Second line extracorporeal photopheresis for cortico-resistant acute and chronic GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematological malignancies: Long-term results from a real-life study.

Background & Objectives: The primary objective of this observational study was to perform an exhaustive description concerning patients receiving extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) as second line treatment after steroid resistance for either acute or chronic GVHD following allo-HCT, secondary objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcomes.

Study Design: A total of 106 patients were included, 65 (61%) males and 41 (39%) females with a median age at transplantation of 52 years (range: 20-67). ECP was initiated after transplantation either for acute GVHD [N = 25 (24%), 12 grade III and 13 grade IV] affecting skin alone (N = 5), gut alone (N = 12), gut and liver (N = 8), or chronic GVHD [N = 81 (76%), 15 (14%) limited and 66 (62%) extensive].

Priming With Red Blood Cells Allows Red Blood Cell Exchange for Sickle Cell Disease in Low-Weight Children.

Red blood cell exchanges are frequently used to treat and prevent cerebrovascular complications in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). However, the low weight of young children represents serious concerns for this procedure. The Spectra Optia device can perform automatic priming using red blood cells (RBCs) (RCE/RBC-primed) which could allow RBC exchanges (RCE) to be performed in young children without hypovolemic complications, but this method requires evaluation.

High response rate and improved graft-versus-host disease following bortezomib as salvage therapy after reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

We describe the results of 37 myeloma patients who received bortezomib following reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation (RIC-allo-SCT). Grade 1-2 peripheral neuropathy (35%), mild thrombocytopenia (24%) and fatigue (19%) were the most frequent adverse events, while there was no worsening of graft-vs-host disease symptoms. Twenty-seven patients (73%; 95% CI, 59-87%) achieved an objective response.