S. Servais MD, PhD

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

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)

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

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)

O.6 Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells for poor graft function after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation – a multicenter prospective study

PP43 Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the central nervous system (CNS) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT): case report

PP42 Th17 impact on xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Summary

Steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease is a severe complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. So far, its treatment remains very challenging since the current therapies do not offer significant benefits. Among the most recent approaches, multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell-based therapy has attracted great interest over the past decade. Here, we briefly reviewed the current knowledges about the immunomodulatory properties of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells as well as results of preclinical and clinical studies having assessed their efficacy to modulate steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016;7(6):229–35)

O.1 Infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as treatment for steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host study (aGVHD): a multicenter prospective phase II study of the BHS