Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
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Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant. · Jan 2001
ReviewDiagnosis and epidemiology of community-acquired respiratory virus infections in the immunocompromised host.
Infections due to community-acquired respiratory viruses are important causes of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. Respiratory syncytial virus, influenza viruses, and parainfluenza viruses are the most frequent causes of serious lower respiratory tract infections in this patient population. Early diagnosis, often possible with the use of rapid detection assays, is essential for optimal management and prevention of the spread of these serious infections to other vulnerable patients.
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Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant. · Jan 2000
Review Comparative StudyStatus of high-dose chemotherapy for breast cancer: a review.
The purpose of this review is to analyze the current status of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with breast cancer. Current results from the major prospective phase 2 and phase 3 trials in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and high-risk primary breast cancer (HRPBC) are reviewed. Prognostic factors and future research directions are also discussed. ⋯ Longer follow-up of the ongoing randomized trials is necessary, and their mature results will help clarify this important question. In the meantime, it is imperative that research continues, to enhance the efficacy of the procedure. This may come through incorporating more active drugs into HDCT regimens and combining HDCT with novel strategies aimed at eradication of posttransplantation minimal residual disease.
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Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant. · Oct 1997
ReviewPeripheral neuropathy after bone marrow transplantation.
Peripheral neuropathy after bone marrow transplantation can produce motor disability with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly when the neuropathy occurs within the first few months of the transplant. Most of these severe neuropathies have demyelinating features on electrophysiologic tests and histopathology, characteristic of immunologically-mediated neuropathies. The specific immune mechanism is uncertain. ⋯ Less severe neuropathies with primarily sensory deficits may result from etoposide conditioning, thalidomide treatment for graft-versus-host disease, and the chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and paclitaxel when used at high-dose with peripheral stem cell support. When encountering patients with disabling motor neuropathies, transplant physicians must identify (with the aid of nerve conduction tests) those neuropathies that are likely to be immunologically mediated and then empirically add or alter immunosuppressant therapies. Unfortunately, experience has been too limited to suggest specific regimens or the optimal sequence of immunosuppressant therapies.