Autologous stem cell transplantation improves quality of life in economically challenged, Brazilian multiple myeloma patients.

Objectives: 1) To characterize the impact of multiple myeloma on the quality of life of patients treated in two public institutions in São Paulo State, Brazil, using a generic Short Form 36 Health Survey and a questionnaire specific for oncologic patients (QLQ-C30) upon diagnosis, after the clinical treatment, and at day +100 after autologous stem cell transplantation; 2) to evaluate whether autologous stem cell transplantation can improve the quality of life of our economically challenged population aside from providing a clinical benefit and disease control.

Methods: We evaluated 49 patients with multiple myeloma (a total of 70 interviews) using the two questionnaires. The scores upon diagnosis, post-treatment/pre-autologous stem cell transplantation, and at D+100 were compared using ANOVA (a comparison of the three groups), post hoc tests (two-by-two comparisons of the three groups), and paired t-tests (the same case at two different times).

Is the follicular lymphoma international prognostic index better than the international prognostic index to identify high-risk follicular lymphoma patients?

The aims of this study are to validate follicular lymphoma international prognostic index (FLIPI) prognostic score and to compare it with the international prognostic index (IPI) in a cohort of 57 Brazilian patients. According to IPI, 24 patients (42%) were in the low-risk, 28 (49%) in the intermediate-risk, and 4 (7%) in the high-risk group. The distribution according to FLIPI was: 20 (35%) in the low-risk, 8 (14%) in the intermediate-risk, and 29 (51%) in the high-risk group.