Lethal systemic and brain infection caused by Prototheca zopfii algae in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia
Systemic protothecosis is an exceptionally rare cause of sepsis with few available therapeutic options. Here, we report on a female patient with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia who died after start of chemotherapy due to a severe septic shock caused by a disseminated systemic infection with Prototheca zopfii including encephalitis.
Depression and cognitive deficits as long-term consequences of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
BACKGROUND Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an acute life-threatening microangiopathy with a tendency of relapse characterized by consumptive thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and spontaneous von Willebrand factor–induced platelet clumping leading to microthrombi. The brain is frequently affected by microthrombi leading to neurologic abnormalities of varying severity. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The aim of this observational cohort study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and cognitive deficits in 104 patients having survived acute TTP. TTP survivors were repeatedly assessed by means of different standardized questionnaires to evaluate depression (ID…
Relapse Rate in Survivors of Acute Autoimmune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Treated with or without Rituximab.
Background Autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is caused by autoantibody-mediated severe a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeats, member 13 (ADAMTS13) deficiency leading to micro-angiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA) and thrombocytopenia with organ damage. Patients survive with plasma exchange (PEX), fresh frozen plasma replacement and corticosteroid treatment. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is increasingly used in patients resistant to conventional PEX or relapsing after an acute bout. Objective This retrospective observational study focused on the relapse rate and possible influencing factors including treatment with rituximab first…
Safety of the Anti-CD19 antibody Tafasitamab in Long Term Responders from A Phase II Trial for Relapsed Lymphoma
Abstract Background: Information about the long-term tolerability of tafasitamab is still limited. Methods: 5 of 92 patients treated within a phase IIa study of single-agent tafasitamab in relapsed or refractory B NHL were followed for up to five years or longer for long-term tolerability. Results: Treatment was very well tolerated in an outpatient setting with no hospitalizations needed and mild and tolerable adverse events that occurred mostly within the first two years of treatment. Conclusions: Given the excellent tolerability and efficacy of tafasitamab this agent can be used to induce remission in relapsed or refractory lymphoma either alone or in combination with chemotherapy.