such cases, the recipient should receive a prophylactic antiviral treatment with acyclovir, valacyclovir or ganciclovir, starting at the time of transplant and lasting for at least 3 months. The specific recommendations given for CMV prophylaxis could be applicable in this situation. C. The treatment of PTLD should be based on accurate pathology with extensive cell markers and phenotyping. The treatment modalities are as follows. Reduction of basal immunosuppression in all cases (either maintain only steroids, or decrease by at least 50% the anti-calcineurin drugs and stop other immunosuppressive drugs). In the case of EBV-positive B-cell lymphoma, antiviral treatment with acyclovir, valacyclovir or ganciclovir may be initiated for at least 1 month or according to the blood level of EBV replication when available. In the case of rare lymphomas from the mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) with positive Helicobacter pylori, full eradication of H. pylori should be carried out with a validated protocol. Subsequent H. pylori prophylaxis should be implemented to avoid relapse. In the case of CD20-positive lymphomas, treatment with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20, should be carried out with one i.v. injection per week for 4 weeks. In the case of diffuse lymphomas or improper response to previous treatment, CHOP chemotherapy should be used alone or in combination with rituximab. The CHOP regimen is cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, vincristine and prednisone. Complete cessation of immunosuppression with or without graft nephrectomy should also be considered.

Epstein-Barr Virus Infections↗

Quo vadis, my transplant fellow: a discussion of transplant surgery fellowship training activity in the United States and Canada: 1991-1997. Education Committee of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

This is a discussion of transplant surgery fellowship training issues that pertain to educational quality guidelines of fellowship programs, the number of fellows being trained, and the individual's fate in securing transplant surgery positions after training. In 1995, the Council of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) revised the academic guidelines to enhance the educational standards of programs seeking ASTS approval as a transplant surgery fellowship training program. The criteria for accrediting training programs in kidney and liver transplant surgery were redefined, and new criteria for pancreas transplant surgery training were developed. Regarding the number of transplant surgery fellows being trained per year, during the period from 1991 to 1997, a total of 327 transplant surgery fellows completed training at ASTS-accredited transplant surgery fellowship training programs. The annual number of transplant surgery fellowship graduates has remained nearly constant at approximately 45 per year. However, the proportion of transplant surgery trainees who are foreign medical graduates has increased annually since 1995. Currently, 49% of the trainees are foreign medical graduates. Regarding the individual's fates in securing transplant surgery positions after training, the proportion of U.S./Canadian medical graduates who received transplant surgery training during the last year but are practicing in surgical disciplines other than transplant surgery appears to be increasing. Before 1996, it was rare for transplant surgery trainees to pursue surgical practice activities that did not include transplantation. Among the current group of 28 U.S./Canadian medical graduates who completed transplant surgery training between January 1997 and July 1997, six did not secure an acceptable position in transplantation. Instead, they are practicing in either general surgery or vascular surgery, or obtaining additional transplant training. These changes in the demographics and dynamics of transplant surgery fellowship training activity provoke important concerns.

Canada↗

Genotypically nonidentical related donors for transplantation of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: comparison with unrelated donor transplantation and autologous stem cell transplantation.

Transplantation with histocompatible identical siblings is a curative treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Alternative treatments, such as transplantation with other family donors, are an option for patients without HLA-identical siblings. This study evaluated transplantation with genotypically nonidentical family donors and compared the results to those obtained with unrelated donors and autologous stem cell transplantation. Overall 3-year survival was 35% for the 79 patients transplanted using genotypically nonidentical donors, DFS was 31%, relapse risk 16%, and the treatment-related mortality (TRM) 62%. Patients transplanted using phenotypically identical family donors had a significantly superior survival and a lower TRM than patients transplanted with mismatched family donors. Age had no influence on the outcome of transplantation. The DFS of patients transplanted in early stage of the disease was 42% compared to 28% in patients transplanted with more advanced disease (P = 0.03). The results of transplantation with mismatched family donors were comparable to those obtained with unrelated donor transplantation. This suggests that nonidentical family donors may be considered if a fully matched unrelated donor is not available. The TRM of patients transplanted with nonidentical family donors is significantly higher than the TRM of patients transplanted with autologous stem cells. The disease-free survival of ASCT is not inferior to allogeneic transplantation using nonidentical family donors, and the intensity of the treatment is much lower. The choice of ASCT or alternative donor transplantation must be influenced by the age of the patient and the risk of relapse. For patients under the age of 20 years the treatment of choice may indeed be an alternative donor transplantation.

Adolescent↗

HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation in younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize in detail the outcomes of HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in patients younger than 60 years of age. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: 30 centers for bone marrow transplantation worldwide, which reported data on outcome of HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation for CLL to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation or the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry between 1984 and 1992. PATIENTS: 54 patients diagnosed with CLL (median age, 41 years; range, 21 to 58 years). The median interval from diagnosis to transplantation was 37 months (range, 5 to 130 months). At the time of transplantation, 3 patients were at Rai stage 0; 10 were at stage 1; 10 were at stage 2; 7 were at stage 3; and 22 were at stage 4. INTERVENTION: Transplant regimens varied. Most patients received high-dose cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation, followed by infusion of bone marrow from an HLA-identical sibling. After transplantation, immune suppression with cyclosporine or methotrexate or both was generally used to prevent graft-versus-host disease. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was survival. We also studied hematologic remission, defined as normalization of the leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, and platelet count, and absence of lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. RESULTS: 38 patients (70%) achieved hematologic remission. Twenty-four (44%) remain alive a median of 27 months (range, 5 to 80 months) after transplantation. Three-year survival probability was 46% (95% CI, 32% to 60%). Three patients who received transplants at Rai stage 0 remain alive 21, 32, and 45 months after transplantation. Three-year survival probabilities were as follows: 68% (CI, 38% to 98%) in 10 patients who received transplants at Rai stage 1, 30% (CI, 2% to 58%) in 10 patients who received transplants at Rai stage 2, 57% (CI, 21% to 93%) in 7 patients who received transplants at Rai stage 3, and 34% (CI, 12% to 56%) in 22 patients who received transplants at Rai stage 4 CLL. Five patients (9%) died of progressive leukemia and 25 (46%) of treatment-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow transplants from HLA-identical siblings can result in hematologic remission and survival in persons with CLL, but it is uncertain how these results compare with those of conventional therapies.

Adult↗

[Knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding organ transplantation: the impact of the first transplantation from a brain-dead donor under the organ transplantation act].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding organ transplantation, and to estimate the impact of the first organ transplantation from a brain-dead donor under the Organ Transplantation Act. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A telephone survey was made using the Random Digit Dialing method in May 1999. People living in the Tokyo Metropolitan area ages 20 years or over were asked about their knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding organ transplantation, and their opinions on the first organ transplantation conduced in February 1999. The results were compared with an opinion poll made 7 months previously to estimate the impact of this first case. RESULTS: The number of respondents was 489 (response rate: 46.0%). 1) Knowledge of organ transplantation: most people knew that organ donation from brain-dead donors was possible under the act, and that written consent on a form and family member's agreement were necessary before donating. More people knew about donor cards. 2) Organ transplantation: more people were willing to donate their organs when they die, and to agree to donation when a family member died who had wanted to donate his/her organs on their death. In the poll 7 months before, fewer people were willing to donate their organs or to agree to donate their family member's organs after brain death compared with after heart arrest. However, no such difference between brain death and heart arrest was found in this later study, suggesting that the distinction between the two was no longer considered to be so important. 3) Respondents themselves having donor cards constituted 15.2%, showing a marked increase from 7 months earlier. Another 39.7% wished to carry a donor card; the most common reason for not carrying one was they did not know how to acquire it. 4) The first transplantation was considered to have contributed to the increase in knowledge, and a favorable change in attitudes and behavior toward organ transplantation. 5) Respondents who agreed to that organ donation from children aged under 15 should be possible constituted 46.4%, of the to be this not being allowed at the present time. 6) The majority of respondents considered that the brain death was diagnosed properly in the first case and that the donation was made voluntarily, concluding that the transplantation was made fairly. 7) Respondents who considered that the privacy of the donor and the recipients was violated were 46.2% and 36.1%, respectively. The attitude of the mass media toward the first transplantation was criticized by 56.9% of the respondents. 8) Respondents who had a favorable impression of the organ transplantation were 61.9%. Such people are likely to donate their organs, to agree to a family member's donation, and to have a donor card than people who had not gained a favorable impression. The two groups exhibited no difference in their knowledge concerning organ transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in knowledge and a favorable change in attitudes and behavior regarding organ transplantation was confirmed in this survey, as compared with results 7 months earlier, probably because the first transplantation took place. The majority of the respondents considered that the first transplantation was made fairly, although they criticized the attitude of the mass media invading the privacy of the donor and the recipients. Further studies should be made to facilitate effective delivery of donor cards to people who want to carry them, and to change the rules on organ donation from children.

Adult↗

Mechanisms of postprandial hyperglycemia in liver transplant recipients: comparison of liver transplant patients with kidney transplant patients and healthy controls.

Impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus are frequent complications after organ transplantation, and are usually attributed to glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive treatments. Liver transplantation results in total hepatic denervation which may also affect glucoregulation. We therefore evaluated postprandial glucose metabolism in a group of patients with liver cirrhosis before and after orthotopic liver transplantation. Seven patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies, 6 patients having received a kidney transplant, and 6 healthy subjects were studied. Their glucose metabolism was evaluated in the basal state and over 4 hours after ingestion of a glucose load with 6.6 (2) H glucose dilution analysis. The patients with liver cirrhosis were studied before, and again 4 weeks (range 2-6) and 38 weeks (range 20-76, n=6) after orthotopic liver transplantation. Basal glucose metabolism was similar in liver and kidney transplant recipients. Impaired glucose tolerance was present in both groups, but postprandial hyperglycemia was exaggerated and lasted longer in liver transplant patients. Postprandial insulinemia was lower in liver transplant recipients, while C-peptide concentrations were comparable to those of kidney transplant recipients, indicating increased insulin clearance. Glucose turnover was not altered in both groups of patients during the initial 3 hours after glucose ingestion, but was higher in liver transplant early after transplantation during the fourth hour. Postprandial hyperglycemia remained unchanged in liver transplant recipients 38 weeks after liver transplantation, despite substantial reduction of immunosuppressive and glucocorticoid doses. We conclude that liver transplant recipients have severe postprandial hyperglycemia which can be attributed to insulinopenia (secondary, at least in part, to increased insulin clearance) and a late increased glucose turnover. These changes may be secondary to hepatic denervation.

Adult↗

[Revascularization of peripheral nerve transplants. Stereomicroangiographic evaluation of revascularization in allogeneic transplants, allogeneic transplants with cyclosporin A therapy and autologous transplants].

Allogeneic nerve grafts of the sciatic nerve longer than 3 cm were transplanted between August- and Wistar rats. One group of animals were treated with 17 mg/kg body weight Cyclosporine A from day 1-28. Autologous nerves served as controls. At various postoperative days contact microangiography, stereoangiography, microdensitometry and histology were performed. Allogeneic untreated grafts were rejected at day 7. Undisturbed neovascularisation was only seen in autografts. In Cyclosporine A treated rats a gradually reduced revascularisation could be observed until day 90.

Angiography↗

Syngeneic transplantation in multiple myeloma - a case-matched comparison with autologous and allogeneic transplantation. European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Twenty-five patients with multiple myeloma received bone marrow grafts (n = 24) or peripheral blood stem cells (n = 1) from twin donors. The outcome was compared in a case-matched analysis to 125 patients who underwent autologous transplantation, and 125 who underwent allogeneic transplantation. Seventeen patients (68%) receiving twin transplants entered complete remission, which was not significantly different from that of autologous (48%) or allogeneic (58%) transplants. The median overall and progression-free survival for the twins was 73 and 72 months, respectively. The overall survival tended to be better (73 vs 44 months) and the progression-free survival was significantly better (72 vs 25 months) than with autologous transplantation and both were significantly better than with allogeneic transplantation. Three of 17 patients who entered complete remission following transplantation had relapsed at follow-up. This relapse rate was significantly lower than following autologous transplantation and similar to the relapse rate with allogeneic transplantation. Only two twins died of transplant-related toxicity. Six further patients died of progressive or relapsing disease. Syngeneic transplantation in multiple myeloma appears to be the treatment of choice if a twin donor is available. A lower relapse risk than in autotransplantation may be due to reinfusion of malignant cells in some patients treated with this modality or to the presence of a graft-versus-myeloma effect in some syngeneic transplants.

Adult↗

Temporary elevation of serum transaminases after pediatric intestinal transplantation: incidence and clinical correlation in multivisceral transplant vs isolated intestinal transplant.

Data were gathered from the records of 51 children of median age 1.5 years who survived more than 6 months after intestinal transplantation. Abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) were defined as serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) greater than 100 IU/L or total bilirubin greater than 2.0 g/dL lasting more than 3 days. Temporary elevation was defined when LFTs returned to normal without graft loss or death. LFT elevation at the time of transplantation was not included as a temporary LFT elevation. Median follow-up was 36 months. In multivisceral transplant recipients, all patients (n = 34) showed abnormal LFTs at transplantation that normalized within a median period of 2 days. Temporary LFT elevations were seen in 20 of 34 (59%) in multivisceral transplantation and 5 of 17 (29%) in isolated intestinal transplantation. Median length of elevation was 14 days in multivisceral transplantation and 12 days in isolated intestinal transplantation. Peak AST was 353 +/- 190 IU/dL in multivisceral transplantation and 839 +/- 605 IU/dL in isolated intestinal transplantation (P = .0059). Events associated with temporary LFT elevations in multivisceral transplantation were total parental nutrition (TPN) (n = 8), dehydration (n = 2), viral infection (n = 2), others (n = 3), and nonspecific (n = 5). Events in isolated intestinal transplantation were posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (n = 2), TPN (n = 1), and nonspecific (n = 2). Temporary LFT elevations were commonly seen among pediatric intestinal recipients, which correlated with events other than rejection. Approximately half of the temporary LFT elevations were associated with no significant clinical events. They resolved spontaneously. Interestingly, the peak AST value was higher in isolated intestinal transplantation compared to multivisceral transplantation.

Adolescent↗

The use of a national transplant registry to benchmark transplant outcome for patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

As part of its clinical governance programme the British Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BSBMT) undertook an analysis of transplant outcome for adults undergoing human leucocyte antigen - identical sibling allogeneic transplantation for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in first chronic phase (CP1) or autologous transplantation for Hodgkin's disease (HD). The study aimed to compare transplant-related mortality (TRM) and survival for patients reported to the BSBMT with patients transplanted in the rest of Europe, reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). The outcomes for 104 allogeneic transplants for CML in 24 UK/Irish centres were compared with 775 allografts in 145 other European centres. For HD, 241 autografts from 38 UK/Irish centres were compared with 1145 transplants in 239 other European centres. For both diseases, the cohorts were broadly matched with the exception of CML, where 85% of patients were transplanted <1 year from diagnosis in the UK/Ireland compared with 68% in the EBMT (P = 0.001). Cox regression analysis was undertaken using known delineated variables affecting transplant outcome in addition to the registry of origin. The adjusted survival curves for CML showed no significant differences between the two groups, with 3-year survival probabilities of 70.2% and 67.1% for the EBMT and BSBMT cohorts respectively. Likewise, the analysis for HD showed overlapping survival curves, with 3-year survival probabilities of 71.8% (EBMT) and 70.8% (BSBMT). TRM was not statistically different in either disease. This study demonstrates the potential for using national registries to benchmark transplant outcome against the EBMT registry.

Adolescent↗

Thoracic organ transplants in the United States: a report from the UNOS/ISHLT Scientific Registry for Organ Transplants. United Network for Organ Sharing. International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

1. The frequency of heart and lung transplantation has increased dramatically over time. The number of heart transplants increased 170% between 1968 and 1981. Exponential increases began in 1982 and increased through 1990, as evidenced by a 1,835% growth in the number of procedures performed during those years. In more recent years, heart transplant numbers have leveled off, with only an 8% increase in the last 3 years. Lung transplant procedures have grown significantly in the short period of time between 1987 (n = 18) and 1993 (n = 669). 2. Since the beginning of the ISHLT Registry in 1968 the number of thoracic transplant programs has increased 7,767%, from 3 to 236. 3. The most frequently reported indications for thoracic transplantation include: coronary artery disease (43.4%) for heart, cystic fibrosis (39.5%) for double-lung, emphysema/COPD (40.2%) for single-lung and primary pulmonary hypertension (38.3%) for heart-lung. 4. The majority of heart transplant recipients are at least 18 years old (89.5%), male (78.2%), and White (83.8%). The majority of lung transplant recipients are at least 18 years old (93.7%), female (53.2%), and White (91.3%). 5. One-year survival over time has almost doubled for all types of thoracic transplantation, with increases from 47.7% in 1968-79 to 81.6% in 1993 for heart; 35.3% in 1987 to 67.1% in 1993 for lung; and 40% in the early 1980s to 73% in 1993 for heart-lung. 6. Long-term 10-year survival rates were 33.5% for heart and 5.6% for heart-lung transplant recipients. Five-year survival for lung recipients was 37%. 7. Male-to-male donor-to-recipient gender-match heart transplant patients exhibited slightly higher survival (4-5%) than other match pairs from one to 5 years posttransplant. Female-to-male combinations in lung transplant recipients exhibited slightly higher survival (4-8%) at 3 years than other match pairs. 8. There was no significant difference in 5-year survival for donor hearts procured from local, intraregional, or interregional sources. Lungs procured from interregional sources exhibited an 8-10% advantage over local and intraregionally procured organs at 3 years posttransplant.

Adolescent↗

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplants for autoimmune disease--feasibility and transplant-related mortality. Autoimmune Disease and Lymphoma Working Parties of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the European League Against Rheumatism and the International Stem Cell Project for Autoimmune Disease.

This ongoing multicentre prospective phase I/II trial enrolled 74 consecutive patients from 22 centres worldwide with severe autoimmune disease, 35 with rheumatological disorders, 31 with neurological, five with haematological and three with vasculitides. They were treated with autologous peripheral blood or bone marrow transplants according to predetermined criteria. Two patients died after mobilisation before transplant. Seventy-two patients were given 73 transplants, seven bone marrow, and 66 mobilised peripheral blood stem cell transplants. The graft was manipulated to remove T and/or B cells in 43 cases. All 73 transplants engrafted. Five patients died of transplant-related complications: two from bleeding, three from infections. Two patients died of progressive disease. The transplant-related mortality at 1 year of 9% (1-17%; 95% CI) is comparable to the transplant-related mortality of 6% (3-9%; 95% CI) in patients transplanted during the same period in Europe for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in sensitive relapse (P = 0.39). Sixty patients are evaluable for response, 40 patients (65%) showed some improvement in their disease. Haematopoietic stem cell transplants are feasible for patients with severe refractory autoimmune disease. Transplant-related mortality is comparable to results in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in responsive relapse. Two-thirds of the patients show at least some response. These preliminary data are promising. Although associated with considerable risk, randomised trials comparing autologous stem cell transplants to conventional therapy are warranted.

Adolescent↗