Red blood cell support and alloimmunization rate against erythrocyte antigens in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We retrospectively analyzed red blood cell (RBC) support and alloimmunization rate in 218 consecutive patients - 128 from the Pediatric Department and 90 from the adult Hematology Department - undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) between 1994 and 2000. In the pre-HSCT period, the pediatric patients undergoing auto-HSCT required more RBC support. In the post-HSCT period, pediatric patients transplanted with an unrelated donor required more RBC support (median 13.

Factors predicting response to splenectomy in adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Background And Objectives: Splenectomy is the treatment of choice in the majority of patients affected by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to corticosteroid therapy, but it is not free from early and late complications. As the available literature does not seem to contain any precise indications concerning possible factors predicting the response to splenectomy, the aim of this retrospective study of 65 splenectomized patients was to attempt to identify potentially predictive clinical or laboratory parameters.

Design And Methods: For the purposes of statistical analysis, the patients were divided into two groups: the first included those with a complete (platelets > 100x10(9)/L) or partial response (platelets 50-100 x10(9)/L) to splenectomy; the second, the non-responders (platelets < 50x10(9)/L).

Prognostic significance of bone marrow biopsy in essential thrombocythemia.

Background And Objective: The diagnostic and prognostic value of bone marrow biopsy (BMB) has been widely investigated in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD). The present study is based on a review of the results of routine BMBs taken from 93 essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients at the time of diagnosis.

Design And Methods: The common BMB histologic parameters and clinico-hematologic variables were considered for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.

Laparoscopic resection of a mesenteric cyst.

Mesenteric cysts are rare intra-abdominal tumors with an incidence around one case per 100,000 hospital admissions. The clinical presentation is variable; patients may be asymptomatic or present with either acute or chronic abdominal pain. Physical examination commonly demonstrates a smooth, round and mobile abdominal mass.

Early cutaneous lesions secondary to hydroxyurea therapy.

Hydroxyurea is a usually well-tolerated cytostatic agent, but its side effects include cutaneous lesions that appear after several years of maintenance therapy with hydroxyurea. The reported incidence of such adverse reactions varies from 10 to 35%; in our Center it is 2%. We describe a patient with essential thrombocythemia who presented with ulcers of the hands only 15 days after hydroxyurea treatment.