Objective  To investigate the incidence and adverse effects of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) during oral anticoagulation therapy in women with thrombophilia.  Methods  The female patients with thrombophilia who received oral anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban or warfarin in the Department of Hematology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2013 to May 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Their demographic characteristics, disease related data and AUB before and after anticoagulant therapy were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into rivaroxaban treatment group and warfarin treatment group according to anticoagulant drugs. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the difference in the incidence of AUB before and after anticoagulant therapy, and explore the effect of different anticoagulant therapy on AUB.  Results  A total of 106 female patients with thrombophilia were included, and we found that oral anticoagulation significantly increased the incidence of AUB (56.6% vs. 26.4%, P < 0.001), predominantly characterized by excessive menstruation (48.1%) and prolonged periods (21.7%). Rivaroxaban was more likely to cause AUB than warfarin (OR=3.3, 95% CI: 1.5-7.4, P=0.003). Of the patients who experienced excessive menstruation and prolonged periods, 72.2%(39/54) required intervention, with suspension of anticoagulants during menstruation as the main intervention (37.0%). The patients taking rivaroxaban were more likely to stop taking them during menstruation compared to those taking warfarin (OR=10.4, 95% CI: 1.2-87.2, P=0.019).  Conclusions  Oral anticoagulation therapy significantly increased the incidence of AUB in women with thrombophilia and the risk of AUB associated with rivaroxaban was significantly higher than that with warfarin.

Congenital dysfibrinogenemia (CDF) is the most common type of congenital fibrinogen disorders, characterized by dysfunctional fibrinogen. Its prevalence is significantly underestimated due to the absence of obvious clinical symptoms in most patients. In addition to bleeding manifestations, patients with CDF may experience thrombotic events or pregnancy-related complications. Fibrinogen antigen assays and molecular heritability analyses can help differentiate CDF from other types of congenital fibrinogen disorders. The clinical presentation of CDF varies significantly among individuals, and there is a lack of routine laboratory methods to effectively predict the risk of bleeding or thrombosis in these patients, in addition to their personal and family histories. This poses challenges in the clinical management of patients with CDF, particularly during the perioperative period or pregnancy. Further registry-based and prospective studies are needed to improve our understanding of this disease and guide clinical management.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of second-line regimens and prognostic factors in patients with first-relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) treated with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (BCD).Methods:A retrospective cohort study. Clinical data were collected in first-relapsed MM patients after BCD treatment from three tertiary hospitals in north China from July 2009 to October 2022. Patients were classified according to the second-line regimen into the immunotherapy group, single novel agent group [either proteasome inhibitor (PI) or immunomodulatory drug (IMiD)], combination treatment group (both PI+IMiD), and traditional treatment group. Responses to second-line regimens and survival data were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and the Cox proportional risk model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses.Results:A total of 217 patients were enrolled including 8.8% (19/217) in the immunotherapy group, 48.4% (105/217) in the PI/IMiD group, 29.9% (65/217) in the PI+IMiD group, and 12.9% (28/217) in the traditional treatment group. The median age was 62 years (range 31-83 years) and 56.2% (122/217) were males. The overall response rates (ORRs) in the four groups were 94.7% (18/19) vs. 56.2% (59/105) vs. 73.8% (48/65) vs. 32.1% (9/28) ( χ2=24.55; P<0.001), respectively. The progression-free survival (PFS) of the second-line regimens (2ndPFS) was 17.7 vs. 9.0 vs. 9.2 vs. 4.6 months ( χ2=22.74; P<0.001), respectively, among which patients in the PI/IMiD and PI+IMiD groups had comparable 2ndPFS ( χ2=1.76; P=0.923). Patients with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCAs) achieved the longest 2ndPFS of 22.0 months in the immunotherapy group ( χ2=15.03; P=0.002). Multivariate analysis suggested that immunotherapy ( HR=0.11, 95% CI 0.05-0.27), achievement of efficacy of partial response or better ( HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.34-0.66), and non-aggressive relapse ( HR=0.25, 95% CI 0.17-0.37) were independent prognostic factors of 2ndPFS. Conclusion:In this real-world study, immunotherapy was associated with a more favorable efficacy and PFS for first-relapsed MM patients after BCD treatment, with similar outcomes in patients with HRCAs.

A 43-year-old female patient was admitted with recurrent thrombosis for more than 2 years and thrombocytopenia for more than 1 year. Both arterial and venous thromboses developed especially at rare sites even during anticoagulation therapy such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Antinuclear antibody, anti-ENA antibody and antiphospholipid antibody were all negative. Platelet count elevated to normal after high dose glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Immune thrombocytopenia was suspected. When 4 grade thrombocytopenia recurred, intravenous heparin, rituximab 600 mg, IVIG and eltrombopag were administrated. After 3 weeks, thrombocytopenia did not improve, and new thrombosis developed instead. Screening of thrombophilia related genes revealed PROS1 gene heterozygous mutation and MTHFR TT genotype. Low amount of serum IgG κ monoclonal protein was detected. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was differentiated and excluded. Finally, serum negative antiphospholipid syndrome was considered the most likely diagnosis. Dexamethasone 20 mg/day × 4 days combined with sirolimus 2 mg/day was prescribed. The patient was discharged with low molecular weight heparin. At one month, her headache was greatly relieved. The platelet count raised to 20-30×10 9/L, and no new thrombosis or bleeding was reported.

The skin manifestations of monoclonal(M)-proteinemia are rare and present in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering plasma cell myeloma (SMM) and multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we reported 4 cases with M-proteinemia-related rare skin lesions, including pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), erythema elevatum diutinum (EED), cutis laxa (CL) and lichen myxedematosus(LM). These skin lesions are specific, where the potential mechanism was immune-mediated paraneoplastic syndrome rather than direct plasma cell infiltration. Anti-plasma cell treatment was effective in treating skin lesions. The clinical outcome of MM-related skin changes was correlated to tumor control, whereas the prognosis of MGUS or SMM related skin lesions was favorable. Skin involvement in M-proteinemia is extremely rare and less well-known, which greatly impairs quality of life. The diagnosis and treatment of these 4 cases support the need for futher study.

Objectives:To cross-sectionally analyze the clinical characteristics of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) patients with thrombocytopenia, risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia, and risk of symptom recurrence in these patients.Methods:The inpatients with PAPS were retrospectively analyzed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2009 to 2019. Using the collected clinical and laboratory data, the clinical characteristics and risk of symptom recurrence in the PAPS patients with thrombocytopenia were compared with those in the PAPS patients with normal platelet counts. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to screen the risk factors for thrombocytopenia.Results:In this study, 127 patients with PAPS were enrolled, of which 36 (28.3% ) had thrombocytopenia, with a median age of 38 years, and 63.9% were female. In the thrombocytopenia group, the average platelet count was (58.9±27.0) ×10 9/L, and the prevalence of thrombosis and morbid pregnancy was not significantly different from that in the normal platelet group. However, the thrombocytopenia group had higher incidence rate of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (19.4% vs 3.3% ) , livedo reticularis (16.7% vs 3.3% ) , chronic kidney disease (25% vs 8.8% ) and antiphospholipid antibodies triple positiveness (61.1% vs 37.4% ) , lower complement levels (C3 of 0.87 g/L vs 1.07 g/L, C4 of 0.12 g/L vs 0.18 g/L, P<0.05) , and higher adjusted Global APS Score (median score of 13 vs 9, P=0.037) than the normal platelet group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypocomplementemia ( OR value 5.032, 95% CI 3.118-22.095) is an independent risk factor for thrombocytopenia. Conclusions:In patients with PAPS, thrombocytopenia is mostly mild to moderate. Hypocomplementemia may be the independent risk factor for thrombocytopenia in PAPS patients. The PAPS patients with thrombocytopenia may have a higher risk of symptom recurrence.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL).Methods:The clinical data of 60 patients with PMBL including 44 biopsy cases and 16 consultation cases from September 2000 to November 2019 in the Department of Pathology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital (14 cases) and Peking Union Medical College Hospital (46 cases) were enrolled. Pathologic features, immunophenotype, immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangement and microRNA expression profile were retrospectively studied.Results:Of the 60 patients, 23 were males and 37 were females, age ranged from 15 to 64 years (median 28 years). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor cells were positive for pan-B cell antigens, CD30 (77.4%, 24/31), CD23 (73.1%, 19/26), MUM1 (45.8%, 11/24), Ki-67 index ≥70 % (90.6%, 29/32). EBER in situ hybridization was analyzed in 21 PMBL, only one case (4.8%) was positive. Ig gene rearrangement was performed in 20 cases, and seven were positive (35.0%). MicroRNA gene expression profiles were analyzed in seven cases of PMBL and nine cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and there were 33 microRNAs with significant difference ( P<0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that the poor prognostic factors included serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level,International Prognostic Index (IPI) score ≥3, stages Ⅲ-Ⅳ, chemotherapy not combined with rituximab and MUM1 positivity ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment combined with rituximab was independently related to prognosis ( P<0.05). Conclusions:PMBL is different from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in clinicopathologic features, immunophenotypic presentation and molecular features. The prognostic factors, molecular genetics and immunological characteristics reveal that this study has enriched our understanding of the biology of PMBL, thus providing evidence and strategies for treatment.

Objective:To investigate the relationship of Castleman disease (CD) and connective tissue disease (CTD).Methods:Clinical records and laboratory data of 11 patientsdiagnosed with CD and CTD were collected and retrospectively analyzed. All patients were diagnosed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Results:① The proportion of CD associated with or mimicking CTD was 5.67% (11/194) in all CD patients during the same period. The average age of these cases at the diagnosis was (51±17) years and the ratio of male to female was 6∶5. ② Lymphadenopathy (10/11), fever (8/11), serosal effusion (6/11), arthralgia (5/11), alopecia (2/11), Raynaud phenomenon (1/11) and photosensitivity (1/11) were the common clinical manifest- ations that could mimic CTD. ③ Elevated ESR (11/11), hypoalbuminemia (11/11), elevated CRP (10/11), elevated IgG (7/11), proteinuria (5/11), hematuria (5/11) and positive ANA(5/11) were commonly found in the patients' laboratory tests. ④ CD was inclined to mimic systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)(5/11), IgG4-related disease(IgG4-RD)(2/11) and adult onset Still's disease(AOSD)(2/11), as well as 2 cases were associated with Sj?gren's Syndrome(SS)(2/11). ⑤All cases were ultimately diagnosed as multicentric CD, the pathologic subtypes were plasma cell variant (10/11) and mixed(1/11) respectively.Conclusion:CD maybe overlapped with or mimic a variety of clinical manifestations, such as fever, serosal effusion, arthralgia and proteinuria which could mimic CTD. Early biopsy is helpful for the diagnosis and to avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Objective:To investigate the factors affecting the outcome of surgical treatment for femoral intertrochanteric fractures.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted for 424 patients with intertrochanteric fractures admitted to four hospitals in Shanghai from January 2014 to December 2016. There were 200 males and 224 females, aged 45-98 years [(77.8±10.5)years]. Normal union was observed in 326 patients (normal union group), and abnormal union was founded in 98 patients including nonunion in 2 patients (abnormal union group). Data were recorded including the age, gender, injury side, AO classification, Evans-Jesen classification, thickness of femoral lateral wall, medial support, tip-apex distance, and screw position within the femoral head. Fracture healing was assessed. Univariate analysis was conducted to examine differences of the above factors between two groups, and Logistic regression was used to screen the main factors affecting fracture union. At the latest follow-up, the hip joint function was estimated according to the Oxford score system.Results:All patients were followed up for 1-3 years [(2.2±0.3)years]. Univariate analysis showed significant differences between two groups regarding the AO classification, Evans-Jesen classification, medial support, tip-apex distance, and screw position within the femoral head ( P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the simple fracture ( OR=1.030), medial support ( OR=0.395), tip-apex distance ≤25 mm ( OR=0.266) and inferior screw position ( OR=0.986) were significantly related to fracture union. The hip function in normal union group was (42.6±4.5)points, better than (35.4±3.2)points in abnormal union group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The stability of intertrochanteric fracture is the most important factor for fracture union. The medial support, tip-apex distance ≤25 mm and inferior screw position are helpful to promote fracture healing and recovery of hip joint function.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of using a pediatric-inspired regimen for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph -) acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL/LBL) at a single center in China. Methods:Clinical data of 71 consecutive newly diagnosed AYA patients with Ph - ALL/LBL on a pediatric-inspired regimen in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:Median age at diagnosis was 20 years (range: 15-38) , and 46 patients (64.8%) were male. Forty-nine (69.0%) had B-ALL/LBL. Among 62 ALL patients, 22 (35.5%) were high-risk. Complete remission rate was 93.0%. At follow-up with a median time of 44 months, the estimated 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was 56.3% and 64.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference in 5-year OS between allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation group and the continuous chemotherapy group after completion of 4 courses of chemotherapy. The 5-year DFS and OS for the non-high-risk group was 63.1% and 73.7%, respectively, which were significantly higher than 32.0% and 44.4% for the high-risk group, respectively ( P<0.001) . Conclusions:The use of pediatric-inspired regimen for AYAs with Ph - ALL/LBL was feasible and effective.