Single Apheresis Session on the 4th Day of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Administration Seems Convenient to Collect Enough Peripheral Blood Stem Cells from Healthy Donors.

Background: To minimize adverse events of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection in healthy donors, it is reasonable to limit the total dose of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and/or the number of apheresis days without decreasing of PBSCs yield. Therefore, we have started to collect G-CSF induced PBSCs on day 4 instead of on day 5. So, we retrospectively aimed to investigate the results of this 4-day G-CSF administration.

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.

A new scoring system to predict survival in elderly advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Predictive prognostic scoring (PS) systems are not primarily applicable to elderly patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The objective of this study was to develop a PS system for these patients. The derivation cohort (DC) was utilized for model development, consisting of 97 variables.

Efficacy and Reliability of T-Cell-Depleted Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation in Hematologic Disorders: A Retrospective Study.

Background: A promising recent strategy for haploidentical transplantation is the depletion of T lymphocytes based on the selective elimination of T cells by manipulation, which enables a very low incidence of nonrelapse mortality and graft-vs-host disease. It is more expensive than conventional unmanipulated methods and requires dedicated transplant centers and sufficient stem cell processing facilities. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relapse, survival, and clinical data of the patients and to analyze the outcomes of the technique.

Lower Body Mass Index and Prognostic Nutritional Index Are Associated with Poor Posttransplant Outcomes in Lymphoma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.

Introduction: Pretransplant inflammatory and nutritional status has not been widely explored in terms of its impact on autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) outcomes in lymphoma patients. We aimed to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) on auto-HSCT outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 87 consecutive lymphoma patients who underwent their first auto-HSCT at the Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit at Akdeniz University Hospital.

Unmet clinical needs and challenges in the management of acute leukemia in Turkey: a modified Delphi study.

To determine the unmet needs and challenges in management, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and patient-physician communication in acute leukemia (AL). The study was based on a modified Delphi approach. A questionnaire including the major potential obstacles was circulated twice among 13 hematologists.

A survey evaluating hematology physicians’ perspectives on central nervous system prophylaxis.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) prophylactic options for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are administered differently in most centers. Unfortunately, there is still not a consensus on which patients, which regimen, for how many cycles, and when prophylaxis should be administered. Thus, this remains an unmet clinical need.

Polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, and bendamustine combination in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a real-world data from Turkey.

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) is a promising option for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We analyzed the data of 71 R/R DLBCL patients who had been treated with Pola-BR in the named patient program from March 2018 to April 2021 from 32 centers in Turkey. All patients received up to six cycles of Pola 1.

The Prognostic Impact of Pretreatment Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

The prognostic value of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is not clear in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study was designed to analyze the GNRI in DLBCL patients and to investigate its prognostic value in DLBCL. The archive records of DLBCL patients between 2008 and 2020 at the Akdeniz University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

The effect of comorbidities on the choice of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) approved for chronic myeloid leukemia known to have similar efficacies but different safety profiles. Therefore, the choice of patient-specific treatments is driven by factors such as tolerability and adverse event profile of TKIs. This review article examines the most up-to-date data and provides practical recommendations for clinical approaches.

Long-Term Complete Clinical and Hematological Response With Bortezomib: The Report of a Case With TEM(P)I Syndrome and a Review of the Literature.

TEMPI syndrome was first defined in 2011 and classified as a plasma cell neoplasm with associated paraneoplastic syndrome in 2016. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is not well understood. Recognition of a combination of telangiectasia, erythrocytosis with a high erythropoietin level, monoclonal gammopathy, perinephric fluid collection, and intrapulmonary shunt is the first step in managing the disease.

Papilledema and idiopathic intracranial hypertension due to the possible potentiation of ATRA by posaconazole in a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Introduction: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) (pseudotumor cerebri) is a rare side effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). IIH cases have been observed after the concomitant use of ATRA with azole group antimicrobials such as fluconazole and voriconazole. Here, we discuss about the diagnosis and treatment process of the IIH emerging in a young acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) case with the ATRA impact, which can be increased by posaconazole.

Outcomes of stem cell mobilization and engraftment in patients with multiple myeloma according to CD56 expression status.

Background: The molecular mechanism underlying the mobilization and engraftment of CD34+ cells is poorly understood. The most relevant factors in the regulation of stem cell release and engraftment include chemokines, adhesion molecules, and chemokine receptors. Previously, it was suggested that the absence of CD56 expression could be used as a predictive factor for mobilization failure at the time of diagnosis.

Recurrent arthritis as an unexpected side effect associated with azacitidine in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Introduction: Hypomethylating agents have confirmed efficacy for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia and are widely used. Although arthralgia is common side effect associated with hypomethylating agents, arthritis has not been reported previously.

Case Report: We present the first recorded patient with arthritis after azacitidine treatment.

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.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria with or without Aplastic Anemia: A Multicenter Turkish Experience.

Objective: Although inhibition of the complement system at different steps is a promising therapy modality in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is still the only curative therapy, especially for patients with intractable hemolysis or bone marrow failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of allogeneic HCT in PNH patients with aplastic anemia (PNH-AA) or without.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five PNH/PNH-AA patients who were treated with allogeneic HCT in 10 transplantation centers in Turkey were retrospectively analyzed.

Publishing in Hematology Journals: A Scientometric and Economic Evaluation.

Introduction: Herein, we aimed to compare the scientometric data of hematology journals, and compare the publication models, especially the scientometric data of journals with all-open access (OA) and hybrid-OA publication models.

Methods: Data were obtained from Scimago Journal & Country Rank and Clarivate Analytics InCites websites. Fifty-four journals indexed in Science Citation Index (SCI) and SCI-Expanded were evaluated.

Prognostic impact of the psoas muscle index, a parameter of sarcopenia, in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy.

Muscle mass, defined as the psoas muscle index (PMI), is an important parameter of sarcopenia and it has been shown to be a prognostic factor of non-hematological cancers. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of sarcopenia defined using PMI measurement in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP. We retrospectively investigated the impact of pretreatment PMI on survival and response to treatment.

Study for the Diagnostic Screening of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria in Older Patients with Unexplained Anemia and/or Cytopenia.

Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare acquired hematopoietic stem cell disease that may lead to weakness and death of patients, if unrecognized and untreated. Although consensus guidelines were reviewed recently for the diagnostic screening of PNH with multi-parameter flow cytometry (FCM), until now, no study has investigated the efficiency of such clinical indications in older patients.

Methods: Overall, 20 centers participated in the study and a total of 1,689 patients were included, 313 of whom were at geriatric age and 1,376 were aged 18 - 64 years.

Conventional Cytogenetics and Interphase Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Results in Multiple Myeloma: A Turkey Laboratory Analysis of 381 Cases.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an uncontrolled proliferation of plasma cells and these cells play an important role in the immune system. In this research, we retrospectively analyzed cytogenetic abnormalities in 381 patients with MM. Conventional cytogenetic analysis was successful in 354 patients (92.

Evaluation of Commercially Available Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Haematological Malignancies.

Early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a challenge. Non-specific clinical and radiologic findings, as well as difficulties in conventional diagnostic method application, may delay correct diagnosis. Nowadays, nucleic acid-based assays have reduced the need for conventional antigen detection and culture-based methods and provided new opportunities for patient care.

Comparison of Various Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization Regimens in Patients with Lymphoma and Myeloma.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cyclophosphamide-based (CB) and platinum-based (PB) chemotherapy regimens for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and the less well-known IEV (iphosphamide, epirubicin, etoposide) regimen in terms of stem cell harvesting competence, factors affecting stem cell com-petence, and toxicity.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation was made of 203 patients (94 MM, 37 HL, and 72 NHL) with peripheral blood stem cell mobilization in different chemotherapy regimens between 2000 and 2010 at the Department of He-matology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University.

Results: There were no differences between CB or PB mobilization regimens and IEV chemotherapy schema in terms of sufficiency of peripheral stem cell harvest, which was predefined as the collected number of peripheral stem cells ≥ 3 x 106/kg for single hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and ≥ 5 x 106/kg for tandem HSCT.

Study for the diagnostic screening of paroxsymal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Turkey: Prospective multicentric evaluation of suspected patients.

Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease presenting with variable and various clinical findings. PNH might be overlooked and diagnosis may be delayed due to low awareness about PNH. This is the first multicenter study in Turkey, investigating the efficiency of diagnostic screening of PNH by multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) according to consensus guidelines.

A Multi-Center Study on the Efficacy of Eltrombopag in Management of Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Real-Life Experience.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Materials And Methods: A total of 285 chronic ITP patients (187 women, 65.6%; 98 men, 34.