Articles

Treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphomas: recommendations of the Belgian Hematological Society (BHS)

BJH - volume 4, issue 3, september 2013

F. Van Obbergh MD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, F. Offner MD, PhD, D. Bron MD, PhD, A. Sonet MD, M. André MD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, C. Bonnet MD, PhD, B. Deprijck MD, P. Zachée MD, PhD, A. Kentos MD, W. Schroyens MD, PhD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD

Summary

The sub-committee on lymphoproliferative disorders of the Belgian Hematological Society has met several times to prepare guidelines on the management of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Each panellist’s expert provided interpretation of the evidence, based on literature review and personal experience. The available evidence was systematically discussed prior to formulating recommendations. A systematic approach to obtain consensus of expert opinion was used. After each meeting, the draft guideline was circulated to all experts for comment and approval. The present guidelines focus on general management of peripheral T-cell lymphomas with special emphasis on more specific disease-adapted strategies.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013;4(3):90–101)

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Guidelines for newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and relapsed DLBCL

BJH - volume 4, issue 2, june 2013

G. Verhoef MD, PhD, W. Schroyens MD, PhD, D. Bron MD, PhD, C. Bonnet MD, PhD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD, M. André MD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD

Summary

The guidelines for adult patients in this article are based on 2011 ESMO and NCCN version 4.2011 guidelines and amended for the particular Belgian context of label prescription and reimbursement. Levels of evidence for the use of treatment recommendations are given in square brackets. Statements without grading were considered justifed standard clinical practice by the experts of the BHS-lymphoma working party.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013;4(2):51–57)

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Pregnancy-Related Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA): Case series

BJH - volume 4, issue 1, march 2013

B. Al-Atia MD, T. Devos MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD

Summary

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) can be a key feature of several pregnancy related disorders such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP ) / Haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), congenital TTP(CTTP), HELLP syndrome, or acute fatty liver (AFL). TMA is a life threatening condition in pregnancy. It encompasses a spectrum of different disorders with a similar pathogenesis, but in most of the cases completely different therapy. It can take several days to obtain the diagnosis, and in case of doubt therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) (plasmapheresis with plasma substitution) should be started immediately to ensure better outcome. By measuring the activity of the von Willebrand-factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13), it may be possible to distinguish between the different causes of thrombotic microangiopathy. Pregnancy-related TMA can occur before or after birth. A Pregnancy-related TMA that develops during the puerperium, typically develops about the fourth day postpartum. No other significant differences are seen between antepartum and postpartum pregnancy related TMA. In critically ill patients it may be difficult to distinguish TMA from sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DIC is generally associated with prolongation of global clotting times, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT, aPTT) due to consumption of clotting factors. TMA occurs by primary activation of platelets (congenital or acquired abnormalities of ADAMTS13), and by primary endothelial injury (as with HELLP syndrome). Antepartum pregnancy-related TMA usually occurs at 28 ± 8 weeks of pregnancy.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013;1:29–35)

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P.07 Interim analysis of the randomized EORTC/ LYSA/FIL Intergroup H10 trial on early PET-scan driven treatment adaptation in stage I/II Hodgkin lymphoma

BJH - 2013, issue BHS Abstractbook, january 2013

P. André , E. Van den Neste MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, D. Bron MD, PhD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD, P. Zachée MD, PhD, S. van Steenwegen , B. De Prijck MD, N. Straetmans MD, PhD, M. Maerevoet MD, D. Boulet , F. Offner MD, PhD, P. Pierre , V. Mathieux MD, PhD, P. Mineur MD, T. Connerotte , M. Federico , J. Raemaekers

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P.10 Role of HH pathway in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL)

BJH - 2013, issue BHS Abstractbook, january 2013

A. Dagklis , D. Pauwels , I. Lahortiga , Z.K. Atak , K. de Keersmaecker , K. Jacobs PhD, N. Mentens , A. Uyttebroeck MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, S. Aerts , P. Vandenberghe MD, PhD, J. Cools

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P.21 Coincidence of renal cell carcinoma and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder following kidney transplantation

BJH - 2013, issue BHS Abstractbook, january 2013

H. Maes , G. Verhoef MD, PhD, D. Kuypers , P. Schöffski , T. Tousseyn MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD

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Treatment of posttransplant lympho-proliferative disorders following solid organ transplantation

BJH - volume 3, issue 4, december 2012

D. Dierickx MD, PhD, X. Vanoeteren MD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD

Summary

Prevention of organ rejection following solid organ transplantation requires long term immunosuppressive therapy, leading to an increased risk of both infections and malignancies. Although skin cancers are the most common malignancies, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) comprises one of the most serious complications following transplantation with high morbidity and mortality rates. Here we will review current treatment options for PTLD following solid organ transplantation (SOT).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2012;3: 121–127)

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