Toxoplasmosis is a rare but severe complication after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) that, in the vast majority of cases, develops as a reactivation of a latent infection; 1,2 however primary infection is also possible. 2-4 Patients who were toxoplasmosis seropositive before transplantation are at higher risk when the donor is seronegative. 1,4,5 Toxoplasmosis disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality rate in~60-90% when the onset is early after transplantation. 4-6 In most cases, patients develop localised central nervous system infection, but disseminated disease is also possible. 1,5,7 In adult patients who undergo HSCT, the reported incidence of toxoplasmosis is~1% with an important variability between geographic areas depending on seroprevalence. 1 When screening PCR is performed in patients at high risk of infectious complications, the incidence of infection (without disease) is 12-18%. 1-3 Here, we report the frequency of toxoplasmosis disease, its presentation, diagnosis and outcome in paediatric patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT in the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Department at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo of Pavia between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015. HSCT data and medical records were collected retrospectively. All patients and, when possible, all donors were tested before and after transplant in order to assess their immunological status with LIAISON XL Toxo-IgG II/IgM (DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy). In all suspected cases VIDAS TOXO-IgG II and IgG AVIDITY, Toxo-ISAGA IgM (Biomerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France), ETI-ToxoA (DiaSorin) were performed. To assess their humoral immunological status and in house Interferon Gamma Release Assay, QuantiFERON-ELISA (Cellestis Limited, Carnegie, Victoria, Australia), with Toxoplasma antigen (kindly provided by Diasorin) was also used. The commercial real-time PCR test ELITE-MGB (ELITech Group, Torino Italia) was performed on peripheral blood, and/or cerebrospinal fluid in all the suspected cases and was also used to monitor the recovery. The 187 allo-HSCTs analysed in the study included 15 second allo-HSCT (8%) and 5 patients who received a previous auto-HSCT. Mean age at transplant was 9 years. Underlying disease included malignant (66.3%) and non-malignant (33.7%) disorders. Forty-three patients with a malignant disease (23%) received allo-HSCT in advanced disease status, 81 (43.3%) in early disease status. Only 4 patients received a reduced intensity conditioning regimen. Thirty-seven (19.8%) were matched family donor (MFD), 86 (45.9%) matched unrelated donor (MUD) and 64 (34.2%) partially matched family donor. Main characteristics of the cohort analysed are summarised in Table 1. Of 187 HSCT recipients, 28.8% (54/187) were toxo-IgG positive before transplant and 71.2% (133/187) were naive for protozoan infection. Toxoplasma serology was available only for 152/187 donors: 23% were toxo-IgG positive and 77% were toxo-IgG negative. We found a high number of non-tested donors (18.7%, 35/187), wh...
To study vaginal development and sexual functioning in young women after childhood hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and radio/chemotherapy. Observational case-control study on 30 young sexually active women survived after HSCT and/or radio/chemotherapy for childhood malignancies or hematologic diseases and 48 controls matched for age. Female Sexual Function Index was lower (median 24.05, IQR = 17.30-28.30 vs. 29.00, IQR = 25.30-31.40, p = 0.001), Female Sexual Distress Scale higher (median 16.00, IQR = 8.00-23.00 vs. 2.00, IQR = 0.00-4.00, p < 0.001), vaginal length shorter (mean difference = 21.1 mm; 95% CI = 19.3-23, p < .001) and vaginal maturation index worst in cases than in controls. Subjects treated by irradiation before HSCT had lower FSFI (median 21.85, IQR = 9.60-31.10 vs. 24.90, IQR = 17.30-28.30) and shorter vaginal length (median 45.55, IQR = 42.60-45.80 vs. 50.10, IQR = 45.30-52.90) compared to those who had not received conditioning treatment (p-values = 0.004 and p = 0.05, respectively). Compared to untreated subjects, women receiving hormonal replacement therapy had higher overall FSFI (p = 0.02), lower FSDS (0.04), and better VMI. Gonadotoxic therapies have adverse effects on vaginal development, sexual functioning, and distress in young females. Hormonal replacement therapy should be shortly considered after main gonodatoxic treatments to improve vaginal and sex health.
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