Herpesviruses infections were uncommon after HSCT, except for CMV and HHV6, which, although relatively frequent, had no clinically relevant impact on the outcomes.

In Switzerland, the acceptance of the guidelines for treating traumatic spinal cord injury with high-dose methylprednisolone has been extremely high in the past. The use of high-dose methylprednisolone has decreased to a much lower level in Switzerland after the publication of new guidelines, which is comparable to various other countries. Despite these changes, no differences in the neurological outcome were detected between the observed patient populations.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that drive immune responses and tolerance and are divided in different subsets: myeloid DCs (mDCs: lineage-; HLA-DR+, 11c+), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs: HLA-DR+, CD123+), and monocyte-derived DCs (moDC: lineage-, 11c+, 16+). After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), low DC counts in the recipients' peripheral blood (PB) have been associated with worse outcomes, but the relevance of DC graft content remains unclear, and there are few data in the setting of unrelated donor HSCT. We evaluated the DC graft content and monitored DC recovery in PB from 111 HSCT recipients (median age, 17 years; range 1 to 74), who received bone marrow (46%), umbilical cord blood (32%), or PB (22%) from unrelated (81%) or related donors (19%). In 86 patients with sustained allogeneic recovery, patients with higher counts of all DC subsets (pDC, mDC, and moDC) 3 weeks after engraftment had lower incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NMR) and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and better survival. pDC counts were associated with more striking results: patients with higher pDC counts had much lower incidences of NRM (3% versus 47%, P < .0001), lower incidence of aGVHD (24% versus 67%, P < .0001), and better overall survival (92% versus 45%, P < .0001). In contrast, higher pDC counts in the graft was associated with an increased risk of aGVHD (55% versus 26%, P = .02). Our results indicate that DC counts are closely correlated with HSCT outcomes and warrant further prospective evaluation and possible early therapeutic interventions to ameliorate severe aGVHD and decrease mortality.

BackgroundPeripheral blood stem cell concentrations are traditionally adjusted to 20–40 × 106 leukocytes/mL prior to freezing. This low cell concentration at cryopreservation implies larger volumes with more dimethyl sulfoxide being used, and higher cost and toxicity at the time of transplant. Higher cell concentrations have been reported but this is not widely accepted. Moreover, the influence of cell concentration on engraftment has not been well documented. Therefore, this study retrospectively analyzed the influence of peripheral blood stem cell concentration at freezing on engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.MethodLeukapheresis products were plasma-depleted and cryopreserved with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 6% hydroxyethylamide solution and 4% albumin in a −80 °C freezer. Individual patient data from hospital records were reviewed.ResultsFifty consecutive patients with oncological diseases underwent 88 leukaphereses. Median age was six years (range: 1–32 years) and median weight was 19 kg (range: 8–94 kg). Median leukocyte concentration was 109 × 106/mL at collection and 359 × 106 (range: 58–676 × 106) at freezing with 78% viability (range: 53–95%); leukocyte recovery after thawing was 95% (range: 70–100%). In multivariate analysis, cell concentration (p-value = 0.001) had a negative impact on engraftment. Patients infused with bags frozen with <200 × 106 leukocytes/mL engrafted after a median of nine days (range: 8–12 days), 200–400 × 106 leukocytes/mL after 11 days (range: 9–20 days); 400–600 × 106 leukocytes/mL after 12 days (range: 8–19 days) and with cell concentrations >600 × 106 leukocytes/mL, engraftment was after 14 days (range: 13–22 days).ConclusionIn patients with adequate CD34 cell collections, total leukocyte concentrations of 282 × 106/mL, freezing with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 6% hydroxyethylamide solution without a controlled-rate freezer, and storing cells at −80 °C yielded excellent engraftment. Further increases in cell concentration may delay engraftment, without affecting safety.

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4711 Allogeneic unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are complex procedures that need adequate hospital infrastructure, a competent team, high-cost procedures and medications. Most transplants that are performed in Brazil are paid by the government. The national health system reimburses the hospital U$ 35,801.00 as a flat rate. The government has recently increased this amount by 60% but there are not national studies to use to evaluate the appropriateness of this amount. The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the cost of ten consecutive unrelated donor HSCT performed in our institution. Methods: The project was approved by our IRB (CEP-UNIFESP #1875/11) and granted waiver to request consent. The costs were evaluated from the first appointment until one year after transplant or death divided as 1) pre-HSCT, 2) conditioning therapy, 3) from the day of transplant until first discharge, 4) until D+100, 5) until D+180, and 6) until D+360. The costs included medications, supplies, blood transfusions, laboratory, imaging and the cost of the ward. Housing and out-of pocket costs or loss of income were not evaluated. Patients were evaluated according to the Pediatric EBMT score (1–3). Results: Ten consecutive children 2–14 years of age underwent unrelated donor HSCT from June, 2010 to May, 2011. Diagnoses were ALL (4). AML (3), lymphoma (2), and aplastic anemia (1). Three patients had early disease and others were in advanced phases of the diseases. Eight were CMV positive. Five had marrow and five cord blood transplants. The median time was 3.7 years from diagnosis to transplant and 80 days from referral to transplant. The patients remained in the unit for a median of 80 days (21–50). Median time to engraftment was D+22 (12–56) and six had complications and needed Intensive Care support. Of the 10 children, seven were discharged but three relapsed; overall survival is 50%. The median total cost during the first year was U$112,130.00 (mean U$ 174,000.00) – 44% of that spent within the first 100 days post HSCT. The first admission had a median total cost of U$ 60,700.00 (13,580 – 157,840). Total costs were approximately 40% higher than the direct cost. The highest costs were blood products and medications. No relationship was found between cost and age, gender, graft source of Pediatric EBMT-score. Conclusion: Unrelated-donor HSCT are expensive procedures and the government only partially reimburses its cost. Even with the 60% increase in reimbursement there will be a deficit in more than half of the procedures. We are working to increase this amount paid in patients who have complications and will have to continue to find alternative resources to finance the transplants. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.