Suggested Guidelines for the Treatment of Mycosis Fungoides in Countries with Limited Resources.

The treatment options for mycosis fungoides (MF) have been expanding but unfortunately many of the currently used treatment modalities are unavailable in Egypt and other African/Arab countries. In addition, there is a lack of consensus on the treatment of hypopigmented MF (HMF), which is a frequently encountered variant in our population. We aimed to develop regional treatment guidelines based on the international guidelines but modified to encompass the restricted treatment availability and our institutional experience.

T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs) as markers of early T cell and B cell immune recovery after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a key therapeutic strategy for a number of hematological malignancies and non-malignant disorders of the hematopoietic system. One of the most important events post SCT is the immune system reconstitution-a process characterized by a considerable dynamic and is critical in promoting overall survival of transplant patients, restoring immune protection from opportunistic infections, and mediating an alloreactive graft-versus-tumor effect against residual malignant disease. T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and Kappa deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs) are byproducts of T cells and B cells receptor recombination processes, respectively and can be used in monitoring denovo synthesis of T cells and B cells post SCT.

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Prophylactic Voriconazole and Fluconazole Regarding Prevention of Post-hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Invasive Fungal Infection and Its Related Death: A Single Center Experience.

Purpose: Analyzing effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of voriconazole versus fluconazole prophylaxis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: The research included 70 patients; 34 undergoing allogeneic HSCT and 36 undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), alternated to receive either voriconazole or fluconazole prophylaxis for 180 days on a 1:1 basis. Patients were monitored for occurrence of invasive fungal infections (IFI), IFI-related death (IRD) and total death events.

Generalized lymphadenopathy as the first presentation of granulocytic sarcoma: a diagnostic challenge.

Introduction. Granulocytic sarcoma (GS), also known as chloroma or extramedullary myeloblastoma, is a solid tumor composed of primitive precursors of the granulocytic series that include myeloblasts, promyelocytes, and myelocytes. Granulocytic sarcoma is a rare tumor that may develop during acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but less frequently may precede its presentation.

Hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants is the complex result of BK virus infection, preparative regimen intensity and donor type.

Background: Hemorrhagic cystitis is a common cause of morbidity after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, frequently associated with BK virus infection. We hypothesized that patients with positive BK viruria before unrelated or mismatched related donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have a higher incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis.

Design And Methods: To test this hypothesis, we prospectively studied 209 patients (median age 49 years, range 19-71) with hematologic malignancies who received bone marrow (n=78), peripheral blood (n=108) or umbilical cord blood (n=23) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after myeloablative (n=110) or reduced intensity conditioning (n=99).

Stem cell transplantation in hematological disorders. A developing country experience-impact of cost considerations.

Objective: To describe the experience in setting up a bone marrow transplant program at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Methods: Sixteen patients were transplanted at Ain Shams University Bone Marrow Transplantation unit from March 2005 to January 2008.

Results: Sixteen patients were transplanted with a median age of 25 years.

Results of imatinib mesylate therapy in chronic myelogenous leukaemia with variant Philadelphia chromosome.

Five to 10 per cent of patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) have variant translocations involving chromosomes other than 9 and 22. We investigated the characteristics and outcome of patients with variant translocations treated with imatinib. Among 721 patients, 44 (6%) had variant translocations, involving one (n = 39) or two (n = 4) additional chromosomes.

Hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: donor type matters.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) remains a common complication of allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation. Previous analyses of risk factors for this complication were performed in heterogeneous populations, with dissimilar diagnosis and conditioning regimens. We postulated that HC is more prevalent in matched unrelated donor (MUD) and unrelated cord blood (UCB) transplantations than in matched related donor (MRD) transplantations.