Treatment of prolonged chemotherapy induced severe thrombocytopenia with recombinant human interleukin-3--a report on four cases.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is a multipotent hematopoietic growth factor, which exhibits stimulatory effects on leucocytes, reticulocytes and platelets. Due to its pronounced induction of megakaryopoiesis, IL-3 is thought to be a cytokine with the potential to prevent and to overcome chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. We report on four cases (two of metastatic breast cancer, one of metastatic ovarian cancer and one of Hodgkin's disease) with prolonged chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in whom rhIL-3 in combination with either recombinant human (rh) granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or rh granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL) and Immunocytoma (LP-IC): Clinical and Prognostic Relevance of this Distinction.

The Kiel classification of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) has established chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and immunocytoma (LP-IC) as separate entities of low-grade malignant NHL by morphological and immunohistochemical criteria. The clinical and prognostic relevance of this discrimination was evaluated in a prospective multicenter observation study by the Kiel Lymphoma Study Group. From 1975 to 1980, 430 previously untreated patients with B-CLL (n = 217) and LP-IC (n = 213)a were recruited and followed for up to 14 years.

[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (Moschcowitz syndrome) in a patient with EPH gestosis. The pathophysiologic principle of HELLP syndrome? On the question of the identity of the HELLP syndrome with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura].

Case history of a patient is reported who developed signs of preeclampsia in 28th week of her first gravidity. Within one day severe haemolysis and diffuse haemorrhage occurred and an emergency section was performed. Subsequently, supported respiration became necessary because of diffuse infiltrations of the lung.

[Results with the use of the M-2 protocol in plasmacytoma].

99 patients with multiple myeloma were treated over a period of 6 1/2 years; 62 of these were initially treated with vincristine, carmustine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan and prednisone: M 2-Protocol. Response to this therapy was assessed after three therapy cycles had been completed, which had been given at intervals of 5-6 weeks. In patients responding to the therapy, treatment was continued until a maximum regression of the paraproteins was achieved.

Subtypes of T-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia.

Thirteen cases of T-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (T-CLL) (including T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia) are presented. Five subtypes were distinguished according to morphologic and functional parameters of the leukemic cells: prolymphocytic; lymphocytic, small; lymphocytic, Sézary-like; lymphocytic, abundant cytoplasm; lymphocytic, abundant cytoplasm and granules. The subtype can be recognized by light and by electron microscopic investigation.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a proliferative or accumulative disorder?

In two untreated patients with progressive CLL, quantitative 14C autoradiography of lymph nodes and, subsequently, continuous infusion of [3H] thymidine over eight and nine days, respectively, were performed in order to analyse the lymph node cell kinetics. Simultaneously, the turnover of labelled lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was evaluated. From another CLL patient a regional lymph node was removed 6 h after an intralymphatic flash injection of [3H] thymidine and sectioned for autoradiographic study of the distribution of labelled cells within the lymph node tissue.

Prognostic significance of lymphocyte density distribution profiles in adult non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Biopsy material from 24 adults with advanced stages of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) were examined for the distribution profiles of infiltrating cells following centrifugation to equilibrium on linear density gradients. Seven of these biopsies were predominantly composed of cells with high buoyant densities and 9 further biopsies predominantly of cells with intermediate buoyant densities. Both patterns were associated with favorable histologic features and with low proliferation of lymphoma cells.

[Density distribution of human lymphocytes. II. Distribution patterns of malignant lymphocytes and their prognostic significance in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of density distribution profiles in non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Density profiles were evaluated by equilibrium centrifugation on linear polysucrose-metrizoat gradients. Biopsy cells from 44 untreated non-Hodgkin lymphomas in advanced stages according to their density patterns could be classified into one of two distinct groups: Group A lymphomas exhibited high to intermediate densities and resembled normal resting B or T lymphocytes; they showed low spontaneous proliferation and favourable histologies.

Treatment of non-hodgkin's lymphoma of low-grade malignancy with human fibroblast interferon.

10 patients with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of low malignancy were treated with partially purified HulFN-beta. They received daily i.v.

[Clinical course of hairy cell leukemias].

When analyzing 20 cases of hairy-cell leukosis we can compare a group with a medium survival time (16 months since clinical beginning of the illness) to a group with a long survival time (80 months). Patients (historically older) with short survival times are characterized by a combination of short anamnestic dormancy, younger age, severe symptoms and the applying of a steroid and cytostatic therapy instead of splenectomy. Prevalent causes of death were infections which seemed to increase by cytostasis.

Lymphoplasmacytic/lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma: a clinical entity distinct from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?

Clinical data of 116 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and of 114 patients with lymphoplasmacytic/lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma (synonym: LP immunocytoma, IC) as diagnosed according to the Kiel classification were compared. This interim evaluation of a prospective multicenter study of the Kiel Lymphoma Study Group characterizes IC the less favorable lymphoma entity as evidenced by a more rapid lymph node enlargement, by a higher incidence of constitutional symptoms and of marked anaemia, and by a higher percentage of patients requiring early treatment. In addition, in IC autoimmune haemolytic anaemia was detected in 11.