Treatment outcome and prognostic factors in PCNSL.

Objectives: Standard treatment with a thiotepa-based regimen in countries with a limited resource is less feasible. Aims of the study were to evaluate the treatment outcome, and identify the prognostic factors in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 43 patients diagnosed with PCNSL, DLBCL subtype, who were treated with either HDMTX-based regimen, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), or both between 2010 and 2017.

Hydroxyurea and colonic ulcers: a case report.

Background: Hydroxyurea at a relatively low dose is frequently prescribed to induce hemoglobin F production in patients with sickle cell and β-thalassemia diseases because of its good efficacy and safety profiles. However, a potentially fatal gastrointestinal ulceration was recently found and herein reported.

Case Presentation: A thirty-seven-year-old man with transfusion dependent hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia disease was treated with hydroxyurea to induce hemoglobin F production since 2007 without incident.

Intravascular hemolysis, vascular endothelial cell activation and thrombophilia in splenectomized patients with hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia disease.

The relationship between asplenia and thrombophilia in β-thalassemia disease patients is not yet completely understood. One hundred and ten adult hemoglobin (Hb) E/β-thalassemia (E/β-Thal) disease outpatients, dichotomized according to the presence or absence of the spleen, were prospectively studied for evidence of intravascular hemolysis (IVH) and vascular endothelial cell (EC) activation. Biomarkers of IVH (serum cell-free Hb), EC [soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1)], platelet and EC [soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin)], inflammation [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)], and coagulation [thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT)] activation, as well as other selected blood tests were determined.

Prevalence and risk factors for pulmonary hypertension in patients with hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia disease.

Objectives: To find the prevalence and risk factors of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in adult patients with hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia disease (E/β-Thal).

Methods: One hundred and ten clinically stable E/β-Thal outpatients, sixty-one of whom had undergone splenectomy, were prospectively studied using their clinical profiles, selected blood tests, chest roentgenogram, and transthoracic echocardiogram. Based on the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) values estimated by the echocardiogram of ≥36 mmHg, they were dichotomized into those with (PHT+) and without (PHT-) PHT.

Activation of mononuclear phagocytes and its relationship to asplenia and phosphatidylserine exposing red blood cells in hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia patients.

Aged or abnormal red blood cells with exposed phosphatidylserine (PSRBCs) are cleared from the circulation by splenic macrophages. In asplenic patients, other mononuclear phagocytic cells in tissues and in circulation may function in this capacity. To better understand these changes and the relationship among splenic status, PS-RBCs, blood monocytes, and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), a product of mononuclear phagocyte activation, patients with hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia (E/β-Thal) were studied.

Treatment outcome of thalidomide based regimens in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory non-transplant multiple myeloma patients: a single center experience from Thailand.

Background: Thalidomide based regimen is an effective and well tolerated therapy in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, however, there were a small number of studies written about the results of thalidomide therapy in non-transplant MM patients. We therefore conducted a retrospective study of 42 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory MM treated with thalidomide- based induction regimens followed by thalidomide maintenance therapy.

Results: Induction regimens with thalidomide and dexamethasone, and the oral combination of melphalan, prednisolone and thalidomide were administrated in 22 and 16 patients, respectively.

Long-term outcomes of de novo acute myeloid leukemia in Thai patients.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the heterogeneous disease. As per previous reports, there are some differences in clinical features and cytogenetic biomarkers of AML among different ethnic backgrounds. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to analyze clinical outcomes and predictive factors of Thai AML patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Successful treatment of acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin with antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin.

Four patients with acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura, who had failed corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and cyclophosphamide therapy, were treated with antithymocyte globulin, followed by cyclosporin. Three patients achieved complete remission in 28-178 days and the response duration was 16-60 months from the beginning of treatment. One patient achieved a partial response for 2 months followed by myelodysplastic syndrome 5 months later.

Risk factors of venous thromboembolism in thai patients.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been reported to be less common among Thais than Caucasians. Whether this observation reflects genetic or environmental factors, or both, is uncertain. To identify genetic and acquired risk factors of Thai patients with VTE, we enrolled in the study 105 consecutive Thai patients (34 men, 71 women) who had an objectively confirmed history of VTE.

Hemostatic and thrombotic markers in patients with hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia disease.

Increased frequency of thrombosis has been observed in patients with hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia (Hb E/beta-thal) disease, particularly those who have previously been splenectomized. We compared various hemostatic and thrombotic markers in blood from 15 Hb E/beta-thal patients who were not splenectomized (NS), 15 who had been splenectomized (S), and 15 normal controls (NC). Levels of plasma thrombin-antithrombin, beta2 thromboglobulin, C-reactive protein, tissue plasminogen activator antigen were significantly higher in the S group than in either the NS or the NC groups, and levels of prothrombin fragment 1.

Hematopoietic features and apoptosis in the bone marrow of severe Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients: preliminary study.

The mechanism of anemia in severe falciparum malaria is still not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to determine whether apoptosis in the erythroid lineage causes anemia in falciparum malaria. Bone marrow aspirated from 8 severe falciparum malaria patients, 3 normal volunteers and 5 retrospective normal bone marrow smears were investigated.

Correction of hypercoagulability and amelioration of pulmonary arterial hypertension by chronic blood transfusion in an asplenic hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia patient.

Chronic transfusion of packed red blood cells, in addition to other ongoing treatment with warfarin, acetyl salicylic acid, desferrioxamine, and other supportive measures, was given to a splenectomized hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia woman with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PHT). Serial measurements of plasma thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) levels and right-sided cardiac catheterization were used to monitor changes after treatment. Reduction of plasma TAT levels from 7.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in previously splenectomized patients with beta-thalassemic disorders.

Our aim was to study the cause and describe the clinical features of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PHT) in splenectomized beta-thalassemia (beta-Thal) patients. Ten splenectomized beta-Thal patients with systolic pulmonary artery (PA) pressure >30 mm Hg were evaluated by echocardiography, right-heart catheterization, and pulmonary angiography. Five of these patients later underwent hemodynamic studies.

In vivo platelet activation and hyperaggregation in hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia: a consequence of splenectomy.

Patients with hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia (E/beta-Thal) who have undergone splenectomy are prone to thrombosis in the small pulmonary arteries. To study the role of platelets in this situation, we assayed plasma beta2-thromboglobulin (betaTG) and performed whole blood platelet aggregation analysis of 30 E/beta-Thal patients, half of whom had undergone splenectomy. We compared results with those obtained with 15 healthy control subjects.

Relationship between hypercoagulable state and erythrocyte phosphatidylserine exposure in splenectomized haemoglobin E/beta-thalassaemic patients.

Small pulmonary arterial thromboses can occur following splenectomy of patients with haemoglobin E/beta-thalassaemia (Hb E/beta-thal). We compared plasma markers of coagulation activation in vivo and red blood cell (RBC) markers of procoagulant activity in 15 Hb E/beta-thal patients who were not splenectomized (NS), 15 who had been splenectomized (S), and 15 normal controls (NC). Levels of plasma thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) were significantly higher in the S group than in either the NS or the NC groups, and levels of prothrombin fragment 1.