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Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, and catheter ablation (CA) is a primary therapeutic option. However, the 30‐day all‐cause mortality risk associated with CA for AF may be underestimated due to selection bias. Our study aimed to assess 30‐day mortality in an unselected cohort of patients. Methods: Data from the National Health Fund‐Poland covered over 99% of nationwide radiofrequency ablation (RF) or cryoballoon ablation for AF, with 100% recorded deaths. The study included consecutive CA procedures in adult patients between 2012 and 2019. Thirty‐day mortality rates were calculated for each age group. Results: A total of 31 214 CAs for AF were performed on 26 767 patients (34.8% female). Forty‐four percent of patients had hypertension, 31.2% had coronary artery disease, 14.4% had heart failure, 11% had diabetes mellitus, 5.6% had malignant neoplasms, 2.7% had a previous myocardial infarction, 2.5% had a previous stroke, and 2.2% had kidney disease. Thirty‐two deaths (0.1%) occurred within 30 days, with the highest mortality in the oldest age group (>80 years). Statistical analysis revealed higher incidences of kidney disease (p < 0.001) and heart failure (p = 0.001) in patients who died within 30 days. Mortality risk did not significantly differ between cryoballoon and RF ablation, as well as first and subsequent ablation for AF. The risk of death within 7 days postablation for AF was 1 in 2750 procedures, while the risk of death on the same day postablation was 1 in 6250 procedures. Conclusions: The 30‐day mortality rate in a large, unselected AF ablation cohort, covering 99% of procedures in the country, is low except for the oldest patients. This factor should be taken into consideration when offering CA for AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) can be used to salvage at least a proportion of plasma cell myeloma patients who relapse after a previous auto-HCT. It may, however, occur that there is either no or an insufficient stem cell dose in storage to proceed to transplantation. Remobilization to procure new cells is then required. There are very limited data in the literature concerning the efficacy of stem cell remobilization after previous auto-HCT. In our previous report, we showed that remobilization with cytarabine was associated with a lower risk of remobilization failure in comparison to etoposide or cyclophosphamide. In the current study, we analyze the efficacy and safety of different doses of cytarabine (800, 1600, and 2400 mg/m2), showing that all doses are efficacious but that the dose of 2400 mg/m2 is associated with the most toxicity. Therefore, lower doses of cytarabine seem to be preferable, with plerixafor rescue when needed. Salvage autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) may be used to treat relapse of plasma cell myeloma occurring after previous auto-HCT. When an insufficient number of hematopoietic stem cells have been stored from the initial harvest, remobilization is necessary. Here, we aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of different doses of cytarabine (total 800 vs. 1600 vs. 2400 mg/m2) for remobilization. Sixty-five patients, 55% male, with a median age at remobilization 63 years, were included. Remobilization was performed with cytarabine_800 in 7, cytarabine_1600 in 36, and cytarabine_2400 in 22 patients. Plerixafor rescue was used in 25% of patients receiving cytarabine_1600 and 27% of those receiving cytarabine_2400. Patients administered cytarabine_800 were not rescued with plerixafor. Remobilization was successful in 80% of patients (57% cytarabine_800; 86% cytarabine_1600; 77% cytarabine_2400; p = 0.199). The yield of collected CD34+ cells did not differ between the different cytarabine doses (p = 0.495). Patients receiving cytarabine_2400 were at the highest risk of developing severe cytopenias, requiring blood product support, or having blood-stream infections. One patient died of septic shock after cytarabine_2400. In summary, remobilization with cytarabine is feasible in most patients. All doses of cytarabine allow for successful remobilization. Cytarabine_2400 is associated with higher toxicity; therefore, lower doses (800 or 1600 mg/m2) seem to be preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Salvage autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) constitutes a therapeutic option for multiple myeloma patients who experience relapse after a previous auto-HCT. When insufficient number of hematopoietic stem cells was stored from the initial harvest, remobilization of stem cells is necessary. The data on the efficacy and safety of different remobilization protocols are scarce, including the data on cytarabine dosing. Material i methods: A retrospective analysis of multiple myeloma patients who experienced relapse after a previous auto-HCT and afterwards underwent remobilization with cytarabine. Results: Sixty-five patients, 55% males, median age at remobilization 63 (37-71) years, were included. 80% patients did have a single, 20% a tandem auto-HCT before remobilization. The median time between the most recent auto-HCT and remobilization was 42 (8-239) months. The total cytarabine dose administered for remobilization was 2400 mg/m² in 29%, 2000 mg/m² in 2%, 1600 mg/m² in 58%, and 800 mg/m² in 11% patients. Plerixafor rescue was used in 23% patients (29% from the group 1600 mg/m², 20% ― 2000-2400 mg/m²). Successful remobilization (>2 × 106 CD34+ cells//kg) was possible in 82% patients; 80% in a group 2000-2400 mg/m², 87% 1600 mg/m², and 57% 800 mg/m². The total yield of CD34+ cells (× 106/kg) after the first remobilization for patients for whom any collection was possible was: 8.22 (0.65-18.49) for cytarabine 2400 mg/m², 4.87 (0.98-33.6%) 1600 mg/m², and 5.36 (1.52-9.07) 800 mg/m². Toxicity was mostly hematological. Remobilization was associated with one death due to septic shock. Conclusion: Remobilization with cytarabine after previous auto-HCT was feasible only in a proportion of patients. Cytarabine dose of 800 mg/m² was associated with the lowest rate of successful remobilization, the group was however small and not rescued with plerixafor. Future research is needed to elucidate whether the 800 mg/m² is similarly efficient to higher doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]