Unveiling the masked native blood group following thalidomide therapy in a thalassemia patient: A 5 WHY analysis approach

Blood grouping discrepancy in patients with hematological disorders can occur due to red cell sensitization following transfusion, transplantation, and pregnancy or pre-analytical errors. Prompt initiation of root cause analysis is vital to avoid complications of wrong blood transfusion. We present an unusual case of Rh mismatched grouping report of 24 year old female thalassemia patient being managed in our hospital since 2015. Her current type and screen were observed as O Rh D negative with negative antibody screen while the historical blood group was O Rh D positive. The pre-analytical errors were ruled out and blood grouping performed from fresh sample also demonstrated as O Rh D negative despite antigen enhancement techniques and had no recent transfusion history. We sought to reason out the possibilities for discordant Rh grouping report, historical and present group through “Funnel based problem solving 5 WHY analysis” approach. The review of the past clinical history revealed that the patient had undergone Rh mismatch bone marrow transplant (Rh D positive donor and Rh D negative recipient) at 5 years of age which soon resulted in graft failure. Yet, she continued to receive Rh D positive blood thereafter with no development of anti-D which explains the historical blood group. Recently the patient was started on thalidomide, the Hb F inducer drug, which helped in maintaining her hemoglobin level between 9 and 10 g/dl without transfusion support for two months. This allowed unmasking of native Rh D negative blood and the review of clinical history played a significant role in resolution of grouping discrepancy.     

Thalidomide has both anti-inflammatory and regulatory effects in Behcet's disease

Thalidomide is shown to be an effective treatment for mucocutaneous symptoms of Behcet's disease (BD). In this study, the effects of thalidomide on peripheral blood mononuclear cells were investigated ex vivo. In an open prospective study, ten patients were given 200 mg/day thalidomide for 12 weeks and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), CD8, CD11a, CD11b, CD16, CD18, CD28, CD44, CD45RO, CD45RA, CD56, CD120a and γδ+ T cells were analysed with flow cytometry at 0, 3, 7, 30 and 90 days. Two patients were excluded from the analysis for attacks of uveitis within the first 2 weeks. At day 7, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) receptor+ (CD120a; 12% vs 5%), CD8/CD11b+ (12% vs 6%) and CD16/CD56+ (16% vs 9%) cells decreased in BD patients compared to day 0. On the other hand, CD4+CD45RO+ T cells (24% vs 34%) at day 30 and γδ+ T cells (11% vs 21%) at day 90 increased after treatment. These results suggest that thalidomide tends to decrease TNF-α receptor levels, CD8/CD11b+ T cells and natural killer cells in early treatment and increases CD4+CD45RO+ memory T and γδ+ T cells later in BD.     

Pharmacoepidemiology and thalidomide embryopathy surveillance in Brazil

IntroductionThalidomide causes congenital defects in children, such as limb reduction defects. Currently, it is used for a few indications; in Brazil, where leprosy is endemic, thalidomide is used for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum, and recent cases of thalidomide embryopathy have been reported.MethodsWe analyzed the frequency of births with phenotypes consistent with thalidomide embryopathy (TEP) and correlated this with the distribution of thalidomide and the prevalence of leprosy between 2005 and 2010 in Brazil.ResultsA total of 5,889,210 thalidomide tablets were distributed; the prevalence of limb reduction defects was 1.60 (CI95%: 1.54–1.66) and TEP was 0.11 (CI95%: 0.10–0.13) per 10,000 births. Poisson regression showed an increase in cases of TEP and limb reduction defects per 100,000 tablets dispensed. Clusters and geographical isolates were identified in several regions.ConclusionsThere is a correlation between thalidomide and TEP showing that thalidomide embryopathy should be monitored in countries where this medication is available.     

沙利度胺与二丁酰环磷腺苷钙治疗老年重度寻常型银屑病的药物经济学评价

目的 对沙利度胺与二丁酰环磷腺苷钙治疗老年重度寻常型银屑病进行药物经济学评价。 方法 通过医院信息系统(HIS)采集2016年10月1日到2018年5月31日在大连市皮肤病医院老年重度寻常型银屑病患者的病历资料进行回顾性分析,比较接受沙利度胺与二丁酰环磷腺苷钙治疗老年重度寻常型银屑病的疗效和成本费用,并采用单因素敏感性分析结果的稳定性。 结果 沙利度胺组显效率为43.37%,二丁酰环磷腺苷钙组显效率为35.00%,应用χ²检验比较无统计学差异(P>0.05);沙利度胺组3、6个月未再次入院风险率为86.75%和71.08%,二丁酰环磷腺苷钙组3、6个月未再次入院风险率为75.00%和57.00%,应用χ²检验比较有统计学差异(P<0.05);沙利度胺组人均成本9999.86元,二丁酰环磷腺苷钙组人均成本9223.17元;以显效率为疗效指标二丁酰环磷腺苷钙成本最低,以3、6个月未再次入院风险率为疗效指标沙利度胺具有最优经济性(ICER=6472.42/5547.79元),敏感性分析显示结果可靠。 结论 二丁酰环磷腺苷钙治疗老年重度寻常型银屑病近期疗效成本最低,而沙利度胺的远期疗效更具有成本效果优势。     

沙利度胺联合放疗治疗食管癌长期生存分析

目的 研究沙利度胺下调食管癌患者放疗中血清血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)水平对食管癌患者长期生存的影响。方法 根据81例食管癌患者放疗中血清VEGF水平分为用药组(沙利度胺)32例和未用药组49例,通过随访观察分析其总生存率(OS)和无进展生存率(PFS),根据32例使用沙利度胺处理后的血清VEGF水平变化,又分降低组20例和升高组12例,分析其OS和PFS。对预后因素进行单因素和多因素分析。结果 用药组和未用药组的中位生存期及1、3年生存率分别为17.0个月、59.4%、31.5%和18.7个月、56.4%、28.6%;两组的OS和PFS分别比较,差异均无统计学意义。VEGF水平降低组和升高组的中位生存期及1、3年生存率分别为19.7个月、65.0%、42.1%和10.7个月、43.3%、8.3%;两组OS和PFS比较,差异均有统计学意义(χ²=4.345、4.157,P<0.05)。多因素分析显示,临床分期是食管癌患者总生存率的独立预后因素,性别、病变部位对患者预后没有影响。结论 对于用药后VEGF水平降低患者,沙利度胺联合放疗能够增加食管癌患者远期疗效。     

Thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone for pretreated patients with multiple myeloma: serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor as a predictive factor for response rate and for survival

The aim of this study was to assess the side effects and the efficacy of thalidomide alone or in combination with dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) and to evaluate possible predictive factors for response rate and survival. Twenty-nine pretreated patients were enrolled, including 13 patients with a relapse after high-dose chemotherapy. The median number of relapses was 3 (range: 1–7). Twenty-two patients received thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone and seven patients thalidomide alone. The dosage of thalidomide was 400 mg/day and the dosage of dexamethasone 20 mg/m² daily for 4 consecutive days every 3 weeks. Cycles of dexamethasone were given until maximal decline of myeloma protein was achieved, whereas therapy with thalidomide was maintained until disease progression. Responses occurred in 62% of patients, including 5 (17%) complete remissions and 13 (45%) partial remissions. The median event-free survival (EFS) was 7.2 months and the median overall survival (OS) 26.1 months. In multivariate analysis, pretreatment serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were a significant prognostic factor for EFS, and those of ₂-microglobulin (2M) and sIL-2R for OS. Serum levels of sIL-2R significantly increased after 3 weeks of treatment in 89% of patients, possibly representing lymphocyte activation induced by thalidomide. Two patients died of septic complications within 3 months after starting treatment with thalidomide and dexamethasone and one patient of herpes encephalitis after 26 months of treatment with thalidomide alone. Also, one case of pneumonia and one case of deep venous thrombosis of the lower limb occurred. Other side effects were somnolence, peripheral neuropathy, and bradycardia occurring in 35, 55, 38 and 55% of patients, respectively. The combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone is an effective therapy in heavily pretreated myeloma patients with a high response rate and acceptable toxicities. A powerful predictive factor both for EFS and OS was the pretreatment serum level of sIL-2R.     

沙利度胺抑制TGF-β1诱导的HELF细胞中结缔组织生长因子基因启动子的激活*

 目的： 探讨沙利度胺（thalidomide, THD）对转化生长因子β1（transforming growth factor β1,TGF-β1）诱导的人胚肺成纤维细胞（human embryonic lung fibroblast, HELF）结缔组织生长因子（connective tissue growth factor, CTGF）基因启动子激活的影响。方法: 构建含有人类CTGF基因启动子的报告基因载体pGL3-CTGFP,将其瞬时转染HELF细胞,通过检测萤光素酶的活性,观察TGF-β1和THD对CTGF基因启动子活性的影响。结果: TGF-β1能以剂量依赖方式和时间依赖方式显著增加HELF细胞中报告基因的活性（P<0.05）,最佳剌激浓度是5 μg/L,萤光素酶相对活性为对照组的2.16倍,最佳剌激时间为12 h,萤光素酶相对活性为对照组的2.52倍;THD对报告基因的基础活性无明显影响（P>0.05）,但以剂量依赖方式显著抑制TGF-β1上调报告基因活性的效应(P<0.05)。结论: TGF-β1能以剂量依赖方式和时间依赖方式上调HELF细胞中CTGF基因启动子的活性,而THD能以剂量依赖方式抑制此过程。     

Myélome multiple de novo : faut-il proposer une prophylaxie antithrombotique ?

The incidence of venous thromboembolism in multiple myeloma depends on the disease characteristics that include recent diagnosis, persistent or recurrent multiple myeloma, patient characteristics, and the type of treatment received such as thalidomide or lenalidomide especially in combination with high-dose dexamethasone, or combined chemotherapy. Currently, recommendations could be challenged by the results of the first randomized study evaluating aspirin, low molecular weight heparins and vitamin K antagonists in the antithrombotic prophylaxis. The recent data from the literature show that it is not possible to propose a therapeutic management for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in multiple myeloma and that the use of antithrombotic prophylaxis may not be mandatory.     

沙利度胺延缓大鼠的慢性移植物血管病

目的 研究沙利度胺对慢性移植物血管病的缓解作用,并探讨其机制.方法 建立大鼠腹主动脉慢性移植物血管病模型.同系对照组的供、受者均为Brown-Norway大鼠(BN大鼠),术后每天以生理盐水灌胃;同种移植组均以BN大鼠为供者,Lewis大鼠为受者,术后每天以生理盐水灌胃,溶剂对照组术后每天以二甲基亚砜灌胃,高剂量组术后每天以沙利度胺200mg/kg灌胃,低剂量组术后每天以沙利度胺100mg/kg灌胃.术后8周,光镜下观察移植血管组织形态学变化;采用免疫组织化学法测定移植血管中白细胞介素9(IL-9)和转化生长因子β(TGF-β)表达情况;采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验检测血清血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)浓度.结果 同种对照组、溶剂对照组、高剂量组和低剂量组均呈现出典型的移植相关血管硬化,内膜明显增生,并呈同心圆增厚,同系对照组、同种对照组、溶剂对照组、高剂量组和低剂量组移植血管内膜厚度分别为(4.12±0.21)、(67.23±6.12)、(53.11±5.71)、(21.28±4.52)和(23.45±3.64)μm,高剂量组和低剂量组移植血管内膜厚度明显小于同种对照组和溶剂对照组(P＜0.05).同系对照组、同种对照组、溶剂对照组、高剂量组和低剂量组IL-9阳性细胞率分别为(12.54±4.56)％、(50.55±6.39)％、(45.26±2.32)％、(27.37±5.29)％和(29.11±3.20)％;TGF-β阳性细胞率分别为(18.12±6.21)％、(49.23±3.23)％、(40.61±4.13)％、(31.71±8.60)％和(29.35±6.85)％,高剂量组和低剂量组IL-9阳性细胞率和TGF-β阳性细胞率均明显低于同种对照组和溶剂对照组(P＜0.05).同系对照组、同种对照组、溶剂对照组、高剂量组和低剂量组血清中PDGF含量分别为0、(998±18)、(745±29)、(287±97)和(299±36)pg/ml,高剂量组和低剂量组血清PDGF含量均明显低于同种对照组和溶剂对照组(P＜0.05).结论 低剂量沙利度胺即可缓解慢性移植物血管病,这种作用可能与组织中TGF-β和IL-9表达下调,以及血清中PDGF浓度下降相关.     

Treatment with Thalidomide and Cyclophosphamide (TCID) is Superior to Vincristine (VID) and to Vinorelbine (VRID) Regimens in Patients with Refractory or Recurrent Multiple Myeloma

Treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma remains a challenge and novel treatment regimen are required. Here, a matched pair analysis was performed comparing TCID (thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, idarubicin, dexamethasone) treatment to the treatment of patients with VID (vincristine, idarubicin, dexamethasone) or with VRID (vinorelbine, idarubicin, dexamethasone) for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In total, 197 patients were enrolled in multicenter trials. After matching for important prognostic variables 46 matched-pairs (total of 138 patients) could be analysed with regard to survival, toxicity and efficacy. Interestingly, a significant improvement of overall response rate (ORR) for TCID treatment compared to VID and VRID was found. In addition, TCID treatment also led to a significantly higher overall survival (OS) as well as progression-free survival (PFS) compared to VID and VRID. In conclusion, TCID treatment appears to be superior to VRID and VID treatment in patients with progressive or refractory myeloma.