Y. Beguin MD, PhD

P4.05 High incidence of second malignancies in patients given allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation following reduced-intensity (RIC) or nonmyeloablative conditioning

P1.08 Hemolytic crisis induced by rasburicase administration revealing G-6-PD deficiency

P2.20 Galectin expression in the multiple myeloma microenvironment

P3.05 Efficacy of azacitidine in Belgian patients: results of a real-life non-interventional, post-marketing survey

P4.10 Imatinib improves survival of chronic Graft-versus-Host disease by inhibiting TGF-beta and PDGF-r pathways in mice

Primary immune thrombocytopenia in adults

Summary

The Belgian Hematological Society (BHS) guideline panel on adult primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) reviewed the recent literature on diagnosis and treatment to make recommendations on the best strategies for frontline and subsequent-line treatment. No treatment is necessary for patients with platelet counts higher than 30000/μl in the absence of bleeding symptoms. Patients newly diagnosed or relapsing after a long-term treatment-free period can be managed with corticosteroids with or without intravenous immunoglobulins. A second line therapy is indicated for those patients who are intolerant or unresponsive to or relapse after initial corticosteroid treatment and have a risk of bleeding. The guideline panel recommends splenectomy as it is the treatment with the highest curative potential and an acceptable safety profile. If possible, splenectomy should be delayed to at least twelve months after diagnosis as spontaneous remission can occur in this time period. Thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) agonists are recommended for patients who are refractory to or relapse after splenectomy or who have a contra-indication to splenectomy irrespective of the duration of ITP. The guideline panel agrees that rituximab, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine A, danazol, dapsone, mycophenolate mofetil and vincristine/vinblastine are potential treatment options, especially for patients refractory to TPO-R agonists.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013;1:11–20)

O.4 Combination of regulatory T cells injection with rapamycin for treatment of chronic Graft-versus-Host disease