Survival Outcomes of Patients with Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia in the Era of Proteasome Inhibitors and Immunomodulatory Agents: A Real-Life Multicenter Analysis.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to obtain real-life data on the use of antimyeloma agents, which significantly increase overall survival (OS) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, in primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) patients with poor prognosis.

Materials And Methods: Data from 53 patients who were diagnosed with pPCL between 2011 and 2020 and who used at least one proteasome inhibitor (PI) and/or immunomodulatory (IMID) agent were analyzed retrospectively. Depending on the year of the pPCL diagnosis, 20% leukocytes or ≥2x10/L plasma cells in the peripheral blood was used as a diagnostic criterion.

Anorectal Pathologies in the Course of Acute Leukaemias; Predictive Parameters.

Introduction: Patients with leukaemia are exposed to infections as long as they are neutropenic. During this period, anorectal pathologies are among the common foci of infection with high mortality. In this study, we aim to investigate the factors that may have a predictive effect on early diagnosis and rapid intervention in perianal complications occurring in neutropenic patients diagnosed with leukaemia.

Prognostic Impact of Bone Marrow Fibrosis and Effects of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on Bone Marrow Fibrosis in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Background: Myelofibrosis is reported in around 40% of newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients and have an important role in the pathobiology and prognosis of CML. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effects of bone marrow (BM) fibrosis on disease prognosis and the effects of specific tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on BM fibrosis in CML patients.

Methods: The study included 96 patients (>18 years) diagnosed with chronic phase (CP) CML.

Change in Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titers After Chemotherapy in Patients With Hematological Malignancies.

Background The change in hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) titers after chemotherapy (CT) in patients with hematological malignancy, affecting factors, and its clinical implications have not been sufficiently understood. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the change in anti-HBs titers and hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) after CT. Methods This retrospective study enrolled patients with hematological malignancies who received CT between 2013 and 2021.

Long-term Results of Imatinib Discontinuation in Patients with Chronic-phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A National Multicenter Prospective Study.

Objective: The discovery of imatinib was a milestone for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). As the life expectancy of CML patients has approached that of the general population, research has shifted towards improving quality of life and economic considerations. After 2010, it was shown that some patients could maintain molecular response even after discontinuing imatinib.

Evaluation of Second Primary Cancer Risk Among Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients: Multicenter Study.

Background: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have an increased risk of developing second primary cancers (SPC). The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of SPC in CLL patients and determine the relationship between these cancers and their treatment status, cytogenetic factors, and other risk factors.

Methods: The study was designed as multicenter and retroprospective.

Real-world data on the effectiveness and safety of Ixazomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients: a multicenter experience in Turkey.

A multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted to explore effectiveness and safety of ixazomib plus lenalidomide with dexamethasone (IRd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients following at least ≥ two lines of therapy. Patients' treatment responses, overall response rate, progression-free survival rate, and adverse events were recorded. Mean age of 54 patients was 66.

Comparison of maintenance regimens in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia patients.

Maintenance therapy in APL is still a standard especially in high-risk patients treated with chemotherapy+ATRA combination whereas the role of the maintenance therapy in low-risk patients is controversial. This study aims to compare the efficacy and toxicity of ATRA monotherapy and ATRA+MTX+ 6-MP combination as the maintenance treatment for 2 years in APL patients who achieved molecular complete response after induction and consolidation with ATRA+chemotherapy. A total of 71 patients from 4 different centers were included in this study.

International Forum: The Turkish perspective on apheresis activity: The Turkish apheresis registry report.

Therapeutic apheresis is an extracorporeal treatment that selectively removes abnormal cells or harmful substances in the blood that are associated with or cause certain diseases. During the last decades the application of therapeutic apheresis has expanded to a broad spectrum of hematological and non-hematological diseases due to various studies on the clinical efficacy of this procedure. In this context there are more than 30 centers performing therapeutic apheresis and registered in the apheresis database in Turkey.

Effect of Blood Groups on Clinical Presentations and Treatment Outcomes in Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Patients with Severe ADAMTS13 Deficiency: A Multi-Center Experience.

Introduction: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy caused by accumulation of ultra-large von Willebrand factor (vWF) due to the significantly reduced activity ADAMTS13. Limited studies have been published examining the blood group as an epidemiological factor that can contribute to development of TTP. It has been suggested that due to low vWF levels, the distribution of the "O" blood group among TTP patients may be lower than anticipated compared to the blood group distribution rates in the normal population.

Serum thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels and its relation with pathogenesis and bleeding and prognosis in patients with Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral hemorrhagic fever, which is common in Turkey and globally. The pathogenesis of coagulation disorders, which is seen in viral hemorrhagic fevers remains to be elucidated. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) has a key role in this process In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether TAFI levels contributed to bleeding and whether it is related to prognosis in CCHF patients.

A rare case of pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis complicated with venous thrombosis.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) is Epstein-Barr virus associated and aggressive B cell lymphoproliferative disease. The most common sites of involvement are lungs, skin, kidneys, liver and central nervous system. The clinical presentation of pulmonary LG may mimic infectious diseases, malignancies or vasculitis.

The outcome of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the malignancy-related clinical course and overall survival, and to determine the factors affecting mortality.

Methods: This retrospective study included 77 patients with hematological cancer and COVID-19. Patients were sub-grouped for analysis as survivors and non-survivors.

Vitreous hemorrhage: A rare ophthalmic adverse effect due to imatinib treatment.

Introduction: Imatinib is generally well tolerated by patients. The most common ophthalmic side effects are eyelid edema and periorbital edema. Other side effects which occur at rates of <1% include blepharitis, blurred vision, conjunctival hemorrhage, conjunctivitis, retinal hemorrhage, etc.

Pralatrexate experience in PTCL: A multicenter retrospective study from Turkey.

Purpose: Pralatrexate is a new generation antifolate treatment agent used for the treatment of relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphomas. This study aims to determine the general characteristics of the patients receiving pralatrexate therapy in Turkey, contributing to the literature on the effectiveness of pralatrexate therapy in peripheral T-cell lymphomas by determining the response levels of such patients to the therapy. The study also attempts to clinically examine the major side effects observed in patients during treatment with pralatrexate.

Efficacy and safety of plasmapheresis in symptomatic hyperviscosity and cast nephropathy: A Multicenter Experience in Turkey.

Background And Objectives: Cast nephropathy (CN) and hyperviscosity (HV), which we encounter in plasma cell diseases, are serious clinical manifestations that increase mortality and morbidity if not managed well in the early period. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) procedures based on the removal of patient plasma is a frequently preferred treatment modality. TPE is recommended at varying levels of evidence for the treatment of CN and HV in plasma cell disorders.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to ruxolitinib treatment: A rare adverse effect.

What Is Known And Objective: Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is characterized by myeloid cell proliferation and prominent bone marrow fibrosis. Ruxolitinib, a selective inhibitor of JAK 1 and 2, significantly reduces constitutional symptoms and spleen size compared with placebo, and has significant clinical benefits in patients with myelofibrosis. The most common haematological side effects are thrombocytopenia and anaemia, and the most common non-haematological side effects are grade 1-2 diarrhoea and pyrexia.

Brentuximab vedotin consolidation therapy after autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma: Multicenter retrospective study.

The AETHERA trial reported an increased progression-free survival (PFS) when brentuximab vedotin (BV) was used as maintenance therapy in high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Thus, we aimed to determine the impact and safety of BV as maintenance after ASCT in real-world patients. Seventy-five patients with relapsed/refractory HL started on BV consolidation therapy after ASCT due to high risk of relapse, between January 2016 and July 2019, from 25 institutions, were included in the study.

Association of Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Background:  Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) inhibits fibrinolysis and high levels may have an association with thrombosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of TAFI antigen levels with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

Patients And Methods:  A case-control study was conducted with 29 patients with PTE and 17 age- and gender-matched control individuals.

Mean platelet volume is a predictive and prognostic marker for patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a two-center retrospective analysis.

There are only a few predictive markers that can truly aid therapy decisions in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The current study aimed to examine the impact of easily available common laboratory parameters on the course and prognosis of patients with AML. Gender, initial bone marrow blast percentage, mean platelet volume (MPV), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, treatment regimen, and complete remission (CR1) were found to have a statistically significant effect on both OS and PFS ( < 0.

Hypercalcemia associated with the interaction between all trans retinoic acid and posaconazole in an acute promyelocytic leukemia case.

Introduction: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a physiological metabolite of vitamin A and it is used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Hypercalcemia is a rare side effect of ATRA and it may be potentiated after interaction of ATRA with azole group antifungals. Herein, we have reported an APL case with hypercalcemia that is caused by the interaction of ATRA and posaconazole.

Synchronous detection of multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Introduction: Synchronous detection of multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia in a single patient is a rare coincidence. Treatment of these patients is still unclear, mostly based on acute myeloid leukemia strategies combined with bortezomib.

Case Report: A 72-year-old male with no medical history was investigated for pancytopenia.

A Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma Presented as Refractory Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) can be observed as a paraneoplastic syndrome (PS) in certain tumors. MAHA-related signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of an unknown origin is very infrequent. Herein we present a SRCC case presented with refractory acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).