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Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma is associated with poor long-term survival after relapse or resistance to chemotherapy. We report a case of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma refractory to first-line R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) and second-line R-DHAP (rituximab, dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin) chemotherapy treatments. The patient achieved remission with single-agent pixantrone, and received a consolidation with high-dose BEAM (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. He received consolidation radiotherapy on the site of bulky disease. At 20 months from transplant, the disease is in continuous complete remission. The successful use of pixantrone as a bridge to transplant is highlighted, together with the absence of serious side effects.

Anti-HCV was tested in 77 uremic patients, 48 on hemodialysis (HD), 29 on CAPD, by immunoenzymatic 1st and 2nd generation assays (ELISA I, II) and 4-antigen (4-RIBA) immublotting. The investigation was extended to the staff (n = 29) and to HCV-positive patients’ families (n = 30). The prevalence using 2nd generation tests was double (21%) that in 1 st generation tests (11%). A greater incidence in the HD than in the CAPD group (23 vs. 17%) and a highly significative correlation to dialytic age were observed. No one among the sanitary personnel and only 2 family members were found HCV positive, suggesting a low infectivity via the parenteral inevident route. Extracorporeal circulation and particularly the exposure time to the treatment seem to be the main risk factors.

In our experience ECP achieved favourable clinical responses in 73% of patients, in monotherapy or in combination with IFN-alpha, without significant side effects.

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