Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and renal failure that occurs predominantly in infants and young children. However, HUS in adults has also been described as a complication of various chemotherapy regimens with a relatively poor prognosis. Since cisplatin is now widely used for treatment of solid cancers, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of cisplatin-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome as a rare but potentially fatal side- effect. Herein, we describe our experience with a 67-year old woman being treated for a urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who suffered chemotherapy-induced HUS after a cisplatin-based regimen. Plasmapheresis was carried out five times; however, her serum platelets remained depressed, and she subsequently died. We conclude that there is a high risk potential for HUS in patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for advanced-stage bladder cancer.
Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Chemotherapy-Oncologic Procedure ; Cisplatin ; Cancer of Bladder ; regimen

Allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation traditionally uses myeloablative regimen for conditioning to enable grafting of donor's stem cells. Animal experiments have shown that a milder non-myeloablative conditioning regimen does allow engraftment to occur. Nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens are low-intensity immunosuppressive treatment given to the recipient before infusion of donor's stem cells. It was reported to have decreased immediate procedural mortality, in particular those secondary to acute graft versus host reaction. However, it did give rise to higher risks of graft rejection, tumour tolerance and disease progression. Fortunately, appropriately administered donor lymphocyte infusion has been shown to establish full donor chimerism (complete donor stem cell grafting in the recipient's bone marrow) and potentiate antitumour effect (graft versus tumour reaction). The reduction of immediate transplant mortality allows the procedure to be carried out in older age groups, patients with concomitant diseases that otherwise would have made the patients unfit for the procedure, patients with non-malignant disorders such as congenital immune deficiencies, autoimmune disorders or thalassaemia majors. The regimen also allows transplantation of genetically manipulated haemopoietic stem cells (gene thrapy) to be carried out more readily in the immediate future. Lastly, the regimen may serve as a platform for immunotherapy using specific T cell clones for anti-tumour therapy with or without the knowledge of known tumour antigen.
seconds ; regimen ; Conditioning (Psychology) ; Stem Cells ; Exertional dyspnea

INTRODUCTION: In the management of type 2 diabetes, insulin is often started late, when there is failure to achieve good control on maximum oral agents. Clinical inertia to insulin initiation and intensification is widely prevalent in our local setting resulting in poor control of diabetes. This study looked into a stepwise insulin combinations treatment algorithm used in an Endocrinology referral clinic at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital (USTH). It aimed to demonstrate the clinical course of the patients , determine the degree of HbA1c reduction, and show the associated extent of hypoglycemia and weight gain.

METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of 104 patients that used the following stepwise treatment: Oral regimen; Regimen A: basal+oral; Regimen B: basal+premeal bolus TID±oral; Regimen C: premixed aspart 70/30 or lispro 75/25 TID or BID with prelunch bolus, ± oral; Regimen D: premixed 70/30 BID+premeal bolus TID ± oral; Regimen E: premixed 70/30 BI +premeal bolus TID+basal ±oral. All received automatic snacking two hours after main meals to prevent hypoglycemia. Patients were educated on proper diet and exercise. Data was analyzed using paired t-test, frequencies and percentages.

RESULTS: Most ended on the intensive insulin regimens D 57(55%), and E 18 (17%). Significant HbA1c reduction was demonstrated as follows: Regimen A (n=8):1.376±0.919 (p=0.000), Regimen B (n=18):2.320±2.177 (p=0.000), Regimen D (n=57):2.197±2.158 (p=0.000), Regimen E (n=18):2.684±1.689 (p =0.000). Overall mean weight gain was 1.070 ± 11.435 kg (p=0.335). Ten, nonsevere hypoglycemia events were reported.

CONCLUSION: The use of this stepwise insulin combinations treatment algorithm exerted significant HbA1c reduction, with minimal events of hypoglycemia, and statistically insignificant weight gain. Hence, this is a feasible tool that may be used as a guide for intensification of insulin treatment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Insulin Lispro ; Insulin ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Regimen B ; Weight Gain ; Hypoglycemia ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Diet ; Algorithms