Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in combination with immunoablative protocol in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis--A 10-year follow-up of the first transplanted patient.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system that affects young individuals and leads to severe disability. High dose immunoablation followed by autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has been considered in the last 15 years as potentialy effective therapeutic approach for aggressive MS. The most recent long-time follow-up results suggest that AHSCT is not only effective for highly-aggressive MS, but for relapsing-remitting MS as well, providing long-term remission, or maybe even cure.

Successful treatment with cladribine of Erdheim-Chester disease with orbital and central nervous system involvement developing after treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Introduction: Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare, systemic form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the juvenile xanthogranuloma family with characteristic bilateral symmetrical long bone osteosclerosis, associated with xanthogranulomatous extra skeletal organ involvement. In ECD, central nervous system (CNS) and orbital lesions are frequent, and more than half of ECD pa tients carry the V600E mutation of the protooncogene BRAF. The synchronous or metachronous development of ECD and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in the same patients is rare, and the possible connection between them is still obscure.

Management of myelofibrosis during pregnancy: a case report.

Introduction: Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm that occurs most commonly in the decade six of life and it is very rare in the young persons.

Case Report: We reported a 28-year-old female patient with primary myelofibrosis who had a normal pregnancy and delivery in the week 40 of pregnancy without any complications. Two years before the diagnosis of PMF she had normal pregnancy.

Orbital lymphoma associated with Graves' disease: A case report.

Introduction: The presence of bilateral exophthalmos and palpebral, periorbital edema associated with hyperthyroidism is most often considered as an initial sign of Graves' ophthalmopathy. However, in up to 20% of cases, Graves' ophthalmopathy might precede the occurence of hyperthyroidism, which is very important to be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially if it is stated as unilateral. Among other less common causes of non-thyroid-related orbitopathy, orbital lymphoma represents rare conditions.

Association of interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β gene polymorphisms with the outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Background: Published data indicate that common genetic variants in immune/inflammatory response genes can affect the outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). This study investigated the association of interleukin (IL)-10 (-3575, -1082), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α -308 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β Leu10Pro gene polymorphisms with clinical characteristics and outcome of DLBCL patients treated with rituximab-CHOP therapy.

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2007, a total of 84 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL entered into this study.

Allogeneic stem cell transplant for chronic myeloid leukemia as a still promising option in the era of the new target therapy.

Background/aim: Introducing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has essentially changed curative approach, to be precise, clearly improved treatment efficacy for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Thus, the place and usage of allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) in CML treatment--as a former "nearly monopolistic" therapeutic manner--is nowadays controversial. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results obtained in the treatment of CML patients, with a particular attempt to define parameters critical for clinical benefit and superior overall outcome following allogeneic SCT.

Impact of stem cell source on allogeneic stem cell transplantation outcome in hematological malignancies.

Background/aim: Peripheral blood (PB) is used more frequently as a source of stem cells (SCs) for allogeneic transplantation. However, the influence of cell source on the clinical outcome of SC transplantation is not yet well established. The aim of this study was to compare the results of PBSC transplantation (PBSCT) with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) on the basis of engraftment, frequency and severity of immediate (mucositis, acute Graft versus Host Disease--aGvHD) and delayed (chronic GvHD--cGvHD) complications, as well as transplant-related mortality (TRM), transfusion needs, relapses and overall survival (OS).

[Autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of multiple myeloma--single center experience].

Background/aim: In comparison to standard therapy autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) with high doses mel-phalane has improved treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of MM patients in our center with ASCTconditioning with melphalane or combining busulphane, cyclophosphamide and melphalane.

Methods: We performed 62 ASCT procedures in 47 patients from 1998 till 2008.

Living unrelated donor kidney transplantation--a fourteen-year experience.

Background: In countries without a national organization for retrieval and distribution of organs of the deceased donors, problem of organ shortage is still not resolved. In order to increase the number of kidney transplantations we started with the program of living unrelated - spousal donors. The aim of this study was to compare treatment outcome and renal graft function in patients receiving the graft from spousal and those receiving ghe graft from living related donors.

Monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Background/aim: More than 90% of worldwide population is infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV), one of the most common agents which complicate immunocompromised patients. Viral infections, in particular CMV ones are still a major cause of moratality and morbidity after stem cell transplantation (SCT). Monitoring is performed by detecting CMV-Ag or virus DNA in peripheral blood.

PCR-based clonality assessment in patients with lymphocytic leukaemias: a single-institution experience.

PCR-based clonality testing can be performed in all lymphoproliferations by analysing gene rearrangements of antigen receptors, rearrangements that are unique for each kind of lymphocyte. Reactive lymphoproliferations have polyclonally rearranged Ig/TCR genes, whereas malignant proliferations (leukaemias and lymphomas) show clonal rearrangements. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical benefits of clonality testing with previously evaluated consensus primers in leukaemia patients.

[Autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease].

Background/aim: High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has shown to produce long-term disease-free survival in patients with chemotherapy-sensitive Hodgkin disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy of ASCT in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

Methods: Between May 1997 and September 2008, 34 patients with Hodgkin's disease in median age of 25 (range 16-60) years, underwent ASCT.

Cytapheresis in the treatment of cell-affected blood disorders and abnormalities.

This report presents our experience with cytaphereses performed in treatment of 476 patients. Leukapheresis was used in management of 68 patients with hyperleukocytosis leukostasis (WBC > or = 150 x 10(9)L(-1)). Average decrease in cell count after treatment was 73.

[Heyde's syndrome].

Background: Heyde's syndrome implies an association of calcified aortic stenosis with the high gradient of pressure and angiodysplasic bleeding from the digestive tract. It has been proven that in patients with this syndrome, acquired form of von Willebrand type II A develops. Replacing of aortic valves by artificial ones brings about the spontaneous retreat of coagulation disorder, and the stoppage of the digestive tract bleeding.

[Expression of Bcl-2 protein and the amplification of c-myc gene in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia].

Background/aim: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) represents a malignant myeloproliferative disease developed out of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell that contains the fusion bcr-abl gene. Disorders that occur in the process of apoptosis represent one of the possible molecular mechanisms that bring about the disease progress. The aim of our study was to carry out the analysis of the presence of the amplification of the c-myc oncogene, as well as the analysis of the changes in the expression of Bcl-2 in the patients with CML.

[Intracranial menigioma manifested after delivery in a patient with Hodgkin's disease].

Background: Intracranial meningioma is rerely reported in the patients treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD), known to mainly occur in the area of radiation therapy.

Case Report: A 26-year-old woman with HD, and intracranial meningioma following the delivery, was presented. As we knew, a similar case had not been reported in the literature before.

[Acquired factor V inhibitors in a polytraumatized patient].

Background: Factor V (FV) inhibitors are a rare disorder reported for the first time about fifty years ago, mostly with the unknown cause. The appearance of FV inhibitors is usually preceded by surgery, infections, administration of antibiotics or transfusions. Clinical manifestations of the presence of FV inhibitors vary from mild to severe and in some instances fatal hemorrhage.