Comparison of central venous catheterization with and without ultrasound guide

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness, safety and time needed to perform central venous catheterization (CVC) in the presence or absence of an ultrasound (US) guide. Methods: Between January 1999 and February 2002 we performed CVCs in 196 patients: 105 patients received US guided CVC (group I) and 91 patients had CVC without US guide (group II). Results: The average time to perform CVC was shorter with US guide (4 vs 7min). The utilization of the US guide was also associated with improved success (98.09% vs 91.2%, p < 0.025) and lack of major complications (0% vs 9.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: US-guided CVC affords an easier, safer and more rapid cannulation of a central vein. It is especia…

Uncommon Presentations of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

The Role of Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin in Elderly AML Patients in Complete Remission.

Abstract The majority of patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are diagnosed in their 6th and 7th decade of life. AML in elderly pts is associated with poor response to conventional chemotherapy and limited long-term survival, reflecting a higher incidence multidrug resistance mechanisms, a low bone marrow reserve which may prevent/delay the recovery of hematopoiesis after treatment, and the occurrence of co-morbidities. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is an immunoconjugate with a humanized anti-CD33 that after internalization, releases a cytotoxic drug, calicheamicin; ≥80% of AML pts have myeloid blast cells that express the CD33 surface antigen. GO as a single agent has low antileuk…

Hepatosplenic γδ T-cell lymphoma: complete response induced by treatment with pentostatin

Higher frequency of HCV in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Is it enough to suggest an association with B-cell NHL?

Continuous intravenous infusion of dipyridamole as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an uncommon hematologic thrombotic disorder characterized by fever, hemorrhagic and neurologic signs. The advent of plasma exchange has dramatically improved the prognosis of this disease, which was once inevitably fatal. However, mortality rates remain significant. Antiplatelet drugs have been widely used in combination with plasma exchange. In this pilot study we investigated the effects of an adjunctive therapy consisting of the continuous, intravenous infusion of dipyridamole, a modality of administration that has not been previously tested in this setting. Sixteen untreated TTP patients, diagnosed consecutively at our clinic, receiv…