Cyclophosphamide and horse anti-thymocyte globulin versus fludarabine, reduced cyclophosphamide and rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from matched sibling donors in patients with acquired aplastic anemia.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for acquired aplastic anemia (acquired AA) in young patients. The objective of the study was to compare patient outcomes after Cyclophosphamide and horse antithymocyte globulin (Cy-hATG) versus Fludarabine-cyclophosphamide and rabbit ATG (Flu-Cy-rATG) as part of conditioning regimen in allo-HSCT for acquired AA.

Research Design And Methods: Descriptive retrospective study conducted on patients with acquired AA who received allo-HSCT from HLA-matched sibling donors between January 2008 and August 2022 after conditioning regimen with Cy-hATG or Flu-Cy-rATG.

Immunogenicity and Tolerance of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) induces acquired immunodeficiency, potentially altering vaccine response. Herein, we aimed to explore the clinical tolerance and the humoral and cellular immune responses following anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in ASCT recipients.

Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, controlled study that involved 43 ASCT subjects and 31 healthy controls.

Coagulase negative Staphylococcus bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: Clinical features and molecular characterization.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the epidemiology of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) responsible for bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and to determine the prevalence and the genetic background of methicillin resistance. The prevalence of CoNS bacteremia was 7.4% (54/728), higher in allograft (10.

RORC overexpression as a sign of Th17 lymphocytes accumulation in multiple myeloma bone marrow.

The role of the bone marrow microenvironment in supporting the proliferation and survival of the abnormal plasma cells in multiple myeloma (MM) is well established. Such microenvironment is rich of cytokines like IL-6, TGF-β, IL-1 and IL-23 which are known to promote the differentiation of Th17 lymphocytes, a T helper subpopulation. Th17 cells secrete IL-17, a cytokine involved in the pathophysiology of several auto-immune diseases.

Once-a-day fractionated total-body irradiation: A regimen tailored to local logistics in allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Aim: The objective of the study was to estimate the cumulative incidence (CI) of relapse, relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in ALL patients after a once-a-day fractionated TBI (F-TBI) regimen with 9.9 Gy. The secondary objectives were evaluation of short and long-term toxicity and non-relapse mortality (NRM).

Filgrastim following HLA-Identical Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation: Long-Term Outcomes of a Randomized Trial.

Human recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor reduces the duration of neutropenia following HLA-identical allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, its use remains controversial due to the risk of increasing the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and slower platelet recovery. To clarify these risks, we conducted a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial of filgrastim 5 µg/kg/day i.

Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: Epidemiology and molecular characterization.

Background: Extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) create a therapeutic challenge and have high potential for dissemination. The purpose of our study was to investigate the epidemiology of these infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and to determine the genes encoding ESBL.

Material/methods: This retrospective study comprised adult patients hospitalized at the National Bone Marrow Transplant Center (NBMTC) and infected with ESBL-E post-HSCT between January 2006 and December 2016.

Plasmodium falciparum infection transmitted by transfusion: A cause of hemophagocytic syndrome after bone marrow tranplantation in a non-endemic country.

A 27-year-old man with severe aplastic anemia underwent bone marrow transplantation from his HLA identical brother in July 2016. Conditioning included ATGAM 30 mg/kg for 3 days and Cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg for 4 days. The patient received several platelet and red blood cell transfusions before and after the conditioning.

Abnormal repression of SHP-1, SHP-2 and SOCS-1 transcription sustains the activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway and the progression of the disease in multiple myeloma.

Sustained activation of JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway is classically described in Multiple Myeloma (MM). One explanation could be the silencing of the JAK/STAT suppressor genes, through the hypermethylation of SHP-1 and SOCS-1, previously demonstrated in MM cell lines or in whole bone marrow aspirates. The link between such suppressor gene silencing and the degree of bone marrow invasion or the treatment response has not been evaluated in depth.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) 2011-2012: A comprehensive report on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean Blood and Marrow Transplantation group (EMBMT).

Objective/background: The Eastern Mediterranean Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) group has accumulated over 31 years of data and experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly in hemoglobinopathies, severe aplastic anemia, inherited metabolic and immune disorders, in addition to a wide array of hematologic malignancies unique to this region. A regional update in current HSCT trends is highly warranted. We studied the trends of HSCT activities in World Health Organization-Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) region, surveyed by the EMBMT, between 2011 and 2012.

[Does multiple myeloma response to induction therapy depend on plasma cell IL6 receptor gene expression?].

Background: Interleukine 6 (IL-6) is the most important cytokine involved in malignant plasma cells growth and survival.

Aim: To analyse bone marrow plasma cells IL6 receptor gene expression in both multiple myeloma patients at diagnosis and healthy bone marrow donors.

Methods: Clinical and biological patients' features and responses to Dexamethasone-Thalidomide induction therapy were gathered.

Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II after bone marrow transplant: real transfer or acceleration of a programmed disease?

We report a case of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II that developed in an 11-year-old boy with homozygous sickle cell disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplant; the donor was his father, who was human leukocyte antigen identical and had vitiligo. On day 24 after transplant, the patient developed grade 1 acute graft-versus-host disease, which was controlled over a period of 3 months with corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression. Full donor engraftment was documented on day 31 after transplant, and this was further confirmed on days 59, 231, 321, 472, 549, and 720.

Evidence that erythrocyte DARC-positive phenotype can affect the GVHD occurrence after HLA-identical sibling HSCT.

Chemokine receptors are very important players in the pathogenesis of GVHD. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the lack of expression of the DARC receptor on erythrocytes can affect the GVHD incidence. A total of 105 recipients and their 105 respective sibling donors of HSCs were enrolled in this study.

Do FY antigens act as minor histocompatibility antigens in the graft-versus-host disease paradigm after human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

FY antigens are candidate minor histocompatibility antigens relevant to renal allograft rejection, but no data have been reported about their role in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) incidence after human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical siblings hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of donor/recipient disparity at FY antigens on the incidence of GVHD in Tunisian patients receiving an HLA-identical HSCT. This work enrolled 105 Tunisian pairs of recipients and their HLA-identical sibling donors of HSCs.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) 2008-2009: report on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean Bone Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) Group.

Background: The Eastern Mediterranean Bone Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) Group has accumulated over 25 years of data and experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), most particularly in hemoglobinopathies, severe aplastic anemia (SAA), and inherited metabolic and immune disorders, in addition to hematologic malignancies peculiar to the region and where recent updates in trends in activities are warranted.

Objectives: To study trends in HSCT activities in the World Health Organization-Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region surveyed by EMBMT between 2008 and 2009.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of the survey data, mainly of the cumulative number of transplants, types of transplants (autologous vs.

Investigation of the effect of donor platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 polymorphism on the graft-vs.-host disease occurrence in Tunisian recipients of hematopoietic stem cells.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of donor PECAM-1 alleles and haplotypes for the SNPs L98V, S536N, and R643G on the occurrence of GVHD in Tunisian recipients of HSCs.

Design And Methods: This study enrolled 102 patients and their 102 respective HLA-identical sibling donors of HSCs. The PECAM-1 SNPs genotyping assay was performed using sets of sequence specific primers (SSP-PCR).

Does minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1 disparity affect the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease in tunisian recipients of hematopoietic stem cells?

Introduction: Minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1 (MiHAg-HA-1) disparity between a patient and his or her human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genoidentical donor has been widely associated with an increased risk of graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: To examine the effect of HA-1 disparity on the incidence of both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease in Tunisian recipients of hematopoietic stem cells.

Methods: A total of 60 patients and their 60 respective sibling hematopoietic stem cell donors were enrolled in this study.

Effect of donor CTLA-4 alleles and haplotypes on graft-versus-host disease occurrence in Tunisian patients receiving a human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

The CTLA-4 genetic variation, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be critical and can affect the functional activity of cells that initiate the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) effects. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of donor CTLA-4 alleles and haplotypes for the -318C>T and the 49A>G polymorphisms on the occurrence of GVHD in Tunisians recipients of HSCs. A total of 112 patients and their 112 respective sibling donors of HSCs were enrolled in this study.

Acute graft-vs.-host disease correlates with the disparity for the PECAM-1 S536N polymorphism only in the HLA-B44-like positive Tunisian recipients of HSCs.

GVHD is the major cause of mortality after HLA-identical HSCT. Such complication has been widely linked to donor/recipient disparity for minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAgs). PECAM-1 is one of potential human MiHAgs but its effect on the GVHD occurrence remains not clear.

Switch from beta-thalassemia major to beta-thalassemia intermedia after secondary graft failure.

In this article, we report a switch of beta-thalassemia major to intermedia beta-thalassemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplant of a 6-year-old girl from her HLA-matched brother. After stable mixed chimerism, the patient had a secondary graft rejection and returned to total recipient chimerism as assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Nonetheless, with a medium hemoglobin rate of 89 g/L, she did not need further transfusions for 60 months after rejection.

Mismatch for the minor histocompatibility antigen HA-2 and GVHD occurrence in HLA-A*0201-positive Tunisian recipients of HSCs.

Graft-versus-Host disease (GVHD) has been widely linked to immunogenetic causes such as disparity between the recipient and its HLA geno-identical donor for some Non-HLA antigens called minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAgs). HA-2 is one of potential human MiHAgs but its effect on the GVHD occurrence remains not clear. In order to examine such association in the Tunisian cohort of HSCs recipients, we performed a retrospective study on patients who received an HLA-identical HSCT between 2000 and 2009.

Hemophagocytic syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective observational study.

The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the incidence of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Between July 2006 and December 2007, all patients who received a HSCT in our institution were included in this study. All the following criteria were needed for the diagnosis of HPS: sustained fever over 7 days; cytopenia (neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia); presence of more than 3% mature macrophages in bone marrow; hyperferritinaemia (>1,000 ng/mL).