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1.
Update of recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in patients with haematological malignancies, haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR T therapy, from the 2022 European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL 9)
Cesaro, S., Mikulska, M., Hirsch, H. H., Styczynski, J., Meylan, S., Cordonnier, C., Navarro, D., von Lilienfeld-Toal, M., Mehra, V., Marchesi, F., et al
Leukemia. 2023
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2.
Endemic or regionally limited parasitic and fungal infections in haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation recipients: a Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) Review
Muhsen, I. N., Galeano, S., Niederwieser, D., Koh, M. B. C., Ljungman, P., Machado, C. M., Kharfan-Dabaja, M. A., de la Camara, R., Kodera, Y., Szer, J., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2023;10(4):e295-e305
Abstract
There is a scarcity of data on endemic and regionally limited fungal and parasitic infections in recipients of haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) outside western Europe and North America. This Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) Review is one of two papers aiming to provide guidance to transplantation centres worldwide regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment based on the currently available evidence and expert opinion. These recommendations were created and reviewed by physicians with expertise in HSCT or infectious disease, representing several infectious disease and HSCT groups and societies. In this paper, we review the literature on several endemic and regionally limited parasitic and fungal infections, some of which are listed as neglected tropical diseases by WHO, including visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, strongyloidiasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis.
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3.
Recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in patients with haematological malignancies or haematopoietic cell transplantation, from the 2021 European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL 9)
Cesaro, S., Ljungman, P., Mikulska, M., Hirsch, H. H., von Lilienfeld-Toal, M., Cordonnier, C., Meylan, S., Mehra, V., Styczynski, J., Marchesi, F., et al
Leukemia. 2022
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that spread worldwide from 2019 causing the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterised by an initial viral phase followed in some patients by a severe inflammatory phase. Importantly, immunocompromised patients may have a prolonged viral phase, shedding infectious viral particles for months, and absent or dysfunctional inflammatory phase. Among haematological patients, COVID-19 has been associated with high mortality rate in acute leukaemia, high risk-myelodysplastic syndromes, and after haematopoietic cell transplant and chimeric-antigen-receptor-T therapies. The clinical symptoms and signs were similar to that reported for the overall population, but the severity and outcome were worse. The deferral of immunodepleting cellular therapy treatments is recommended for SARS-CoV-2 positive patient, while in the other at-risk cases, the haematological treatment decisions must be weighed between individual risks and benefits. The gold standard for the diagnosis is the detection of viral RNA by nucleic acid testing on nasopharyngeal-swabbed sample, which provides high sensitivity and specificity; while rapid antigen tests have a lower sensitivity, especially in asymptomatic patients. The prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection is based on strict infection control measures recommended for aerosol-droplet-and-contact transmission. Vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 has shown high efficacy in reducing community transmission, hospitalisation and deaths due to severe COVID-19 disease in the general population, but immunosuppressed/haematology patients may have lower sero-responsiveness to vaccinations. Moreover, the recent emergence of new variants may require vaccine modifications and strategies to improve efficacy in these vulnerable patients. Beyond supportive care, the specific treatment is directed at viral replication control (antivirals, anti-spike monoclonal antibodies) and, in patients who need it, to the control of inflammation (dexamethasone, anti-Il-6 agents, and others). However, the benefit of all these various prophylactic and therapeutic treatments in haematology patients deserves further studies.
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4.
8th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia: 2020 guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of invasive fungal diseases in paediatric patients with cancer or post-haematopoietic cell transplantation
Groll, A. H., Pana, D., Lanternier, F., Mesini, A., Ammann, R. A., Averbuch, D., Castagnola, E., Cesaro, S., Engelhard, D., Garcia-Vidal, C., et al
The Lancet. Oncology. 2021;22(6):e254-e269
Abstract
Paediatric patients with cancer and those undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation have an increased susceptibility to invasive fungal diseases. In addition to differences in underlying conditions and comorbidities relative to adults, invasive fungal diseases in infants, children, and adolescents are unique in terms of their epidemiology, the validity of current diagnostic methods, the pharmacology and dosing of antifungal agents, and the absence of phase 3 clinical trials to provide data to guide evidence-based interventions. To re-examine the state of knowledge and to further improve invasive fungal disease diagnosis, prevention, and management, the 8th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-8) reconvened a Paediatric Group to review the literature and to formulate updated recommendations according to the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) grading system, which are summarised in this Review.
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5.
8th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia: 2020 guidelines for the use of antibiotics in paediatric patients with cancer or post-haematopoietic cell transplantation
Lehrnbecher, T., Averbuch, D., Castagnola, E., Cesaro, S., Ammann, R. A., Garcia-Vidal, C., Kanerva, J., Lanternier, F., Mesini, A., Mikulska, M., et al
The Lancet. Oncology. 2021;22(6):e270-e280
Abstract
Paediatric patients with cancer and those undergoing haematopoietic cell transplantation are at high risk of bacterial infections. The 8th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-8) convened a Paediatric Group to review the literature and to formulate recommendations for the use of antibiotics according to the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases grading system. The evaluation of antibacterial prophylaxis included mortality, bloodstream infection, febrile neutropenia, emergence of resistance, and adverse effects as endpoints. Initial antibacterial therapy and antibiotic de-escalation or discontinuation focused on patients with a clinically stable condition and without previous infection or colonisation by resistant bacteria, and on patients with a clinically unstable condition or with previous infection or colonisation by resistant bacteria. The final considerations and recommendations of the ECIL-8 Paediatric Group on antibacterial prophylaxis, initial therapy, and de-escalation strategies are summarised in this Policy Review.
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6.
Management of Adults and Children receiving CAR T-cell therapy: 2021 Best Practice Recommendations of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT (JACIE) and the European Haematology Association (EHA)
Hayden, P. J., Roddie, C., Bader, P., Basak, G. W., Bonig, H., Bonini, C., Chabannon, C., Ciceri, F., Corbacioglu, S., Ellard, R., et al
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology. 2021
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several commercial and academic autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell products targeting CD19 have been approved in Europe for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. Products for other diseases such as multiple myeloma and follicular lymphoma are likely to be approved by the European Medicines Agency in the near future. DESIGN EBMT-JACIE and the European Haematology association (EHA) proposed to draft best practice recommendations based on the current literature, to support healthcare professionals in delivering consistent, high-quality care in this rapidly moving field RESULTS Thirty-six CAR-T experts (medical; nursing; pharmacy/laboratory) assembled to draft recommendations to cover all aspects of CAR-T patient care and supply chain management, from patient selection to long-term follow-up, post-authorisation safety surveillance and regulatory issues. CONCLUSIONS We provide practical, clinically relevant recommendations on the use of these high-cost, logistically complex therapies for hematologists/oncologists, nurses and other stakeholders including pharmacists and health sector administrators involved in the delivery of CAR-T in the clinic.
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7.
The challenge of COVID-19 and hematopoietic cell transplantation; EBMT recommendations for management of hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, their donors, and patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy
Ljungman, P., Mikulska, M., de la Camara, R., Basak, G. W., Chabannon, C., Corbacioglu, S., Duarte, R., Dolstra, H., Lankester, A. C., Mohty, M., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020;55(11):2071-2076
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread over the world causing the disease by WHO called COVID-19. This pandemic poses unprecedented stress on the health care system including programs performing allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy such as with CAR T cells. Risk factors for severe disease include age and predisposing conditions such as cancer. The true impact on stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell recipients in unknown. The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) has therefore developed recommendations for transplant programs and physicians caring for these patients. These guidelines were developed by experts from the Infectious Diseases Working Party and have been endorsed by EBMT's scientific council and board. This work intends to provide guidelines for transplant centers, management of transplant candidates and recipients, and donor issues until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
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Indications for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: current practice in Europe, 2019
Duarte, R. F., Labopin, M., Bader, P., Basak, G. W., Bonini, C., Chabannon, C., Corbacioglu, S., Dreger, P., Dufour, C., Gennery, A. R., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2019
Abstract
This is the seventh special EBMT report on the indications for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders. Our aim is to provide general guidance on transplant indications according to prevailing clinical practice in EBMT countries and centres. In order to inform patient decisions, these recommendations must be considered together with the risk of the disease, the risk of the transplant procedure and the results of non-transplant strategies. In over two decades since the first report, the EBMT indications manuscripts have incorporated changes in transplant practice coming from scientific and technical developments in the field. In this same period, the establishment of JACIE accreditation has promoted high quality and led to improved outcomes of patient and donor care and laboratory performance in transplantation and cellular therapy. An updated report with operating definitions, revised indications and an additional set of data with overall survival at 1 year and non-relapse mortality at day 100 after transplant in the commonest standard-of-care indications is presented. Additional efforts are currently underway to enable EBMT member centres to benchmark their risk-adapted outcomes as part of the Registry upgrade Project 2020 against national and/or international outcome data.
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Recommendations from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) for a curriculum in hematopoietic cell transplantation
Mohty, M., Duarte, R. F., Kuball, J., Bader, P., Basak, G. W., Bonini, C., Carreras, E., Chabannon, C., Dufour, C., Gennery, A., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2018
Abstract
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is increasingly used worldwide. This treatment approach is complex and requires specific knowledge and training. The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) identified the need for a set of international recommendations for the clinical training of physicians to qualify them as being competent in performing HCT procedures as well as novel cellular immune therapies and taking care of such patients. The goal is to implement an EBMT HCT-focused global curriculum (EBMT-GC) that can serve as a tool for the development of the HCT sub-specialty worldwide. Despite the diversity and heterogeneity of health and educational systems around the globe, this set of recommendations can be fairly adopted by any national educational and health authorities and can be adjusted to specific conditions and resources of a given country, if needed. The ultimate goal of the EBMT-GC is to define standards for personal knowledge in allogeneic stem cell transplantation for physicians worldwide in order to ensure that all patients will receive treatment by well-trained physicians.
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Management of Epstein-Barr Virus infections and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Sixth European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL-6) guidelines
Styczynski, J., van der Velden, W., Fox, C. P., Engelhard, D., de la Camara, R., Cordonnier, C., Ljungman, P., Sixth European Conference on Infections in Leukemia, a joint venture of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the European Society of Blood, Marrow Transplantation, the Infectious Diseases Group of the European Organization for Research, Treatment of Cancer, the International Immunocompromised Host Society, et al
Haematologica. 2016;101(7):803-11
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders are recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. To better define current understanding of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in stem cell transplant patients, and to improve its diagnosis and management, a working group of the Sixth European Conference on Infections in Leukemia 2015 reviewed the literature, graded the available quality of evidence, and developed evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, prevention, prophylaxis and therapy of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders exclusively in the stem cell transplant setting. The key elements in diagnosis include non-invasive and invasive methods. The former are based on quantitative viral load measurement and imaging with positron emission tomography; the latter with tissue biopsy for histopathology and detection of Epstein-Barr virus. The diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder can be established on a proven or probable level. Therapeutic strategies include prophylaxis, preemptive therapy and targeted therapy. Rituximab, reduction of immunosuppression and Epstein-Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell therapy are recommended as first-line therapy, whilst unselected donor lymphocyte infusions or chemotherapy are options as second-line therapy; other methods including antiviral drugs are discouraged.