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Objective: The reactivation rate of dormant hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the liver is between 4.1% and 41.5% in immune-compromised patients. The disappearance of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) can be an alarm for hepatitis B reactivation. In this study, the changes in serological status, reactivation rates, and antiviral prophylaxis rates were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving patients who were followed up at Erciyes University HSCT Center between January 2018 and July 2019. The demographic data, type of hematological disease, pre- and post-transplant status of HBV, presence of antiviral prophylaxis, and frequency of hepatitis B flare were evaluated. Results: One hundred and seven patients were included in this study. The median follow-up duration was 18 months. New chemotherapy protocols were initiated in 36 patients due to progression and in 23 patients with a diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease. Anti-HBs levels decreased in 60% of the patients, and anti-HBs levels decreased to below the protective level in 13% of the patients. Among the 107 patients, 38 had resolved hepatitis B infection before transplantation, and 20 and four of 18 patients (22%) who did not receive antiviral prophylaxis developed HBV seroconversion and hepatitis B flare. The median levels of anti-HBs titers after transplantation were 167 IU/L and 15 IU/L in groups that received and did not receive antiviral prophylaxis, respectively (p=0.028). Conclusion: Antiviral prophylaxis should be administered in patients positive for hepatitis B core antibody before hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Measuring HBV serological parameters at regular intervals is essential in the high-risk group.

© 2022, UHOD - Uluslararasi Hematoloji Onkoloji Dergisi. All rights reserved.Inflammatory processes play an important role in the pathophysiology of cGVHD. Serum fibrinogen is a proinflammatory protein with a wide range of functions in inflammation. But its role in GVHD is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive impact of pre-transplantation fibrinogen levels on cGVHD in allo-HSCT recipients. We retrospectively analyzed 249 patients with hematologic diseases undergoing allo-HSCT from 10/10 HLA-matched donors. Serum high fibrinogen levels at the time of HSCT (day 0) were significantly associated with cGVHD development in univariate analyses (OR 2.01, p= 0.012) and multivariate analyses (OR 1.003, p= 0.037). There was no significant association between fibrinogen levels and overall survival, disease-free survival and, acute GVHD (p> 0.05). This is the first report demonstrating the association between high fibrinogen levels and increased cGVHD occurrence.Further studies are warranted and may identify the efficacy of fibrinogen as a predictive marker on cGVHD in allo-HSCT recipients.

© 2022 by Turkish Society of Hematology Turkish Journal of Hematology, Published by Galenos Publishing House.Objective: Patients with solid malignancies are more vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection than the healthy population. The outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in highly immunosuppressed populations, such as in patients with hematological malignancies, is a point of interest. We aimed to analyze the symptoms, complications, intensive care unit admissions, and mortality rates of patients with hematological malignancies infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Turkey. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter study, we included 340 adult and pediatric patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 from March to November 2020. Diagnosis and status of primary disease, treatment schedules for hematological malignancies, time from last treatment, life expectancy related to the hematological disease, and comorbidities were recorded, together with data regarding symptoms, treatment, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Forty four patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among symptomatic patients, fever, cough, and dyspnea were observed in 62.6%, 48.8%, and 41.8%, respectively. Sixty-nine (20%) patients had mild SARS-CoV-2 disease, whereas moderate, severe, and critical disease was reported in 101 (29%), 71 (20%), and 55 (16%) patients, respectively. Of the entire cohort, 251 (73.8%) patients were hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2. Mortality related to SARS-CoV-2 infection was 26.5% in the entire cohort; this comprised 4.4% of those patients with mild disease, 12.4% of those with moderate disease, and 83% of those with severe or critical disease. Active hematological disease, lower life expectancy related to primary hematological disease, neutropenia at diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, ICU admission, and first-line therapy used for coronavirus disease-2019 treatment were found to be related to higher mortality rates. Treatments with hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with azithromycin were associated with a higher rate of mortality in comparison to favipiravir use. Conclusion: Patients with hematological malignancy infected with SARS-CoV-2 have an increased risk of severe disease and mortality.

© 2022, UHOD - Uluslararasi Hematoloji Onkoloji Dergisi. All rights reserved.Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL) is the prototype of aggressive lymphomas. The abnormalities such as translocation, deletion, duplication are stated to affect the progress and the prognosis of the disease. This study investigates the presence and impact on the prognosis of K-ras mutation and C-myc overexpression in patients with DLBCL. Twenty eight patients diagnosed with DLBCL and 29 healthy controls, whose diagnostic lymph node biopsy was reactive, were enrolled in this study. Paraffin blocks were analyzed for K-ras mutations and C-myc expressions. The effects of C-myc and K-ras on overall and disease-free survival were evaluated. Of the 28 patients, three (10.7%) K-ras mutations were detected. K-ras mutation (+) cases have an average survival time of 28 months, while those without the mutation were 49 months. The average duration of disease-free survival was 17.6 months in patients with K-ras mutation, while it has been identified as 45 months in patients without mutations (p= 0.072). C-myc overexpression in 17 patients(61%) was detected. Median overall survival was 33 months in male patients, while it was 65 months in female patients (p= 0.006). The median disease-free survival time was 23 months in male patients, although 64 months in female patients (p= 0.003). Complete remission rate was 30% in C-myc overexpression group, while 69% in remaining group with the cut-off 2.48 (p= 0.02). The presence of K-ras and C-myc overexpression in patients with DLBCL does not affect overall and disease-free survival. C-myc overexpression harms complete remission. Gender was found to be influential on the overall and disease-free survival; meanwhile, the female gender was a better prognosis.

Objective: Patients with solid malignancies are more vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection than the healthy population. The outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in highly immunosuppressed populations, such as in patients with hematological malignancies, is a point of interest. We aimed to analyze the symptoms, complications, intensive care unit admissions, and mortality rates of patients with hematological malignancies infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Turkey. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter study, we included 340 adult and pediatric patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 from March to November 2020. Diagnosis and status of primary disease, treatment schedules for hematological malignancies, time from last treatment, life expectancy related to the hematological disease, and comorbidities were recorded, together with data regarding symptoms, treatment, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Forty four patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis of SARS CoV-2 infection. Among symptomatic patients, fever, cough, and dyspnea were observed in 62.6%, 48.8%, and 41.8%, respectively. Sixty nine (20%) patients had mild SARS-CoV-2 disease, whereas moderate, severe, and critical disease was reported in 101 (29%), 71 (20%), and 55 (16%) patients, respectively. Of the entire cohort, 251 (73.8%) patients were hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2. Mortality related to SARS-CoV-2 infection was 26.5% in the entire cohort; this comprised 4.4% of those patients with mild disease, 12.4% of those with moderate disease, and 83% of those with severe or critical disease. Active hematological disease, lower life expectancy related to primary hematological disease, neutropenia at diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, ICU admission, and first-line therapy used for coronavirus disease-2019 treatment were found to be related to higher mortality rates. Treatments with hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with azithromycin were associated with a higher rate of mortality in comparison to favipiravir use. Conclusion: Patients with hematological malignancy infected with SARS-CoV-2 have an increased risk of severe disease and mortality.

WOS: 000375337000011, Introduction: During the last three decades, major advances have been made in the therapy of Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, despite these advances, Hodgkin's lymphoma has a poor prognosis in the elderly. The proportion of Hodgkin's lymphoma patients aged > 60 ranges in the different reports between 15% and 35%. This study aimed to examine clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors affecting patient survival in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients aged 65 years or older. Material methods: Hodgkin's lymphoma patients at 65 years of age and older managed within last 5 years in a total of 5 centers in Turkey were retrospectively assessed. Results: The median age of a total of 32 patients was 71 (65-83) years. Elderly patients presented more frequently with B symptoms, elevated sedimentation rate, mixed cellularity histologic subtype and comorbid disease. Less frequent were bulky disease, bone marrow involvement, and the application of autologous stem cell transplantation. The nodular lymphocyte predominant subtype and lymphocyte rich subtype were not observed at all. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, ferritin, total protein, and histological type were significant predictors affecting survival (p

The use of apheresis equipment to collect platelets has rapidly increased in recent years. We compared two apheresis instruments (Haemonetics MCS+and Trima Accel) with regard to platelet (PLT) yield and efficiency, and collection rate (CR) in a retrospective study. Overall 120 data obtained by Haemonetics and Trima systems (N=60 for each) were randomly selected among 400 plateletpheresis procedures performed at the Apheresis Unit of Kayseri Education and Research Hospital between July 2016 and January 2017. The CR was significantly higher with the Haemonetics compared to the Trima (0.076 +/- 0.016 vs. 0.065 +/- 0.015 (PLTx10(11)/min) respectively; P

Purpose: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has the most complex chemical structure of all vitamins and itis obtained naturally only from products of animal origin in developing countries. Vitamin B12deficiency is prevalent in countries of origin of refugees. The aim of this study was to determinethe prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among newly-arrived Syrian refugees in CentralAnatolia of Turkey.Journal of Anatolian Medical Research 2017; 2(1): 22-30OrjinalAraştırma23Methods: Newly arrived 256 refugees aged ≥ 16 years were tested for vitamin B12 level andother hematological parameters.Results: We found that 50 participants (19.5%) had vitamin B12 deficiency (≤ 150 pmol/L). Lowlevels of vitamin B12 were prevalent among males those over the age of 50 (44.4%) (p=0.01) andfemales those under the age of 50 (75%) (p

Amaç: Paroksismal nokturnal hemoglobinüri (PNH), kronik intravasküler hemoliz bulguları,kemik iliği yetersizliği ve trombozla kendini gösterebilen edinsel, klonal bir hematopoietikkök hücre hastalığıdır. Klinik bulguların çok değişken olması, tanıda gecikmelere vehastalığın morbi-mortalitesinde artışa yol açabilmektedir. Tanıda altın standart yöntem, temelmoleküler defektin, yani glukozilfosfotidilinozitol (GPİ) çıpası yardımıyla hücre membranınabağlanan proteinlerdeki eksikliğin akım sitometrik yöntemle ortaya konulmasıdır.Tedavisinde ise tek küratif yöntem allojeneik kök hücre naklidir. Ancak günümüzde PNHtedavisinde, hemoliz, transfüzyon bağımlılığı, organ hasarı ve semptomları azalttığı gösterilenve bir terminal kompleman inhibitörü olarak görev yapan eculizumab da yaygın olarakkullanılmaktadır. Bu çok merkezli çalışmada amacımız, ülkemizdeki PNH hastaların kliniközelliklerinin ve tedavi yönetimlerinin değerlendirilmesidir.Gereç ve yöntem: Çalışmamıza yirmi farklı merkezin hematoloji kliniğinde PNH tanısı alantoplam 60 olgu dahil edilmiştir. Tüm olguların retrospektif olarak dosyaları taranmış,hastaların demografik özellikleri, laboratuvar bulguları, gelişen komplikasyonlar, akımsitometri bilgileri, aldıkları tedaviler ve ölüm sebepleri kaydedilmiştir.Bulgular: Çalışmamıza alınan 60 hastanın ortanca yaşları 33 (17-77) idi. Kırkaltı hasta klasikPNH ve 14 hasta sekonder PNH (13 hasta aplastik anemi+PNH, 1 hasta myelodisplastiksendrom+PNH) idi. Hastaların temel demografik özellikleri, hematolojik parametreleri,semptom ve bulguları Tablo1’de özetlenmiştir. Halsizlik ve karın ağrısı en sık başvuruyakınmaları olup, organomegali sadece 7 hastada saptanmıştı. Akım sitometrik analizdeortanca granülosit ve monosit klonları klasik PNH olgularında sırasıyla %75 (23.1-99.5) ve%77 (14.2-99) ve sekonder PNH olgularında %70.5 (13.8-95) ve %61 (14-95.5) olarak izlendi. Tromboembolik olaylar 60 hastanın 18 inde (%30) gözlenmişti. Klasik ve sekonderPNH olguları arasında tromboembolik olay gelişimi açısından istatistiksel bir farkgözlenmemişti (sırasıyla %17.3 ve %14.2, p:0.57). Hastaların, 2009 yılında eculizumabülkemizde ulaşılabilir olana dek immünsupresif ilaçlarla tedavi gördükleri, bu tarihten sonraise olguların %67.4’ünde (31/46) eculizumab tedavisine geçildiği izlendi. Ortalama yaşamsüresi 42 ay (7-183) olarak belirlendi. 60 hastadan 4’ü (%6.6) infeksiyon, 2’si fungalpnömoni, 1’i sepsis ve diğer 1 hasta ise CMV enfeksiyonu nedenli kaybedildi.Tartışma: Çalışmamızda, nadir bir hematopoietik kök hücre hastalığı olan PNH’nin görülmeyaşının literatürle benzerlik gösterdiğini görülmüştür. Trombotik komplikasyon sıklığı %30olarak belirlenmiş olup, sıklıkla ve beklendiği üzere venöz tromboz şeklinde geliştiğigörülmüştür. Literatürden farklı olarak tromboz nedenli ölen hasta görülmemiş, en sık ölümsebebi enfeksiyon olarak belirlenmiştir.Çalışmamız, PNH hastalarının değerlendirildiği ve ülkemizde bugüne kadar yapılmışen kapsamlı çalışmadır. Bu ve benzer çalışmaların, nadir görülen PNH gibi hastalıklarda,ileriye yönelik olarak hastalık yönetimini de etkileyebilecek çok değerli bilgiler verebileceğinidüşünüyoruz.Anahtar kelimeler: Eculizumab, Paroksismal nokturnal hemoglobinüri, Tromboz&nbsp

Amaç: Mutipl Myeloma, tüm kanser tiplerinin %1' ini, hematolojik malignitelerin ise %10' unu oluşturan tamamen kürün sağlanamadığı fatal bir hastalıktır. Genellikle yaşlı populasyonda izlenir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, son 5 yılda farklı rejimlerle tedavi edilen 65 yaş ve üzerindeki 105 Mutipl Myeloma' lı hastadaki klinik deneyimimizi sunmaktır. Yöntem: 65 yaş üzerindeki Mutipl Myeloma'lı hastaların klinik karakterleri ve terapötik sonuçlarını analize etmek için, Türkiye'deki 5 farklı merkezden retrospektif olarak veriler toplandı.Bulgular: 51 erkek ve 54 kadından oluşan toplam 105 yaşlı Multipl Myeloma hastası (65 yaş ve üzeri) retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Hastalara ilk basamak olarak, VAD( vinkrsitin, adriamisin, deksametazon), VCD ( Bortezomib, siklofosfamid, deksametazon), MP( melphalan, prednizolon), MPT (Melphalan, prednizolon, thalidomid) rejimleri verildi. 29 hastada tam yanıt elde edildi ve bu hastaların 18 'ine otolog kök hücre nakli yapıldı. Tam yanıt elde edilemeyen 46 hastaya, ikinci basamak tedavi olarak bortezomib, lenalidomid ve talidomid bazlı rejimler verildi. İkinci basamak tedavi ile tedavi edilenlerin 29'unda tam yanıt elde edildi ve bu hastalardan 20'sine otolog kök hücre nakli yapıldı. 16 hastaya ise birinci ve ikinci basamak rejimlere yanıt vermediğinden lenalidomid bazlı rejimler (n:10), talidomid bazlı rejimler (n:6) verildi. Bu tedavilerle remisyona giren 5 hastaya Otolog kök hücre nakli yapıldı. Sonuç: Optimal tedavi yaklaşımı, verimli, güvenli, kaliteli yaşam sağlamalı ve amaç tam yanıtın yanı sıra hastalıksız sağ kalımı ve genel sağ kalımı uzatmak olmalıdır