Articles

Epidemiology of COVID-19 infections in haematology patients and prognostic factors for outcome: A national, multicentre retrospective study

BJH - volume 13, issue 7, november 2022

T. Mercier MD, PhD, S. Fieuws PhD, K. Theunissen MD, M-C. Ngirabacu MD, PhD, N. Straetmans MD, PhD, C. Spilleboudt MD, D. Mazure MD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, A. De Becker MD, D. Selleslag MD, D. Breems MD, PhD, D. Deeren MD, S. Servais MD, PhD, C. Jacquy MD, PhD, H. Poirel MD, PhD, D. Van Beckhoven MD, K. Blot MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD

SUMMARY

In the early weeks of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, little was known about the risk factors of this novel disease in haematology patients. We therefore created a national, multi-center, retrospective study via a national consortium of haematology centres in Belgium to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in haematology patients. By combining these data with data collected through the national public health institute Sciensano and the national Belgian Cancer Registry, we were able to show that haematology patients were at an increased risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19 (1 in 250 haematology patients versus 1 in 2000 in the general population). Furthermore, we found that patients with multiple myeloma and acute leukaemia were overrepresented in these hospitalisations. Mortality at 90 days was 38% during the first wave, compared to 19.3% in the general population. We therefore conclude that haematology patients with COVID-19 are at a significantly higher risk of both hospitalisation and death.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(7):269–76)

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Acute graft-versus-host disease: diagnosis, pathophysiology and prevention

BJH - volume 11, issue 4, june 2020

B. Vandenhove PhD student, L. Canti PhD student, H. Schoemans MD, PhD, Y. Beguin MD, PhD, prof. F. Baron , E. Willems MD, PhD, C. Graux MD, PhD, T. Kerre MD, PhD, S. Servais MD, PhD

SUMMARY

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) remains a severe complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT). It is a disregulated immune process, during which the immune cells of the donor attack the healthy tissues in the immunocompromised host. Over the past two decades, progress in understanding its pathophysiology have helped redefine aGVHD reactions and clinical presentations. Typically, the disease presents with serious inflammatory lesions mainly in the skin, gut and liver. Its severity is assessed by gathering clinical signs and dysfunctions of each organ. Despite standard prophylaxis regimens, aGVHD still occurs in approximately 30–60% of transplanted patients and remains a major cause of transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Hence, there is an urgent need for optimising preventive strategies. In this review, we give insights on how to make an accurate diagnosis and scoring assessment of aGVHD, propose a short overview of the current knowledge about its immunobiology and discuss the current and developing strategies for prevention.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(4):159–173)

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P37 Comparison of Multigam® IV (5% vs. 10%) in hematological patients with secondary immunodeficiencies to evaluate infusion time, tolerability and satisfaction. A monocentric observational Belgian study

BJH - 2018, issue Abstract Book BHS, february 2018

Ir J. Van Ham , M. Delforge MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Raddoux , M. Beckers MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD, V. Vergote MD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD, P. Vandenberghe MD, PhD

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O.5 Sequential administration of 5-azacytidine (AZA) and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT): an interim analysis from the Belgian Hematology Society (BHS)

BJH - volume 8, issue Abstract Book BHS, february 2017

X. Poiré MD, PhD, C. Graux MD, PhD, A. Ory , J. Jamart , F. Frédéric , H. Schoemans MD, PhD, P. Lewalle MD, PhD, A. De Becker MD, D. Deeren MD, Z. Berneman MD, PhD, T. Kerre MD, PhD, P. Zachée MD, PhD, D. Selleslag MD, Y. Beguin MD, PhD

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PP3.3 The ‘EBMT GVHD App’ improves accuracy of graft versus host disease assessment according to NIH criteria compared to standard practice – A proof of concept

BJH - volume 7, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2016

H. Schoemans MD, PhD, K. Goris , R. Van Durm , J. Vanhoof , D. Wolff , H. Greinix , S. Pavletic , S. Lee , J. Maertens MD, PhD, S. De Geest , F. Dobbels , R. Duarte

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P1.12 Tumor lysis syndrome: monocentric evaluation of a predictive tool

BJH - volume 6, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2015

D. Dierickx MD, PhD, K. Saevels MD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD

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P1.20 Intravascular lymphoma: A retrospective monocentric observational analysis and review of literature

BJH - volume 6, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2015

D. Dierickx MD, PhD, D. Gullentops , G. Verhoef MD, PhD, S. Vanderschueren MD, PhD, T. Tousseyn MD, PhD, O. Gheyssens , M. Delforge MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD

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