Romiplostim Reduces Platelet Transfusion Needs in Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: There is no standard treatment to accelerate recovery from melphalan-induced thrombocytopenia in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Romiplostim, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, has been developed to upregulate platelet production.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of romiplostim in reducing platelet transfusions post-ASCT in MM patients.

ST elevation myocardial infarction as presenting feature of acute myeloid leukemia.

A 35-year-old male patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with hyperleukocytosis, presented with acute myocardial infarction. The individual had acute onset chest pain and reached the hospital within the window period. His electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), ST elevated myocardial infarction, and thrombolysis was performed.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in India.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings highlight changes in AML management strategies in India. There was a decrease in overall patient registrations, particularly at large referral centers, while smaller centers saw an increase, reflecting a shift towards more localized care. This shift was accompanied by a rise in the use of hypomethylating agents (HMAs).

Treatment challenges and outcomes of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia from India.

Globally, overall survival (OS) of older patients with AML continues to be suboptimal with very little data from India. In a multicenter registry analysis, we evaluated 712 patients with AML older than 55 years. Only 323 (45.

PathoSense: a rapid electroanalytical device platform for screening Salmonella in water samples.

Salmonella contamination is a major global health challenge, causing significant foodborne illness. However, current detection methods face limitations in sensitivity and time, which mostly rely on the culture-based detection techniques. Hence, there is an immediate and critical need to enhance early detection, reduce the incidence and impact of Salmonella contamination resulting in outbreaks.

Bone marrow transplant: A two-decade single centre hematology experience.

Background: Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is a curative form of therapy for many hematological disorders in both the adult and pediatric patients. The availability of BMT in the AFMS at AHRR for the last 02 decades has been a game changer for the patients.

Methods: We reviewed our BMT data since the inception of the program till Feb 2023.

Bleeding risk assessment in immune thrombocytopenia.

The bleeding risk in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is related not only to low platelet count but also to the presence of platelet dysfunction. However, diagnosing a concomitant platelet dysfunction is challenging as most of the available platelet function assays (PFAs) require a platelet count of greater than 100,000/μL. Sonoclot coagulation and platelet function analyzer works on the principle of viscoelastometry, and results remain unaffected by the platelet counts.

Role of daratumumab in the frontline management of multiple myeloma: a narrative review.

Introduction: The prevalence of multiple myeloma (MM) has gradually increased over the last few decades in India due to growing population, better disease awareness, and improved diagnostic procedures. Despite such advances, MM remains an incurable and relapsing disease due to its heterogeneity and genomic instability. With the inclusion of monoclonal antibodies, especially daratumumab in the frontline regimen, the management landscape of MM has improved significantly resulting in better disease control and patient outcomes.

Pregnancy and long-term outcomes of female patients with chronic myeloid leukemia on tyrosine kinase inhibitors who experienced unplanned pregnancies.

Purpose: Despite the general recommendation to avoid Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) during pregnancy, unplanned pregnancies still occur, particularly among female patients residing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to investigate the outcomes of pregnancy, foetal development, and disease progression among female CML patients in chronic phase (CML-CP) undergoing TKI therapy who encountered unplanned pregnancies in a tertiary care hospital in northern India.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all pregnancies in female CML-CP between January 2002 and December 2022 at our hospital.

Hematogones: The Supreme Mimicker and a Cytomorphological Confounder in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

 B-lymphocyte progenitors, namely the hematogones (HGs), may pose problems in morphological assessment of bone marrow, not only during the diagnostic workup but also while evaluating bone marrow for remission status following chemotherapy. Here, we describe a series of 12 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that included both B-ALL and T-ALL cases, which were evaluated for remission status and revealed blast-like mononuclear cells in bone marrow in the range of 6 to 26%, which on immunophenotypic analysis turned out to be HGs.  This is a case series of 12 ALL cases who were undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital (Referral and Research), New Delhi.

Hyperviscosity syndrome complicating immunoglobulin G myeloma-Cognisance of early plasmapheresis is crucial.

Hyperviscosity syndrome (HVS) is an infrequent but life-threatening complication of multiple myeloma (MM) and classically presents with the triad of mucosal bleed, neurological, and visual disturbances. HVS is typically associated with immunoglobulin M (IgM) MM and very rarely may complicate immunoglobulin G (IgG) MM. Even suspicion of HVS necessitates therapy based on clinical severity rather than the calculated degree of viscosity.

Correlation of Thrombosis and Clinicohematological Parameters with JAK2V617F Mutation in Philadelphia-Negative CMPNs: A Study from India.

 Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (CMPNs), which include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), are characterized by the presence of JAK2V617F (exon 14) mutation, and this occurs in 90 to 95% cases of PV and 50 to 60% cases of ET and PMF. Still, this is a matter of debate regarding the correlation of this mutation with thrombosis and clinicohematological parameters in CMPNs. So, we conducted this study to ascertain the association of JAK2V617F mutation with thrombotic complications and clinicohematological parameters of these patients.

Absolute Neutrophil Count in Cases of Pancytopenia.

Pancytopenia is a common cause of hematological consultation. Common underlying causes include vitamin deficiency (vitamin B12, folic acid), drugs (hydroxyurea, phenytoin, methotrexate), and bone marrow failure syndrome. Aplastic anemia is one of the rarest hematological diseases and presents as pancytopenia.

Real-world experience of anti-D immunoglobulin in immune thrombocytopenia.

In developing countries, anti-D has been used in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a cheaper alternative to human immunoglobulin. We aim to analyze the response and safety profile of anti-D in patients with severe ITP. A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India.

Hypereosinophilia: a rare cause of stroke and multiorgan dysfunction.

Eosinophilia can occur due to a plethora of allergic, infective, neoplastic and idiopathic conditions. Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterised by sustained eosinophilia and multiorgan dysfunction in the absence of an identifiable cause. It may range from a self-limiting condition to a rapidly progressive life-threatening disorder, of which ischaemic stroke is a rare presentation.

Safety and efficacy of splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by low platelet counts. Splenectomy has been in practice for the treatment of ITP since the early 20th century. We aimed to analyze the data of ITP patients from our hospital who underwent splenectomy and further present the long-term outcome and safety profile in these patients.

Bendamustine in combination with ifosfamide, etoposide, and vinorelbine (VIBE) is an effective salvage regimen for heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: a single-center experience.

Background: This study evaluated the outcomes of patients with refractory/relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (RRHL) treated with a bendamustine-based regimen in combination with ifosfamide, etoposide, and vinorelbine (VIBE).

Methods: Consecutive RRHL patients who were treated with the VIBE regimen were identified and studied for clinicopathologic characteristics, response to VIBE regimen, event-free survival (EFS), and feasibility of an autologous stem-cell transplant (autoSCT).

Results: In total, 24 patients received the VIBE regimen, and a median of 3 cycles were administered.

The clinical profile, management, and outcome of febrile neutropenia in acute myeloid leukemia from resource constraint settings.

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the commonest leukemia in adults. Mortality in thew first 30-days ranges from 6% to 43%, while infections account for 30-66% of early deaths. We aim to present our experience of infections in newly-diagnosed AML.