BJH - 2021, issue 2, march 2021
M. Beckers MD, PhD, S. Sid MD, A. De Becker MD, B. Heyrman MD, N. Granacher MD, D. Mazure MD, S. Meers MD, PhD, M-C. Vekemans MD, On behalf of the other members of MDS and MPN committee
Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) is a rare haematological disease. Hallmark of the diagnosis is chronic monocytosis. Other clinical features include cytopenia, dysplasia with the associated complaints like fatigue or leucocytosis, splenomegaly with constitutional symptoms. Predicting prognosis and choosing the correct treatment can be challenging for the clinician. These guidelines cover the diagnosis and treatment of CMML and provide information on morphology, cytogenetics and molecular testing, clinical features including autoimmune manifestations, prognosis and risk assessment and a treatment algorithm for both the fit and unfit CMML patient.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;12(2):66-76)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 8, december 2020
M-C. Vekemans MD, C. Doyen MD, K.L. Wu MD, PhD, A. Kentos MD, PhD, P. Mineur MD, L. Michaux MD, PhD, J. Caers MD, PhD, N. Meuleman MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, On behalf of the BHS Myeloma Subgroup
With the introduction of immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors and anti-CD38 monoclonal anti-bodies, major improvements have been achieved in the treatment and outcome of multiple myeloma (MM). Different treatment combinations are now in use and other therapies are being developed. This rapidly changing therapeutic landscape urges for an update on practical guidelines. Based on an extensive review of the recent literature, we propose recommendations on myeloma management, to be used by haematologists as a reference for daily practice.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(8):357-75)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 8, december 2020
N. Meuleman MD, PhD, M. Vercruyssen MD, M. Cliquennois MD, J. Caers MD, PhD, C. Doyen MD, G. Bries MD, PhD, C. Jacquy MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, M-C. Vekemans MD
Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare and serious disease due to the deposition of amyloid fibrils. In the past years, improvements have been made in the diagnosis, treatment and response criteria. Based on an extensive review of the recent literature on AL amyloidosis, we propose practical recommenddations that can be used by Belgian haematologists as a reference for daily practice. Management of other types of amyloidosis will not be covered by this review. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations are based on previously published methods.1 We recommend participation in clinical trials to gain knowledge in this evolving field.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(8):343-56)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 7, november 2020
M-C. Vekemans MD, C. Doyen MD, K.L. Wu MD, PhD, A. Kentos MD, PhD, P. Mineur MD, L. Michaux MD, PhD, J. Caers MD, PhD, N. Meuleman MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, On behalf of the BHS Myeloma Subgroup
With the introduction of immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, major improvements have been achieved in the treatment and outcome of multiple myeloma (MM). Different treatment combinations are now in use and other therapies are being developed. This rapidly changing therapeutic landscape urges for an update on practical guidelines. Based on an extensive review of the recent literature, we propose recommendations on myeloma management, to be used by haematologists as a reference for daily practice.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(7):286-304)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 7, november 2020
J. Loos MD, M. Beckers MD, PhD, V. Beckers MD, M. Hoyoux MD, prof. dr. W. Peetermans MD, PhD, A. Van De Velde MD, V. Van Hende MD, A. Vanderfaeillie MD, Y. Van Laethem MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD
Patients with hematological malignancies suffer from widely varying degrees of immunodeficiency, which leads to an increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections. Some of these, such as influenza and invasive pneumococcal disease, are vaccine preventable. During the Covid19 pandemic these past months patients with hematological malignancies have already shown to be at greater risk of dying, with mortality rates of up to 30% in hospitalized patients.1,2 This has once again highlighted the importance of robust and widely spread vaccination strategies, also we eagerly await an available vaccine for Covid19. In this review, the advisory board on vaccination of the Belgian Hematological Society (BHS), consisting of experts from various disease committees as well as two infectious disease experts attempts to provide clear recommendations regarding vaccinations in patients with hematological malignancies and asplenia. Although transplant recipients share many of the immunodeficiencies of those not transplanted, clear guidelines and vaccination schedules have already been published.3
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(7):305-316)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 6, october 2020
E. Roose PhD, S. Deconinck , C. Dekimpe , A. Curie , SF. De Meyer PhD, K. VanHoorelbeke PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathic disorder (TMA) due to a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease with Thrombo-Spondin type 1 repeats, member 13). The deficiency in ADAMTS13 can either be caused by mutations in ADAMTS13 (congenital TTP or Upshaw-Schulman syndrome, cTTP) or by anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies (immune-mediated TTP, iTTP). Diagnosis of TTP is challenging but crucial for the survival of the patient. TTP should be suspected when microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia are observed. A severely decreased ADAMTS13 activity (activity <10%) should confirm the diagnosis of TTP. Standard treatment of TTP is plasma therapy (plasma exchange for iTTP, while plasma infusion for cTTP), but novel therapeutics like rituximab, caplacizumab and recombinant ADAMTS13 show promising results regarding the recovery and sustained remission of TTP patients. However, although major advances have been made in the management of TTP, TTP is a chronic disease and patients still relapse, careful and stringent patient follow-up is needed to improve the patients’ quality of life.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(6):253-60)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 6, october 2020
I. Moors MD, dr. A. Delie MD
Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms are increasingly seen in our daily practice, as a consequence of increased long-term cancer survivorship and an aging population. Typically, there is an overrepresentation of high-risk cytogenetics and TP53 mutations. In recent years, there have been new insights in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms, especially with regard to the role of CHIP (clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential) in patients receiving cytotoxic therapy for a malignant or non-malignant disorder. Unfortunately, prognosis seems worse in comparison to de novo AML, despite intensive induction and consolidation with allogeneic stem cell transplantation, with a high frequency of treatment-related toxicity and relapse. However, there is hope for the future with the emergence of novel therapies that could be of special interest in the context of these poor-risk leukaemias.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(6):261-7)
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