We compared three consolidation regimens in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia in first remission. Thirty-four patients received only intensive consolidation chemotherapy (SIC); 28 patients were scheduled to undergo an autologous bone marrow transplant (auto-BMT) and 44 patients an allogeneic BMT (allo-BMT). Twenty-seven of them were referred in first remission for allo-BMT. Nineteen patients achieved a complete remission after salvage treatment. All other patients obtained a remission after one or two courses of a standard combination of cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin. Except for the patients who were referred in remission, all patients received intermediate dose cytosine arabinoside and amsacrine as a first consolidation treatment. The median ages of the three groups were 48 (SIC), 39 (auto-BMT) and 33 years (allo-BMT). Two patients relapsed before auto-BMT and 1 before allo-BMT. The median interval from the date of complete remission to the auto- or allo-BMT was 3 months. In total, 80% of the patients of the SIC group relapsed, compared to 50% of the patients belonging to the auto-BMT group and 35% of the 44 patients who were scheduled to receive an allo-BMT. The overall median disease-free survival was 14 months, 30% of the patients being alive and disease-free at 3 years. The disease-free survival rate at three years was 25% for the SIC group, 30% for the allo-BMT group and 40% for the ABMT group (P = 0.45). Our study shows no benefit for bone marrow transplantation over intensive consolidation treatment. However, large randomized trials are required to define the real value of these treatment modalities.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

On the mechanism of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

A proportion of patients with a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) improves after polyvalent intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment. When anti-neuroblastoma cell line (NBL) antibodies are present, they decrease or disappear after IVIg treatment. Purified IgM anti-NBL antibodies from a CIDP patient were inhibited by F(ab')2 of IVIg and by F(ab')2 of a patient recovered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Inhibition of anti-NBL antibodies was also found among sera from normal individuals. This suggests that the self-limiting character of GBS and the therapeutic effect of IVIg in CIDP are dependent on suppression of auto-antibodies. This suppression may be mediated by anti-idiotypes present in recovered GBS patients and in the normal donor population contributing to IVIg.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A 13C NMR study on fluxes into the TCA cycle of neuronal and glial tumor cell lines and primary cells.

Two tumor cell lines (C6 glioma and N1E-115 neuroblastoma), primary glia and primary neurons (from rat) were incubated with 2-13C-pyruvate and 3-13C-pyruvate in culture dishes. 13C NMR spectra of the cell extracts were used to determine the ratio of pyruvate carboxylase to pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Pyruvate carboxylase activity was found higher in primary glia cells than in neurons. Glial cells synthesized more amino acids, ie, their TCA cycle was used to a larger extent for biosynthesis than is the case of neurons, where it is preferentially used for the energy metabolism.

Animals↗

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ABH antibodies causing platelet transfusion refractoriness.

Two alloimmunized patients with multispecific anti-HLA and high-titered ABH antibodies showed transfusion failures after ABH-mismatched HLA-identical platelet transfusions, whereas ABH-matched HLA-identical platelets showed sufficient increments. The anti-A and -B could be demonstrated on platelets by immunofluorescence tests using FITC-labeled goat anti-human IgG. These platelet antibodies could be absorbed with red cells and platelets of the appropriate ABH type. In contrast to previous reports about the influence of ABH antibodies on platelet survival, not only a proportion of the platelet population were destroyed after infusion, but almost all ABH-incompatible platelets were destroyed.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of primary cytomegalovirus infection in patients with hematologic malignancies by intensive white cell depletion of blood products.

The effect of white cell depletion of red cells and platelet concentrates on the transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was studied retrospectively in 150 patients treated intensively for acute leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CMV infection was diagnosed on the basis of IgM and IgG antibody responses to CMV late antigen (CMV-LA). Before cytoreductive therapy for their underlying disease, 59 patients were CMV seronegative and 91 were CMV seropositive. None of the 59 CMV-seronegative patients showed persistent seroconversion 2 months after the cytoreductive treatment. The comparison group, consisting of 312 cardiac surgery patients, showed a significantly higher incidence of primary CMV infections: 10 of 86 (11.6%, p = 0.004). Twenty-five percent of the CMV-seronegative patients and controls had transient IgG antibodies to CMV-LA without IgM antibodies, which is indicative of antibodies passively acquired via blood products. These results indicate that white cell-poor blood products carry a very low risk, if any, of CMV transmission. The policy of transfusing white cell-poor blood products provides a useful alternative to the selection of CMV-seronegative donors.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of additional red cell alloantibodies after intrauterine transfusions.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and origin of additional alloantibodies directed against red cells (RBCs) after intrauterine transfusion (IUT). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between March 1987 and December 1992, fetuses with severe hemolytic disease (n = 91) received a total of 280 ultrasound-guided IUTs of RBCs from unrelated donors. The specificity of alloantibodies to RBCs in maternal serum was determined both before and after each IUT. If additional alloantibodies directed against RBCs were detected, their origin was determined by phenotyping the fetal, donor, and paternal RBCs for each particular antigen. The study included a control group of 69 pregnant women who underwent either amniocentesis or fetal blood sampling. RESULTS: Production of additional alloantibodies directed against RBC antigens was detected in 24 women (26%). The source of the immunizing antigen, either donor or fetus, was identified in 14 patients. The additional alloantibodies were directed against fetal antigens in 11 women and against donor antigens in 3. One additional alloantibody directed against donor antigen clearly reduced the survival of donor RBCs. The fetus and the donor shared the immunizing antigen in four cases, and in one case, the antibody occurred naturally. In five cases, the source of the immunizing antigen was not determined. In the control group, additional antibodies were detected in two patients. CONCLUSION: IUT therapy is associated with a high incidence of additional alloantibodies. In the majority of patients, the use of maternal RBCs for IUT would not have prevented additional formation of alloantibody to RBCs.

Antibody Formation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Perforated gastric ulcer complicating corticosteroid therapy in acute rheumatic fever.

We report an 11-year-old boy with acute rheumatic fever who presented with gastric perforation while treated with corticosteroids (CS). He had been treated initially with acetylsalicylic acid for 11 days, CS replaced the treatment with acetylsalicylic acid due to deterioration of carditis. The possible pathogenesis is discussed.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Preliminary note on blood iron level changes in tuberculous patients treated with thioamides-isoniazid and rifomycin-isoniazid combinations].

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Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute pancreatitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Successful treatment with plasmapheresis after failure of prednisone.

A 33-year old Caucasian woman with SLE, who had been treated with chloroquine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for one year, suddenly presented with a rapidly progressive exacerbation of SLE featuring fever, arthritis, cutaneous manifestations, cerebral dysfunction, pleuritis, pericarditis and pancreatitis. Clinical deterioration and a rise in the serum amylase occurred during a month of high dose prednisone treatment. Plasmapheresis, while maintaining prednisone at a constant dosage, resulted in a complete remission of all symptoms within four weeks. Plasmapheresis was discontinued and improvement was maintained whilst tapering off prednisone and adding azathioprine.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro investigation of immunoglobulin treatment mechanisms in autoimmune diseases.

High doses of immunoglobulins (IVIG) may have beneficial effects in patients with autoimmune diseases. In this review several different mechanisms of action are discussed. These mechanisms include effects on the effector phase of the immune response, on the initial steps of the immune response and on the mixed lymphocytic reaction.

Antibody Formation↗