Characterization of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in aplastic anaemia.

In aplastic anaemia (AA), haemopoietic activity is significantly reduced and generally attributed to failure of haemopoietic stem cells (HSC) within the bone marrow (BM). The regulation of haemopoiesis depends on the interaction between HSC and various cells of the BM microenvironment, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). MSC involvement in the functional restriction of HSC in AA is largely unknown and therefore, the physical and functional properties of AA MSC were studied in vitro.

Epstein-Barr virus infections after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a comparison between non-malignant and malignant hematological disorders.

Hematological cancers and non-malignant hematological disorders are biologically diverse conditions and are treated differently. We compared the pattern of EBV infections following allogeneic stem cell transplantation between the above two groups of hematological disorders. Eighty-three transplants were evaluated over a consecutive 7-year period at a single center.

Thrombopoietic agents.

Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the key cytokine involved in thrombopoiesis, and is the endogenous ligand for the thrombopoietin receptor that is expressed on the surface of platelets, megakaryocytes, and megakaryocytic precursors. First-generation thrombopoietic agents were recombinant forms of human TPO, and their development was discontinued after prolonged thrombocytopenia due to neutralizing auto-antibodies cross-reacting with endogenous TPO was observed. Second-generation thrombopoiesis-stimulating molecules are now available, which have unique pharmacological properties and no sequence homology to endogenous TPO.

Early cytomegalovirus infections following allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a comparison between non-malignant and malignant haematological disorders.

The haematological indications for allogeneic stem cell transplantation can be broadly divided into non-malignant and malignant disorders. We compared the incidence and risk factors for post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections between these two biologically diverse subgroups of haematological conditions. Out of 105 allogeneic transplants, 64 and 41 were for underlying non-malignant and malignant indications respectively.

Infectious causes of chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

Persistent thrombocytopenia may be the consequence of chronic infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Helicobacter pylori, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Studies have shown that on diagnosis of infections, treatment of the primary disease often results in substantial improvement or complete recovery of the thrombocytopenia. In patients with thrombocytopenia due to HCV-related chronic liver disease, the use of eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, normalizes platelet levels, thereby permitting the initiation of antiviral therapy.