Using Rheopheresis for stem cell Transplantation-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TA-TMA)

Rheopheresis: A narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Rheopheresis is an extracorporal selective double-filtration procedure with an initial separation of plasma from the whole blood and a further filtration of the plasma through a second filter in order to eliminate a certain number of high molecular weight proteins such LDL, Lp(a), fibrinogen, α2-macroglobulin, Factor von Willebrand, and IgM Immunoglobulin.

METHODS

In this narrative review we discuss the available data on the effects of Rheopheresis in various clinical conditions.

RESULTS

Rheopheresis is considerd to exert a rapid effect on clinical conditions associated with seriously affected microcirculation and rheologic parameters such as, the dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHS), peripheral artery disease (PAD), calciphylaxis, systemic sclerosis and diabetic foot.

CONCLUSIONS

Rheopheresis is a promising technique for conditions associated with affected microcirculatory rheologic parameters.

Intensive Care Unit Admissions Among Children After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Incidence, Outcome, and Prognostic Factors

We retrospectively analyzed posttransplantation events in 299 children who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between 2005 and 2011 in order to ascertain the incidence of life-threatening complications requiring pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, the contributing risk factors, and the patient's long-term survival. Sixty-eight patients (23%) were admitted to the PICU. Risks factors associated with higher cumulative incidence of PICU admission on univariate analysis were nonmalignant disease, status at transplantation, type of transplant, source of stem cell, engraftment syndrome (ES), veno-occlusive disease, acute graft versus host disease (GvHD), chronic GvHD, thrombotic microangiopathy, bronchiolitis obliterans, hemorrhagic cystitis, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). On multivariate analysis, only ES, acute GvHD, transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), and PRES were statistically significant. The variables that had a negative impact on survival, on univariate analysis, were allogeneic transplant, age, male sex, a high O-PRISM score, a high O-PRISM3 score, engraftment failure, acute GvHD, TA-TMA, hemorrhagic cystitis, and PRES. On multivariate analysis, only age, allogeneic transplant, engraftment failure, acute GvHD, TA-TMA, and hemorrhagic cystitis had a negative impact on survival. In conclusion, our report provides new findings regarding life-threatening complications after hematopoietic transplantation for PICU admission and survival after that in a pediatric population.