Off-treatment Patients Research Articles

Treatment-Related Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients Treated for Lymphoid Malignancies in the Pre-Omicron Era-A Study of KroHem, the Croatian Group for Hematologic Diseases.

Patients with lymphoid malignancies are at increased risk of death or prolonged infection due to COVID-19. Data on the influence of different antineoplastic treatment modalities on outcomes are conflicting. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies increase the risk of prolonged infection. It is unclear whether this risk is affected by the choice of the antibody (rituximab vs. obinutuzumab). To elucidate the role of antineoplastic therapy on COVID-19 outcomes, KroHem collected data on patients with lymphoid malignancies diagnosed with COVID-19 between October 2020 and April 2021. A total of 314 patients were identified, 75 untreated, 61 off treatment and 178 on treatment. The mortality rate in untreated and off-treatment patients was 15% and 16%; 9% and 10% had prolonged infection. In the on-treatment group, 3% were still prolonged positive at time of data collection, 62% recovered and 35% died; 42% had prolonged infection. Disease type, use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, prior autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) and line of treatment did not significantly affect mortality. Mortality was higher in older patients (p = 0.0078) and those treated with purine analogues (p = 0.012). Prolonged COVID-19 was significantly more frequent in patients treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (p = 0.012), especially obinutuzumab, and purine analogues (p = 0.012). Age, prior ASCT and treatment line did not significantly affect risk of prolonged infection. These data suggest that increased age and use of purine analogues are main risk factors for increased mortality of COVID-19 in patients with lymphoid malignancies. Obinutuzumab further increases the risk of prolonged disease, but not of death, in comparison to rituximab. Epidemiological considerations should be taken into account when choosing the appropriate antineoplastic therapy for patients with lymphoid malignancies.

Purine Analogues Increase the Risk of Lethal and/or Prolonged COVID19 While Obinutuzumab Increases the Risk of Prolonged but Not Lethal Infection in Patients Treated for Lymphoid Malignancies -a Study of Krohem, the Croatian Group for Hematologic Diseases

Patients with lymphoid malignancies are at increased risk of death due to COVID19. Currently, it is not completely clear whether this is mainly due to disease biology or to anti-lymphoma treatment and whether the prognosis of infection differs in patients treated with different therapies. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies increase the risk of prolonged infection. It is not known whether this risk is affected by the choice of the antibody. To study these questions, KroHem collected data on patients with lymphoid malignancies diagnosed with COVID19 between October 2020 and April 2021.Death during infection was considered as due to COVID19. Patients were considered to have prolonged disease if they were continuously or repetitively positive by PCR for more than 6 weeks. Percentage of patients with prolonged disease was calculated based on the number of patients with available data who were alive 6 weeks after beginning of infection. Treatment regimens were divided into those containing purine analogues (PA), mainly bendamustine and fludarabine, standard-dose chemotherapy without PA (e.g. CHOP, CVP, chlorambucil, etc.), high-dose chemotherapy without PA (e.g. DHAP, ICE, etc.), B-cell receptor inhibitors (iBCR) and venetoclax.We identified 314 patients, 20-88 years old (median 66), 180 male and 134 female; 75 were untreated, 61 off treatment and 178 on treatment (Table). Eleven (15%) untreated patients died; 10% had prolonged infection none of whom died. Ten (16%) off-treatment patients died; 9% had prolonged infection none of whom died. In the on-treatment group 6 (3%) are still prolonged positive, 110 (62%) recovered and 62 (35%) died; 42% had prolonged infection of whom 47% recovered and 42% died. The single allografted patient died as did both patients treated with CAR-T cells after prolonged infection.We analyzed prognostic factors for lethal and prolonged infection in the 175 conventionally treated patients. Disease type, use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, prior autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) and line of treatment did not significantly affect mortality. Mortality was higher in older (p=0.0078) and those treated with PA in comparison to standard-dose chemotherapy without PA and iBCR (47% vs. 26%, p=0.012). The effect of anti-lymphoma therapy on mortality was similar in all age groups. All of the 7 patients who received neither cytotoxic agents nor iBCR (4 were on rituximab monotherapy, 2 on cyclosporine and 1 on vemurafenib) recovered, none had prolonged infection. Prolonged COVID19 was significantly more frequent in patients treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (p=0.012), especially obinutuzumab (67% in comparison to 42% in those treated with rituximab and 21% in those treated without anti-CD20 antibodies). Treatment with PA also increased the risk of prolonged disease (69% vs. 25-45% in other groups, p=0.012). The effect of PA on prolonged infection was similar in patients treated with rituximab and obinutuzumab. Age, prior ASCT and treatment line did not significantly affect risk of prolonged infection.Our data suggest that the type of anti-lymphoma therapy is, besides age, a main determinant of prognosis of COVID19 in patients with lymphoid malignancies. Use of purine analogues, such as bendamustine and fludarabine, is related to increased risk of lethal and/or prolonged COVID19. These drugs should probably be avoided in patients with indolent NHL and CLL, diseases for whom other effective treatments are available, during the current pandemia. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies seem to have a smaller effect on mortality, with obinutuzumab increasing the risk of prolonged disease, but not of death, in comparison to rituximab. [Display omitted] DisclosuresAurer: takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Swixx/BMS: Honoraria; Teva/Pilva: Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; sanofi genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Eusapharma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Jaksic: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Consultancy, Honoraria. Mrdenovic: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria. Ostojic Kolonic: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Consultancy, Honoraria. Lozic: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Consultancy, Honoraria. Holik: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria. Novakovic Coha: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria. Bernes: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria. Krecak: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria. Moric Peric: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria. Mitrovic: Roche, Oktal-Pharma/Celtrion, Sandoz: Honoraria.

Patterns of relapse after successful completion of initial therapy in primary central nervous system lymphoma: a case series.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that involves the brain, spinal cord, or leptomeninges, without evidence of systemic disease. This rare disease accounts for ~ 3% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Methotrexate-based regimens are the standard of care for this disease with overall survival rates ranging from 14 to 55months. Relapse after apparent complete remission can occur. We sought to understand the outcomes of patients who relapsed. This is an IRB-approved investigation of patients treated at our institution between 12/31/2004 and 10/12/2016. We retrospectively identified all cases of PCNSL as part of a database registry and evaluated these cases for demographic information, absence or presence of relapse, location of relapse, treatment regimens, and median relapse-free survival. This analysis identified 44 patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of PCNSL. Mean age at diagnosis was 63.1years (range 20-86, SD = 13.2years). Of the 44 patients, 28 patients successfully completed an initial treatment regimen without recurrence or toxicity that required a change in therapy. Relapse occurred in 11 patients with the location of relapse being in the CNS only (n = 5), vitreous fluid only (n = 1), outside CNS only (n = 3), or a combination of CNS and outside of the CNS (n = 2). Sites of relapse outside of the CNS included testes (n = 1), lung (n = 1), adrenal gland (n = 1), kidney/adrenal gland (n = 1), and retroperitoneum (n = 1). Median relapse-free survival after successful completion of therapy was 6.7years (95% CI 1.1, 12.6). After successful initial treatment, PCNSL has a propensity to relapse, and this relapse can occur both inside and outside of the CNS. Vigilant monitoring of off-treatment patients with a history of PCNSL is necessary to guide early diagnosis of relapse and to initiate aggressive treatment.

Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Young Adults With Non-classical 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency.

Introduction: Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia is associated with an increased risk of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. The aim of the study was to determine if this is also true for non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH).Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study design was used. Data were collected on 114 patients (92 female) with NCCAH diagnosed during childhood/adolescence at a tertiary medical center. Patients were classified by treatment status at the last clinic visit. Outcome measures were assessed at diagnosis and the last clinic visit: weight status, body composition, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glucose metabolism. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was compared to the parental prevalence, and for patients aged 11–20 years, to the Israeli National Survey.Results: Mean age was 7.9 ± 4.2 years at diagnosis and 17.1 ± 6.9 years at the last follow-up. At the last clinic visit, 76 patients were under treatment with glucocorticoids, 27 were off-treatment (previously treated), and 11 had never been treated. The rate of obesity (11.4%) was similar to the parental rates, and the rate of overweight was significantly lower. In patients 11–20 years old, rates of obesity or obesity + overweight were similar to the general Israeli population (11.4 vs. 15.1%, P = 0.24 and 34.2 vs. 41.6% P = 0.18, respectively). No significant difference was found between glucocorticoid-treated and off-treatment patients in any of the metabolic or anthropometric parameters evaluated, except for a lower mean fat mass (% of body weight) in off-treatment patients (23.0 ± 7.7% vs. 27.8 ± 6.8%, P = 0.06). Systolic hypertension was found in 12.2% of NCCAH patients either treated or untreated.Conclusion: NCCAH diagnosed in childhood, whether treated or untreated, does not pose an increased risk of overweight, obesity, or metabolic derangements in adolescence and early adulthood.

Is the link between posttraumatic growth and anxious symptoms mediated by marital intimacy in breast cancer patients?

PurposeThis study aimed to determine whether marital intimacy mediates the association between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and anxious symptoms in women who had recently completed breast cancer treatments and breast cancer survivors. MethodsForty-eight patients who had completed their treatment six months prior to the study and 46 disease-free survivors who had completed their treatments at least one year prior to the study completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Personal Assessment of Intimacy Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. ResultsRecently off-treatment patients reported higher levels of intimacy than survivors did. Path analyses showed that higher levels of the Appreciation of Life dimension of PTG were associated with less anxious symptoms through higher levels of marital intimacy. The type of group did not moderate these associations. ConclusionRegardless of the disease phase, the experience of positive changes after breast cancer in terms of an enhanced appreciation of life seems to be associated with an increased perception of intimacy in the context of a dyadic relationship, which, in turn, is associated with less anxiety.

Hypertensive effect of bronchial asthma

Background: Both bronchial asthma and hypertension are spastic disorders of smooth muscle, salt sensitive and sometimes associated with higher renin-angiotensin system activity, suggestingsimilarities between their aetiologies. This study was intended to assess the blood pressure status in asthmatic patients. Patients and Methods: The study involved two groups: a control group of 56 healthy subjects matched for gender and age with the study group of 100 patients with a medical history of asthma but no other respiratory disease. Asthma history was recorded to assess asthma activity at the time of examination together with medications. The non-invasive ausculatory method was used for measuring the systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures. Mean arterial blood pressure(MABP) was determined by the formula: MABP = DBP + [(SBP – DBP)/3]. Results: DBP was significantly higher in asthmatics (mean±SD = 80±10 mmHg) compared with non-asthmatics (mean±SD = 75±10 mmHg) (P = 0.002). DBP of off-treatment asthmatics wassignificantly higher compared with that of non-asthmatics (P = 0.015). Diastolic blood pressure of asymptomatic patients was not significantly higher compared with that of symptomatic patients (P = 0.774). Systolic and mean arterial blood pressures were not significantly different in asthmatics and control groups (P = 0.267 and 0.116 respectively). Conclusions: In contrast to systolic and mean arterial blood pressures, diastolic blood pressure was significantly elevated in asthmatics (even in off-treatment patients) compared with non-asthmatics indicating mechanisms that predominantly increases peripheral vascular resistance.Keywords: osmolarity, renin-angiotensin, catecholamines, endocrinometabolic.

Effects of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Immune Recovery on CD8+ T-Cell-Mediated Inhibition of HIV-1 Transcription

: To date, the relation between the CD8 antiviral factor (CAF) and clinical indicators of disease progression in HIV-1 infection (CD4 T-cell counts and viral load [VL]) is inconclusive. Particularly, the effect of antiretroviral therapy and immune recovery on CAF production remains unclear. Using a transient transfection assay and a reporter gene activated by the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR), we analyzed CAF production in CD8 T cells of HIV-1-positive individuals divided into 3 groups: patients on protease inhibitor (PI)-based therapy, patients on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based therapy, and patients receiving no therapy. We found that within the untreated group, CAF activity inversely correlated with VL and high CAF was associated with lower VLs over a period of 0.5 to 3 years. Furthermore, patients who were drug-naive demonstrated significantly higher CAF than untreated patients who had previously undergone antiretroviral therapy. CAF activity in treated patients was similar to CAF in drug-naive patients and higher than in off-treatment patients. There seemed to be a trend toward higher CAF in patients on NNRTI-based therapy compared with those on PI-based therapy. These results suggest that immune recovery after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) contributes to the normalization of CAF levels in HIV-1-positive individuals. Furthermore, we have distinguished between CD8 T-cell-mediated suppression of HIV-1 replication and gene transcription.

Diamond-Blackfan Anemia and Growth Status: The French Registry

To study the frequency and risk factors of growth retardation (GR) in patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia. A cross-sectional survey including the 95 patients followed by hematologists affiliated with the French Society of Pediatric Hematology and Immunology for whom growth data were available; 43 patients were transfusion dependent, 32 were steroid dependent, and 20 patients were off treatment. GR was defined as height below 2 SD. Growth retardation was observed in 29.5% (28) patients. The proportion of GR increased significantly with age (16% <10, 32% among 10 to 16, 47.6% among 17 to 25, 41.7% among >16 years) and was higher in on-treatment than in off-treatment patients (35% among transfusion-dependent, 37% among steroid-dependent vs 5% among off-treatment). GR was significantly linked to associated malformations (OR, 2.3 [1.1 to 8.0]; P = .02) and intrauterine growth retardation (OR, 6.0 [1.1 to 11.6]; P = .021). GR remained independently associated with age, malformations, and treatment in a logistic regression. Our study showed that the risk of GR increases with age and is associated with treatment dependence. This result addresses the question of the respective part, in the pathogenesis of GR, of the disease severity, illustrated by treatment dependence on the one hand and of the deleterious effects of long-term treatments on the other hand.

Long-term abnormalities in T and B lymphocyte function in children following treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

T and B lymphocyte function as assessed by pokeweed mitogen stimulation and concanavalin A suppression was studied in 40 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who were in remission and off all treatment. Both plasma cell and immunoglobulin production was reduced in off-treatment patients, particularly in those who had received cyclophosphamide as part of their treatment. The ability to suppress immunoglobulin production was also significantly reduced in these patients. These abnormalities were long-standing and were apparent up to 5 years after stopping treatment with no indication of a return to normality. No clinical correlations have been observed.