Antimicrobial management in patients undergoing therapeutic plasma exchange: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Survey.

There is little evidence of antimicrobial elimination via therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and no guidelines for antimicrobial optimal dosing in patients undergoing TPE. We aimed to assess current practices and knowledge regarding antimicrobial management during TPE. A structured online survey was conducted from May to November 2023, and physicians were invited to participate through national scientific platforms and professional societies.

Examination of drug removal profiles in patients undergoing therapeutic plasma exchange: A retrospective study.

Introduction: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) eliminates disease-contributing substances but may also affect drug concentrations. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of prescription drugs removable via TPE by reviewing patient medication histories.

Methods: A retrospective, single-center study was conducted from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.

Hemoglobin cast nephropathy: a rare but serious complication of hemolysis in a pediatric patient.

Background: Intravascular hemolysis is a serious and rare condition in children and causes the release of hemoglobin and heme into circulation, which have proinflammatory properties. These substances lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and organelle dysfunction that lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). We report a pediatric case diagnosed with hemolysis-associated hemoglobin cast nephropathy due to autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Hypophosphatemia related to the use of ibrutinib.

Introduction: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKis) and Bruton's TKi (BTKis) constitute broadly used antitumor drug groups with almost completely tolerable and manageable side-effect profiles. Mainly side effects are cardiovascular and gastrointestinal for the TKi group. Hypophosphatemia is documented frequently in many studies with TKis but rarely mentioned with ibrutinib use up to the present.

A single-center experience of haploidentical stem cell transplantation in hematological malignancies.

Background: Since well-designed prospective comparative trials are lacking, haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantations approach should be based on the expertise of a particular center. In this study, we aimed to report the results and outcomes of patients who underwent haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Methods: : Thirty-nine patients who underwent transplantation in our clinic between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.

Efficacy of eltrombopag in thrombocytopenia after hematopoietic stem celltransplantation.

Background: Thrombocytopenia is a common complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Eltrombopag has been used in thrombocytopenia treatment after HSCT in recent years. Herein, we present our experience of 25 patients treated with eltrombopag for post-HSCT thrombocytopenia.

Prophylactic Central Nervous System Irradiation Is Not Indispensable in Adult Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Studies comparing the efficacy and safety of prophylactic regimens for central nervous system (CNS) involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are scarce in adults. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of prophylactic regimens with and without CNS irradiation on the development of CNS relapse during follow-up.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicenter comparative cohort study.

Platelet-rich plasma treatment improves postoperative recovery in patients with pilonidal sinus disease: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Pilonidal sinus is a common health problem. The current study aimed to compare the impact of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with that of minimally invasive techniques in terms of pain reduction, return to daily activities, quality of life, and duration of wound healing after open excision and secondary closure.

Methods: Patients who were over 18 years old and had chronic PS disease between March 2018 and January 2019 were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Improves Disease-Free Survival Compared to Pediatric-Inspired Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Chemotherapy in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malign disease with poor prognosis in adults. After remission is achieved by induction therapy, administration of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (AHSCT) is one of the standard treatment in adult ALL patients. Pediatric-inspired chemotherapy has been demonstrated to improve outcomes of adult ALL.

Long-term results of allogeneic peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia.

Objective: Aplastic anemia (AA) is a life-threatening disorder and may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality Currently, the first treatment option is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) for patients younger than 40 years. Bone marrow is recommended as the stem cell source due to less graft versus host disease (GVHD) risk and better outcomes than peripheral blood (PB)-derived stem cell. The aim of this study is to share the data of AA patients who have underwent PB-derived allo-HSCT in our bone marrow transplantation center.

Regulatory consideration on preparation and clinical use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), spreading from Wuhan to worldwide has been emerged since December 2019. Although scientists and researchers have been racing to develop specific therapeutic agents or vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 since the identification of the agent, either a drug or a vaccine has not been approved to treat or to prevent COVID-19 up to date. On the base of historical experiences, Convalescent Plasma (CP), a passive antibody therapy, has been evaluated as a hopeful and potential therapeutic option since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cell dose as a predictor of engraftment and survival in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation.

Background/aim: High-dose melphalan and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is the standard treatment strategy for multiple myeloma (MM) patients who are eligible for it. The recommended dose of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) for adequate engraftment is above 2 × 106/kg. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the dose of CD34+HPCs and survival in MM patients who underwent AHSCT at a tertiary care center.

The effects of blood group types on the risk of COVID-19 infection and its clinical outcome.

Background/aim: COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease of 2019) is an infectious disease outbreak later on declared as a pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2). It spreads very rapidly and can result in severe acute respiratory failure. The clinical studies have shown that advanced age and chronic diseases increase the risk of infection.

Convalescent (immune) plasma treatment in a myelodysplastic COVID-19 patient with disseminated tuberculosis.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus of which evidence-based medical paradigms cannot be easily applied; difficult clinical decisions shall be required particularly in the 'difficult-to-treat' cases of high risk group with associated comorbidities. Convalescent immune plasma therapy is a promising option as a sort of 'rescue' treatment in COVID-19 immune syndrome, where miraculous antiviral drugs are not available yet. In this report, we aim to convey our experience of multi-task treatment approach with convalescent immune plasma and anti-cytokine drug combination in a COVID-19 patient with extremely challenging comorbidities including active myeloid malignancy, disseminated tuberculosis and kidney failure.

Mental status and physical activity in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: A subgroup analysis of a nationwide survey (A-HIT1 registry).

Background: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening disease due to high serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol-lowering interventions are fundamental for patients with HoFH.

Objective: It was aimed to investigate the association between the mental status of patients with HoFH and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Unclassifiable non-CML classical myeloproliferative diseases with microcytosis: findings indicating diagnosis of polycythemia vera masked by iron deficiency.

Background/aim: Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by overproduction of morphologically normal red blood cells (RBCs), granulocytes, and platelets, a phenotype that is caused by a mutation (V617F) in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2). However, JAK2 V617F is also found in approximately 50% of patients with essential thrombocytosis and primary myelofibrosis, rendering its presence nonspecific as a diagnostic test. An increased red cell mass is a major criterion for the diagnosis of PV according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 criteria.

Mitoxantrone-melphalan conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed/refractory lymphoma.

Background/aim: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has become the standard approach for patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). In this study, we report the outcome of the mitoxantrone-melphalan conditioning regimen for lymphoma.

Materials And Methods: The study group included 53 patients who were relapsed/refractory HL (n = 14) and NHL (n = 39) and received mitoxantrone and melphalan followed by ASCT.

The Turkish experience with therapeutic plasma exchange: A national survey.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is used to treat more than 60 diseases worldwide and has drawn growing interest. Little is known about the current situation of TPE activity in Turkey, so we developed a survey to obtain information about this timely topic. We collected data on TPE from 28 apheresis units throughout Turkey.

Clinical management, psychosocial characteristics, and quality of life in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia undergoing LDL-apheresis in Turkey: Results of a nationwide survey (A-HIT1 registry).

Background: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening inherited disease leading to early-onset atherosclerosis and associated morbidity. Because of its rarity, longitudinal data on the management of HoFH in the real world are lacking, particularly on the impact the condition has on quality of life (QoL), including the impact of the extracorporeal lipid removal procedure apheresis (LA).

Methods: The A-HIT1 study included 88 patients with HoFH aged ≥12 years receiving regular LA in 19 centers in Turkey.

What have we learned from Turkish familial hypercholesterolemia registries (A-HIT1 and A-HIT2)?

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic disease of high-level cholesterol leading to premature atherosclerosis. One of the key aspects to overcome FH burden is the generation of large-scale reliable data in terms of registries. This manuscript underlines the important results of nation-wide Turkish FH registries (A-HIT1 and A-HIT2).

Therapeutic plasma exchange for refractory SLE: A comparison of outcomes between different sub-phenotypes.

Objective: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) offers an alternative therapeutic modality for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, there is conflicting evidence regarding its efficacy in different sub-phenotypes. This study aimed to investigate the main clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with different phenotypes of SLE and APS treated with TPE at a tertiary care center.

A multicenter experience of thrombotic microangiopathies in Turkey: The Turkish Hematology Research and Education Group (ThREG)-TMA01 study.

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) are rare, but life-threatening disorders characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia (MAHAT) associated with multiorgan dysfunction as a result of microvascular thrombosis and tissue ischemia. The differentiation of the etiology is of utmost importance as the pathophysiological basis will dictate the choice of appropriate treatment. We retrospectively evaluated 154 (99 females and 55 males) patients who received therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) due to a presumptive diagnosis of TMA, who had serum ADAMTS13 activity/anti-ADAMTS13 antibody analysis at the time of hospital admission.

A nation-wide survey of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia phenotype undergoing LDL-apheresis in Turkey (A-HIT 1 registry).

Background And Aims: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a genetic condition characterized by lethally high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth, and requires rapid and aggressive intervention to prevent death due to coronary heart disease and/or atherosclerosis. Where available, lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is the mainstay of treatment to promote survival.

Methods: A-HIT1 registry was conducted with the aim of providing insight to the real-life management of HoFH patients undergoing LA in Turkey, where LA procedures are fully reimbursed and widely available.

Leukapheresis do not improve early death rates in acute myeloid leukemia patients with hyperleukocytosis.

Hyperleukocytosis (HL) is defined as the clinical condition when the white blood cell (WBC) count is above 100,000/mm in peripheral blood. It has been already shown in the literature that leukapheresis, a conventional technique to decrease the serum WBC level, is ineffective for long-term survival in cases of hyperleukocytotic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with leukostasis. However, the effect of leukapheresis on early mortality is still unclear.