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Our data would suggest that 13q14x2 could represent a more aggressive FISH anomaly than 13q14x1 alone, probably as a consequence of clonal evolution and/or due to the complete inactivation of this critical region by mean of more complex mechanisms.

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Summary:In patients undergoing bone marrow transplant (BMT), reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released as a consequence of the events related to the preparative regimen. Total body irradiation (TBI), which is known to generate ROS, is a routine preconditioning procedure prior to BMT. Several studies have demonstrated that amifostine protects normal tissues. In the present report, we investigated the oxidative state of plasma and erythrocytes in 21 patients with hematological malignancies undergoing TBI. The dose fraction was 160 cGy, twice daily (eight sessions). For ROS detection, we used electron spin resonance spectroscopy and spin-trapping technique. In all, 15 patients received amifostine prior to the irradiation and six did not. No free radical signal was detected in the plasma samples spectrum of 15 amifostinetreated patients, and five of six samples of nontreated patients showed ROS signal. Only two of 15 treated patients had mucositis degree higher than 2, whereas five of six nontreated patients suffered this complication. The average hospitalization days in treated and nontreated patients were 23.5 and 29.7, respectively. This work represents an original observation; we found by direct measurements of free radicals that ROS are released during TBI, and confirmed the amifostine radical scavenger activity.

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The administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in immune and autoimmune diseases led us to use this agent to ameliorate or prevent the consequences of non-ABO incompatible transfusions in patients who need this form of therapy. IVIG (400 mg/kg/day) was infused within 24 h of transfusion in 5 patients with: (1) intestinal angiodysplasia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and anti-Kpb; (2) paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, anti-c, anti E, Anti Fyb, anti-K and autoantibodies; (3) lymphoma and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA); (4) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), AIHA, and anti-D, and (5) SLE and AHIA. A sustained increase in hematocrit was noted and no trasfusion reaction developed in any of the cases. A single dose of pretransfusion IVIG may therefore be a useful therapeutic alternative in patients for whom no compatible blood is available. Patients with severe anemia, alio- and autoantibodies, either showing hemolysis in their pathophysiology or not, cause a serious problem in any transfusion center, especially when dealing with emergencies. In order to reduce the risks of incompatible transfusions, different modalities have previously been attempted, all with poor results. In 1989 we reported the successful use of pretrans- fusional high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding and anti-Kp^b [19], The transfusion of incompatible red blood cells improved the anemia and allowed the exploratory laparotomy to take place. A protocol was then developed based on this case administering pretransfusion IVIG in high doses for patients for whom no compatible blood (non-ABO) is available.