Acute respiratory distress syndrome during neutropenia recovery

Acute respiratory failure is a life-threatening complication in cancer patients. During neutropenia, patients are at high risk for bacterial pneumonia or invasive fungal infections, when neutropenia is prolonged. A high proportion of patients in whom neutropenia had been complicated by pneumonia will present with substantial respiratory deterioration during neutropenia recovery. Patients with fungal pneumonia and those receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to shorten neutropenia duration may be at higher risk for this acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome during neutropenia recovery. Routine screening of patient's risk factors is crucial since first symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome may occur before biological leukocyte recovery.     

CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检并发症的观察及护理

探讨CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检术并发症的观察及护理。方法：对CT引导下行经皮肺穿刺活检术980例患者进行观察,统计气胸、咯血、胸腔积血、皮下血肿等并发症发生率及护理方法。结果：178例患者出现气胸,占18．16％,发生少量、中量及大量气胸的例数分别为165例、10例及3例,其中有2例发生迟发性气胸;咯血99例,占10．10％,其中血丝痰、片状血痰分别分95例及4例,均未见大咯血患者;CT显示肺内针道出血156例,占15．92％;出现少量胸腔积血4例,占0．41％;皮下局部血肿7例,占0．71％。经有效治疗及护理,大部分患者均在2-3d痊愈。结论：CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检术并发症均不严重,经过有针对性的治疗、精心护理、严密观察,可使并发症在短期内完全康复。     

Collection and transfusion of granulocyte concentrates from donors primed with granulocyte stimulating factor and response of myelosuppressed patients with established infection

Fifteen patients with prolonged neutropenia (a median of 23 days with granulocyte [PMN] ≤ 500/μl) and established fungal infections that had not responded to adequate antifungal therapy were transfused with PMN concentrates collected from 35 cytokine-primed granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) donors. Patients received a median of six transfusions. Leukocytosis and granulocytosis were observed within 24 hours of the first GCSF injection, which yielded concentrates averaging 55 × 10⁹ white blood cells and 41 × 10⁹ PMN. Data analysis suggested that response might be related to the duration of neutropenia and known infection, as patients given PMN tx earlier in the infectious course tended to have a better response. No significant toxicity was observed in donors.     

Exacerbation by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor of prior acute lung injury: implication of neutrophils

OBJECTIVE: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is widely prescribed to hasten recovery from cancer chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and has been reported to induce pulmonary toxicity. However, circumstances and mechanisms of this toxicity remain poorly known. DESIGN: To reproduce a routine situation in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, we investigated the mechanisms underlying granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced exacerbation of alpha-naphthylthiourea-related pulmonary edema. SETTING: Laboratory research unit. SUBJECTS: Male specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: The effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor given alone or after alpha-naphthylthiourea used to induce acute lung injury were investigated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Lung injury was assessed based on neutrophil sequestration (myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissue) and influx into alveolar spaces (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell quantification) and on edema formation (wet/dry lung weight ratio) and alveolar protein concentration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta were measured in serum, lung homogenates, and isolated alveolar macrophage supernatants. In control rats, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (25 microg/kg) significantly elevated circulating neutrophil counts without producing alveolar recruitment or pulmonary edema. alpha-Naphthylthiourea significantly increased the wet/dry lung weight ratio (4.68 +/- 0.04 vs. 4.38 +/- 0.07 in controls, p=.04) and induced alveolar protein leakage. Adding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to alpha-naphthylthiourea exacerbated pulmonary edema, causing neutrophil sequestration in pulmonary vessels, significantly increasing lung myeloperoxidase activity (12.7 +/- 2.0 mOD/min/g vs. 1.1 +/- 0.4 mOD/min/g with alpha-naphthylthiourea alone; p<.0001), and increasing proinflammatory cytokine secretion. alpha-Naphthylthiourea-related pulmonary edema was not exacerbated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia or after lidocaine, which antagonizes neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta concentrations in alveolar macrophage supernatants and lung homogenates were significantly higher with alpha-naphthylthiourea + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor than with either agent alone, and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibodies abolished granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-related exacerbation of alpha-naphthylthiourea-induced pulmonary edema. In rats with cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia, tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in alveolar macrophage supernatants and lung homogenates were significantly decreased compared with rats without neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-related pulmonary toxicity may involve migration of neutrophils to vascular spaces, adhesion of neutrophils to previously injured endothelial cells, and potentiation of proinflammatory cytokine expression.     

Exacerbation with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor of prior acute lung injury during neutropenia recovery in rats

OBJECTIVE: Neutropenia recovery may be associated with an increased risk of respiratory function deterioration. A history of pneumonia complicating neutropenia has been identified as the leading cause of adult respiratory distress syndrome during neutropenia recovery in patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy, suggesting that neutropenia recovery may worsen prior lung injury. DESIGN: Controlled animal study. SETTING: Research laboratory of an academic institution. SUBJECTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: We studied the effect of recovery from cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia on endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide)- or hydrochloric acid-induced acute lung injury in rats. We also studied the effects of adding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Compared with noncyclophosphamide-treated rats, rats undergoing neutropenia recovery had a higher wet/dry lung weight ratio after hydrochloric acid-induced but not lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor significantly increased both alveolar cell recruitment (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid counts) and pulmonary edema (wet/dry lung ratio) in both acute lung injury models during neutropenia recovery. Furthermore, in an experiment in hydrochloric acid-instilled rats, exacerbation by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor of hydrochloric acid-induced acute lung injury was inhibited by lidocaine, which prevents adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta concentrations in supernatants of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated alveolar macrophages from rats undergoing neutropenia recovery with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment were significantly increased compared with rats undergoing neutropenia recovery without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. CONCLUSION: Neutropenia recovery can worsen acute lung injury, and this effect is exacerbated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.     

Safety and efficacy of therapeutic early onset granulocyte transfusions in pediatric patients with neutropenia and severe infections

BACKGROUND: Bacterial and fungal infections in profound neutropenia after chemotherapy are associated with high mortality despite appropriate antibacterial and antifungal treatment. Granulocyte transfusions are used as a therapeutic addendum, but concern regarding pulmonary reactions often results in delayed use in clinical practice. Accordingly, many patients are already at advanced stages of their infectious disease once granulocytes are transfused. Thus, a prospective Phase II trial was conducted to test the safety and efficacy of therapeutic early-onset granulocyte transfusions in immunocompromised children with neutropenia and severe infections. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-seven children with hematologic disorder or malignancy and severe neutropenia with clinically and/or microbiologically documented severe infection unresponsive to standard treatment were included. They received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-elicited, crossmatched granulocyte concentrates every other day until complete recovery from infection was documented. RESULTS: A median of two granulocyte transfusions with a median of 8 x 10(8) granulocytes per kilogram of body weight were administered. All transfusions were well tolerated, and no pulmonary symptoms were observed. A total of 92.6 percent of our patients were able to clear their initial infection, and 81.5 percent were alive and without signs or symptoms of their infection 1 month later. All six children with aspergillosis cleared their infection. CONCLUSIONS: G-CSF-elicited, crossmatched granulocyte concentrates are a safe and efficient therapeutic addendum in immunocompromised children with prolonged neutropenia and severe infections. Early transfusion of granulocyte concentrates can lead to an overall response rate of 92.6 percent without adverse events. Randomized clinical trials with an early-onset design are required to determine appropriate clinical applications.     

Wegener's granulomatosis with pulmonary fungal infection: a case report and brief review

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an autoimmune, necrotizing granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology that affects small and medium blood vessels, and is usually recurrent. Infection is the most frequent cause of death in patients with WG. A case of WG with pulmonary fungal infection in a 50-year-old man is reported. The patient was hospitalized following a 2-month history of haemoptysis and a 1-month history of intermittent fever. Examination and pathology results confirmed a diagnosis of WG with associated pulmonary fungal infection. The patient's condition was complicated by a septic pneumothorax and sinus formation after lung biopsy, and preexisting diabetes and hypertension, which worsened rapidly due to his critical condition. He was treated with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide therapy with the goal of controlling these complications, and had no recurrence within the 4-year follow-up period. This case demonstrated the utility of combined glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide therapy for the treatment of infection in WG.     

异基因造血干细胞移植侵袭性真菌感染26例临床分析

目的 探讨异基因造血干细胞移植患者发生侵袭性真菌感染的高危因素、临床特点、治疗和预后.方法 分析我科2002年3月至2010年7月行造血干细胞移植术100例患者发生侵袭性真菌感染26例患者的临床资料.造血干细胞移植前发生肺部真菌感染7例;造血干细胞移植后发生肺部真菌感染14例,呼吸道真菌感染3例,肠道真菌感染2例.观察侵袭性真菌感染患者的移植物抗宿主病的发生、巨细胞病毒血症发生、淋巴细胞亚群检测、合并其他慢性基础疾病情况.将侵袭性真菌感染患者分为2组,拟诊经验性治疗组12例及临床诊断抢先治疗组14例.结果 26例侵袭性真菌感染的患者合并移植物抗宿主病20例,合并巨细胞病毒血症6例,细胞免疫功能低下的19例.合并糖尿病5例,肺结核3例,支气管扩张1例.经验性治疗组完全治愈8例(67%),疾病进展1例(8%).抢先治疗组完全治愈3例(21%);疾病进展5例(36%),2组比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.418,P<0.05).结论 造血干细胞移植存在侵袭性真菌感染高危因素的患者更应引起临床医师高度的重视.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the high-risk factors,clinical characteristics,therapy and prognosis of invasive fungal infection (IFI)in patients underwent allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (AlloHSCT). Methods One hundred patients underwent Allo-HSCT at our department from March 2002 to July 2010 were analyzed retrospectively,among whom 26 patients had invasive fungal infection(IFI). Seven patients had pulmonary IFI before allo-HSCT, 14 patients had pulmonary IFI after allo-HSCT,3 patients had respiratory tract system IFI, and 2 patients had intestinal IFI. We observed the occurrence of Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) ,cytomegalovirus( CMV )infection, Lymphocyte subsets and chronic basic diseases in patients with IFI. The twenty six cases were divided into two groups: experience therapy group with 12 cases and preemption therapy group with 14 cases. Results Among 26 patients with IFI,20 cases suffered from GVHD,6 cases had CMV infection,19 cases had low cellular immune function simultaneously. 1 case had diabetes,3 patients had pulmonary tuberculosis and 1 case had bronchiectasis as complications. In experience therapy groupe: 8 cases (67%)recovered completely but 1 case(8% )suffered from progressive infection. In preemption therapy groupe:3 cases ( 21% ) recovered completely but 5 cases ( 36% ) suffered from progressive infection. Conclusion Clinician should pay close attention to the patients with high-risk factors of IFI after allo-HSCT.     

Deterioration of previous acute lung injury during neutropenia recovery

DESIGN: Although neutropenia recovery is associated with a high risk of deterioration of respiratory condition, no studies designed to identify risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in this situation have been published. SETTING: Medical ICU in a French teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: We conducted a study to describe critically ill cancer patients with ARDS during neutropenia recovery (defined as the 7-day period centered on the day the neutrophil count rose above 1000/mm3 [day 0]) and to compare them with critically ill cancer patients without ARDS during neutropenia recovery. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During a 10-yr period, 62 critically ill cancer patients recovered from neutropenia, of whom 21 experienced ARDS during neutropenia recovery, with a median time of -1 days (-2.5-1) between day 0 and ARDS. In-ICU mortality in these 21 patients was 61.9%. As compared with non-ARDS patients, ARDS patients were less likely to have myeloma and more likely to have leukemia/lymphoma treated with adriamycin, a history of pneumonia before neutropenia, and a neutropenia duration >10 days; they had a shorter time since malignancy diagnosis and a longer time from chemotherapy to neutropenia. Neither the leukocyte counts on day 0 nor those during the 6-day neutropenia recovery period were predictive of ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute respiratory failure after prolonged neutropenia complicated by pneumonia are at increased risk for ARDS.     

Granulocyte transfusions: efficacy in treating fungal infections in neutropenic patients following bone marrow transplantation

Background: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of granulocyte transfusions in neutropenic patients with fungal infections following bone marrow transplantation. Study Design and Methods: Systemic fungal infection was detected in 87 patients during the first 100 days following bone marrow transplantation; 50 received granulocytes in addition to appropriate antifungal agents. The median age was 17 years in the transfused patients (range, 1.5–57) and 35 years in the nontransfused patients (range, 0.8–50). Granulocyte transfusions were given on a daily to twice-daily basis. To evaluate their responses, patients were categorized by infection type (candidal [n = 38] vs. noncandidal [n = 49]) and site (fungemia alone [n = 30] vs. invasive infection [n = 57]). Resolution of infection was defined as the resolution of signs and symptoms and negative cultures and/or histopathology. Results: No benefit of granulocyte transfusions could be shown in the resolution of infection in patients with either invasive noncandidal infection (29% in the transfused patients vs. 23% in the nontransfused patients, p > 0.1) or candidal sepsis (56% vs. 50%, p > 0.1). Among patients with delayed marrow recovery, no difference was seen in the resolution of infection in the transfused (25.9%) and nontransfused (50%) patients (p > 0.1); nor was any difference between the transfused and nontransfused patients evident in the duration of febrile episode associated with the fungal infection. Granulocyte transfusions were well tolerated, with the only complications being fever in 12 patients (24%), chills in 10 (20%), and respiratory distress in 2 (4%). Despite attempts to stratify by infection type, invasiveness, and marrow recovery, it was not possible to show any benefit of granulocyte transfusions in this group. Conclusions: It is likely that only through a prospective randomized trial can the question of the efficacy of granulocyte transfusions in treating fungal infections be conclusively answered.     

Clinical experience with amphotericin B in acute myelogenous leukemia

The empirical use of amphotericin B in febrile leukemic patients not responding to antimicrobial agents has previously led to a significant decrease in fatal fungal infections and a significant increase in complete remissions. In this series of 66 patients receiving induction therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 49 (74%) received amphotericin B. The median interval between institution of antibiotics and amphotericin B was ten days. Fifteen patients had clinical evidence of fungal infection, but only two (3%) died of fungal infection during induction therapy for AML. We discontinued amphotericin B upon granulocyte recovery (greater than 500/cu mm) unless a pulmonary infiltrate was present. Even though only five of 15 patients with probable fungal infection received more than 1,000 mg of amphotericin B, no patient had recurrent fungal disease while in remission. The incidence of clinically suspected fungal pneumonia during consolidation therapy and reinduction therapy also suggested that our therapy was adequate. An increased incidence of late fungal pneumonia in patients receiving reinduction was associated with prolonged neutropenia (greater than 50 days). This study supports the empirical use of amphotericin B during induction therapy for AML, and suggests that doses can be smaller than those generally recommended for fungal infection.     

Use of G-CSF for granulocyte transfusion therapy

Patients with neutropenia, especially neutropenia following aggressive myeloablative therapy, are at high risk for developing infectious complications caused by bacteria and opportunistic fungi. Infections remain one of the leading causes of treatment failure in patients with cancer. Thus, new and innovative therapeutic strategies are needed for management of neutropenic patients with infection. Because neutrophils represent the first line of host defense, granulocyte transfusion therapy should be a logical therapeutic approach. Although such therapy has been employed sporadically for several decades, clinical benefit has been compromised by technical problems and low granulocyte yields resulting from inadequate donor stimulation. The discovery of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a means to elevate blood neutrophil counts when administered to normal donors has rekindled interest in granulocyte transfusion therapy. Extensive experience has been gained worldwide with G-CSF in clinical practice, and adverse events have been minimal when G-CSF has been administered to patients or healthy persons in human trials. This review focuses on the use of G-CSF in granulocyte transfusion therapy, including technical considerations of granulocyte leukapheresis and storage, donor selection and stimulation, as well as treatment results and associated risks.     

Risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome during neutropenia recovery in patients with hematologic malignancies

Introduction

Neutropenia recovery may be associated with deterioration in oxygenation and exacerbation of pre-existing pulmonary disease. However, risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during neutropenia recovery in patients with hematologic malignancies have not been studied.

Methods

We studied critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies with the dual objectives of describing patients with ARDS during neutropenia recovery and identifying risk factors for ARDS during neutropenia recovery. A cohort of consecutive neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) was studied. During a 6-year period, 71 patients recovered from neutropenia, of whom 38 (53.5%) developed ARDS during recovery.

Results

Compared with non-ARDS patients, patients who experienced ARDS during neutropenia recovery were more likely to have pneumonia, be admitted to the ICU for respiratory failure, and receive mechanical ventilator therapy. The in-ICU mortality was significantly different between the two groups (86.8% versus 51.5%, respectively, for patients who developed ARDS during neutropenia recovery versus those who did not during neutropenia recovery). In multivariate analysis, only occurrence of pneumonia during the neutropenic episode was associated with a marked increase in the risk of ARDS (odds ratio, 4.76).

Conclusions

Patients with hematologic malignancies complicated by pneumonia during neutropenia are at increased risk for ARDS during neutropenia recovery.     

An open-label randomized trial comparing itraconazole oral solution with fluconazole oral solution for primary prophylaxis of fungal infections in patients with haematological malignancy and profound neutropenia

OBJECTIVES: This trial studied the efficacy and safety of itraconazole and fluconazole in the prevention of invasive fungal infections in neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An 8 week, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, multicentre trial comparing itraconazole oral solution (2.5 mg/kg twice daily; N=248) with fluconazole oral solution or capsules (400 mg daily; N=246) in 494 patients with anticipated profound neutropenia (i.e. neutrophil count expected to be <500 cells/mm3 for at least 10 days) from tertiary care centres. RESULTS: Invasive fungal infections were reported for 4 out of 248 patients (1.6%) in the itraconazole group and 5 out of 246 patients (2.0%) in the fluconazole group. Invasive Aspergillus infections were proven for 2 out of 248 patients (0.8%) in the itraconazole group and 3 out of 246 patients (1.2%) in the fluconazole group. For both the ITT and profoundly neutropenic populations, no differences were detected between treatment groups in proven or suspected invasive fungal infections or other endpoints. The mortality rates owing to proven invasive fungal infections were 2 out of 248 patients (0.8%) for the itraconazole group and 3 out of 246 patients (1.2%) for the fluconazole group. There was also no difference between treatment groups in the number of patients who recovered from neutropenia or in the duration of neutropenia. More discontinuation of drug intake owing to nausea and more hypokalaemia occurred in the itraconazole group, other adverse events and the total number of adverse events were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study there were no differences in the efficacy and safety of itraconazole and fluconazole prophylaxis in neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies.     

Granulocyte transfusion therapy for infections in candidates and recipients of HPC transplantation: a comparative analysis of feasibility and outcome for community donors versus related donors

BACKGROUND: Feasibility, response to granulocyte transfusion therapy, and clinical outcome were compared among HPC transplant recipients enrolled in a prospective study of a community blood bank-based unrelated donors program, a prospective granulocyte study using family donors, and matched control patients without granulocyte transfusion therapy. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Overall, 40 patients (327 collections) received granulocyte concentrates from unrelated donors, 34 patients (219 collections) received granulocyte concentrates from related donors, and 74 patients served as controls. Study entry criteria for patients included an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 200 per microL and documented invasive fungal or bacterial infections. RESULTS: There was a median delay of 3 days (range, 0-14) in patients receiving transfusions from unrelated donors between day of diagnosis of infection and start of granulocyte transfusion therapy as compared with a median delay of 5 days (range, 0-25) in patients receiving transfusions from related donors (p = 0.01). The ANC increment after the first, second, and seventh transfusions in patients who had community donors was significantly higher or comparable to patients who had family donors. Overall, clinical outcome was comparable between the three patient groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no difference between all cohorts in overall 6-month survival (p = 0.28, log-rank) or event-free survival (p = 0.17, log-rank). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that future efficacy trials should consider inclusion of unrelated community donors for timely institution of granulocyte transfusion therapy.     

Granulocyte immunology.

Antibodies directed against antigens on the granulocyte (neutrophil) membrane can cause a variety of disorders including neonatal immune neutropenia, immune neutropenia after bone marrow transplantation, autoimmune neutropenia, and drug-induced immune neutropenia. Since granulocyte alloantibodies can lead to severe pulmonary transfusion reactions (TRALI), febrile transfusion reactions and refractoriness to granulocyte transfusions, they also play an important part in blood transfusion. The implicated human neutrophil alloantigens (HNA) have been renamed in the recently introduced HNA nomenclature which is based on the antigen's glycoprotein location. The Fc gamma Receptor IIIb (CD16, HNA-1) and the NB1 glycoprotein (CD177, HNA-2) represent the major immunogenic molecules of the neutrophil membrane. They bear the clinically most important antigens HNA-1a,-1b,-1c (NA1, NA2, SH) and HNA-2a (NB1), respectively. For the detection of granulocyte antibodies, a combination of immunofluorescence and agglutination tests together with a panel of freshly isolated, typed test neutrophils has been shown to represent the best means of detection. The introduction of the glycoprotein-specific assay "MAIGA" has improved alloantibody identification considerably. To facilitate and improve neutrophil typing, PCR-SSP techniques have been established for HNA-1a,-1b, and -1c genotyping.     

Autoimmune neutropenia in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

Autoimmune neutropenia is thought to be an uncommon disorder in adults. Over a 2-year period, however, autoimmune neutropenia was diagnosed in seven adults in a county with a population of approximately 105,000 people. The median age of the patients was 52 years old (range of 22 to 81 years), and five of the seven patients were women. All seven patients had at least one other symptom of autoimmune disease. Three patients had splenomegaly, three patients had positive direct antiglobulin tests, and two patients had immune thrombocytopenia. Antibodies reacting to neutrophils were detected by either granulocyte agglutination (GA) or granulocyte immunofluorescence (GIF) testing in five of the seven patients. Antibodies in four patients reacted with an 80 kd neutrophil membrane glycoprotein, and antibodies from two people reacted with a 60 kd membrane glycoprotein. Three patients were given treatment with splenectomy, which resulted in only transient improvement in the neutrophil counts. Serious infections occurred in only three patients over the 2 years of observation. In summary, autoimmune neutropenia in adults may occur more often than appreciated. Most cases of autoimmune neutropenia in adults appear to be associated with other autoimmune phenomena.     

Use of granulocyte transfusion in early period in life-threatening infections of pediatric hematology and oncology patients: A single-center experience

Despite all the developments in medicine, infections continue to be one of the most important causes of mortality in pediatric hematology and oncology patients. The more severe the degree of neutropenia develops after intensive chemotherapy in cancer patients, and the longer the neutropenia duration, the higher the risk of infection. Granulocyte transfusion (GT) is used as supportive therapy in cases where the bone marrow needs time to recover in invasive bacterial or fungal infections along with severe neutropenia. The patients who had granulocyte transfusions in our clinic between June 2019 and June 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 15 units of granulocyte concentrate were used in 11 febrile neutropenia attacks of 9 patients. The demographic characteristics of the patients and features belonging to the period of GT were recorded. In our study, the clinical response rate after GT was 90.9 %, while the hematological response rate was 40 %. Most of the patients were treated succesfully, the mortality rate was 9%. We think that the most critical factor for success with GTs is determining the neutropenic patient in particular with a combination of high-risk malignancy and acute life-threatening infection for using GT. Also, early use of GT in those patients who do not recover despite appropriate antimicrobial and supportive treatment may contribute to improvement of the clinical conditon in a shorter period of time and reduction of repeated GTs.     

Transfusion‐related alloimmune neutropenia with no pulmonary complications: one donor—five cases

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil alloantibodies are well‐known triggers of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) and also cause immune neutropenia. Alloimmune neutropenia due to transfusion is an isolated phenomenon that is only rarely identified. Its incidence is specified in the literature as being less than one in 10,000 transfused plasma‐containing units. We expect that this phenomenon is underreported. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We observed five cases of alloimmune neutropenia with no respiratory complications with only one case initially reported as a suspected transfusion reaction. The other four cases were detected in the course of the subsequent lookback investigation. RESULTS: The first case was reported as a potential transfusion reaction when a female patient showed a decrease in the white blood cell count after a platelet (PLT) transfusion. Examinations of the donor blood revealed an antibody against the human neutrophil antigen HNA‐1b; the recipient was typed HNA‐1b positive and HNA‐1a negative. After examining the blood counts of other patients who previously received PLT concentrates from the same donor, we identified four other patients with an unreported decrease in the leukocyte and/or granulocyte count of more than approximately 50% after transfusion. CONCLUSION: HNA antibodies are generally regarded as potential triggers of TRALI. Here we describe an HNA antibody that reproducibly caused transfusion‐related neutropenia only without pulmonary complications. Factors predisposing patients to TRALI development are widely discussed. Our case suggests that antibody characteristics are also relevant in the development of TRALI. Current measures to prevent TRALI should also prevent transfusion‐related alloimmune neutropenia.