Background: Multiple myeloma is currently the leading indication for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). A prerequisite for AHCT is mobilization and collection of adequate blood graft to support high-dose therapy. Current mobilization strategies include granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or in combination with chemotherapy most commonly cyclophosphamide (CY). More recently, plerixafor has become into agenda especially in patients who mobilize poorly. In the selection of a mobilization method, several factors should be considered.
Summary: Preplanned collection target is important as G-CSF plus plerixafor is more effective in the mobilization of CD34+ cells than G-CSF alone. On the other hand, CY plus G-CSF is superior to G-CSF only mobilization. Previous therapy and age of the patients are important considerations as G-CSF alone may not be effective enough in patients with risk factors for poor mobilization. These factors include extensive lenalidomide exposure, irradiation to bone marrow-bearing sites, higher age, or a previous mobilization failure. Also, local preferences and experiences as well as the number of apheresis needed are important issues as well as cost-effectiveness considerations. Mobilization method used may have implication for cellular composition of collected grafts, which might have an impact on posttransplant events such as hematologic and immune recovery in addition to also potential long-term outcomes.
Key message: Currently, G-CSF alone and preemptive plerixafor if needed might be considered as a standard mobilization strategy in MM patients intended for AHCT.
Backgound: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a standard treatment in transplant-eligible mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients after first-line chemoimmunotherapy.
Study design and methods: This prospective multicenter study evaluated the impact of CD34+ cell mobilization and graft cellular composition analyzed by flow cytometry on hematologic recovery and outcome in 42 MCL patients.
Results: During CD34+ cell mobilization, a higher blood CD34+ cell count (>30 × 106/L) was associated with improved overall survival (median not reached [NR] vs. 57 months, p = 0.04). The use of plerixafor did not impact outcome. Higher number of viable cryopreserved graft CD34+ cells (>3.0 × 106/kg) was associated with faster platelet (median 11 vs. 15 days, p = 0.03) and neutrophil (median 9 vs. 10 days, p = 0.02) recovery posttransplant. Very low graft CD3+CD8+ cell count (≤10 × 106/kg) correlated with worse progression-free survival (PFS) (HR 4.136, 95% CI 1.547-11.059, p = 0.005). On the other hand, higher absolute lymphocyte count >2.5 × 109/L at 30 days after ASCT (ALC-30) was linked with better PFS (median NR vs. 99 months, p = 0.045) and overall survival (median NR in either group, p = 0.05).
Conclusions: Better mobilization capacity and higher graft CD3+CD8+ cell count had a positive prognostic impact in this study, in addition to earlier lymphocyte recovery (ALC-30>2.5 × 106/L). These results need to be validated in another study with a larger patient cohort.
Objectives: The aims of the study were to compare the consumption of blood products before and after the implementation of a bleeding management algorithm in patients undergoing liver transplantation and to determine the feasibility of a multicentre, randomized study.
Background: Liver transplantation remains the only curative therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease, but it carries a high risk of surgical bleeding.
Materials and methods: Retrospective study of patients treated before (group 1) and after (group 2) implementation of a haemostatic algorithm guided by viscoelastic testing, including use of lyophilized coagulation factor concentrates (prothrombin complex and fibrinogen concentrates). Primary outcome was the number of units of blood products transfused in 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included hospital stay, mortality, and cost.
Results: Data from 30 consecutive patients was analysed; 14 in group 1 and 16 in group 2. Baseline data were similar between groups. Median total blood product consumption 24 h after surgery was 33 U (IQR: 11-57) in group 1 and 1.5 (0-23.5) in group 2 (p = 0.028). Significantly fewer units of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate were transfused in group 2 versus group 1. There was no significant difference in complications, hospital stay, or in-hospital mortality between groups. The cost of haemostatic therapy was non-significantly lower in group 2 versus group 1 (7,400 vs. 15,500 USD; p = 0.454).
Conclusion: The haemostatic management algorithm was associated with a significant reduction in blood product use during 24 h after liver transplantation. This study demonstrated the feasibility and provided a sample size calculation for a larger, randomized study.
Introduction: Patients undergoing revision total hip surgery (RTHS) have a high prevalence of mild and moderate preoperative anemia, associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT) and postoperative complications in preoperatively mild compared to moderate anemic patients undergoing RTHS who did not receive a diagnostic anemia workup and treatment before surgery.
Methods: We included 1,765 patients between 2007 and 2019 at a university hospital. Patients were categorized according to their severity of anemia using the WHO criteria of mild, moderate, and severe anemia in the first Hb level of the case. Patients were grouped as having received no ABT, 1-2 units of ABT, or more than 2 units of ABT. Need for intraoperative ABT was assessed in accordance with institutional standards. Primary endpoint was the compound incidence of postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes included major/minor complications and length of hospital and ICU stay.
Results: Of the 1,765 patients, 31.0% were anemic of any cause before surgery. Transfusion rates were 81% in anemic patients and 41.2% in nonanemic patients. The adjusted risks for compound postoperative complication were significantly higher in patients with moderate anemia (OR 4.88, 95% CI: 1.54-13.15, p = 0.003) but not for patients with mild anemia (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 0.85-3.94, p < 0.090). Perioperative ABT was associated with significantly higher risks for complications in nonanemic patients and showed an increased risk for complications in all anemic patients. In RTHS, perioperative ABT as a treatment for moderate preoperative anemia of any cause was associated with a negative compound effect on postoperative complications, compared to anemia or ABT alone.
Discussion: ABT is associated with adverse outcomes of patients with moderate preoperative anemia before RTHS. For this reason, medical treatment of moderate preoperative anemia may be considered.