Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a cornerstone for the treatment of high-risk hematologic malignancies. The efficacy of HSCT is limited by transplant-related complications, particularly pulmonary complications. Broadly speaking, the myriads of non-infectious complications that occur after HSCT are less completely understood than infectious complications despite contributing to significant morbidity and mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has rarely been associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), classified as World Health Organization group 5 PH. Progression of MPN may result in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Case Summary: We describe a young woman with AML arising from MPN presenting with PH.
Transplant Cell Ther
September 2025
Bronchiolitis obliterans (BOS) is a manifestation of pulmonary chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and is a devastating complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Early detection and treatment of BOS may improve outcomes, but biomarkers that accurately identify BOS early are lacking. We aimed to determine whether certain validated cGVHD markers could also accurately diagnose BOS as compared with patients without BOS and with or without extrapulmonary cGVHD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Diagnostic biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (ICIP) are lacking. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocytosis has been associated with ICIP, but studies have not evaluated BAL lymphocytosis as a diagnostic biomarker for ICIP.
Purpose: This study aimed to measure the association of BAL immune cell percentage with ICIP and test its performance as a diagnostic biomarker.
Patients with myeloproliferative disorders such as primary myelofibrosis are at an increased risk of opportunistic infections including pneumonia. can become disseminated with the central nervous system being the primary site affected although any organ system can be involved. Here we present a case of empyema, a rare and sparsely documented location of infection, in a post matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplant patient.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedicina (Kaunas)
March 2025
: Non-malignant pleural effusions (NMPEs) are the most frequently encountered pleural disease. They arise from various non-malignant, non-infectious clinical conditions, including cardiac, renal, and hepatic organ dysfunction. Despite their wide prevalence, there is a lack of literature for NMPE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can potentially cure hematologic malignancies, but despite advancements in HCT regimens and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) management, post-HCT complications, remain a major challenge. The epidemiology of post-HCT pulmonary impairment causing restrictive ventilatory defect (RVD) has not been examined. This study investigates the incidence, etiology, and impact of new-onset RVD following HCT on overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Immunother Precis Oncol
November 2024
Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have become increasingly prevalent with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) cancer treatment. We present a 79-year-old man with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who developed shortness of breath and hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency after his first cycle of nivolumab and ipilimumab. Laboratory data showed elevated creatinine kinase, troponins, and transaminases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Sleep disturbances are common in patients with breast cancer, but comprehensive evaluations with patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and sleep evaluation with polysomnography (PSG) are lacking. This study describes sleep disruption using PROs and PSG to identify underlying sleep disorders.
Methods: A retrospective review of patients with breast cancer undergoing formal sleep evaluation from 4/1/2009 to 7/31/2014 was performed.
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Quantitative computed tomography (qCT) can help diagnose advanced BOS meeting National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria (NIH-BOS) but has not been used to diagnose early, often asymptomatic BOS (early BOS), limiting the potential for early intervention and improved outcomes. Using pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to define NIH-BOS, early BOS, and mixed BOS (NIH-BOS with restrictive lung disease) in patients from 2 large cancer centers, we applied qCT to identify early BOS and distinguish between types of BOS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Prior studies have found no differences in procedural chest discomfort for patients undergoing manual syringe aspiration or drainage with gravity after thoracentesis. However, whether gravity drainage could protect against chest pain due to the larger negative-pressure gradient generated by wall suction has not been investigated.
Research Question: Does wall suction drainage result in more chest discomfort compared with gravity drainage in patients undergoing large-volume thoracentesis?
Study Design And Methods: In this multicenter, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial, patients with large free-flowing effusions of ≥ 500 mL were assigned at a 1:1 ratio to wall suction or gravity drainage.
Immunotherapy has revolutionized treatments for both early and advanced cancers, and as their role evolves, their impact on sleep and circadian rhythms continues to unfold. The recognition, evaluation, and treatment of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance leads to improved symptom management, quality of life and treatment outcomes. An intricate complex relationship exists in the microenvironment with immunity, sleep and the tumor, and these may further vary based on the cancer, addition of standard chemotherapy, and pre-existing patient factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), remains the most reliable and practical test to diagnose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Current literature is sparse regarding the rates of discordance between NPS and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with cancer.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with cancer who had BAL samples tested for SARS-CoV-2 at a comprehensive cancer center.
Respiratory inflammation in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is poorly understood. Clinical criteria for early-stage BOS (stage 0p) often capture HCT recipients without BOS. Measuring respiratory tract inflammation may help identify BOS, particularly early BOS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulmonary chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD), or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), is a highly morbid complication of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The clinical significance of a single instance of pulmonary decline not meeting the criteria for BOS is unclear. We conducted a retrospective analysis in a cohort of patients who had an initial post-HCT decline in the absolute value of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) of ≥10% or mid-expiratory flow rate of ≥25% but not meeting the criteria for BOS (pre-BOS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer patients have an increased risk of bleeding compared to non-cancer patients with anticoagulant therapy. A bleeding risk assessment before initiation of anticoagulation is recommended. Currently low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the mainstays of treatment for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF27 year old man with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia presents with new parenchymal consolidation. Although biopsy was precluded, diagnostic studies support myeloid sarcoma. Resolution of consolidation occurred with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Home-based spirometry (HS) allows for the early detection of lung complications in recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT). Although the usability and acceptability of HS are critical for adherence, patient-reported outcomes of HS use remain poorly understood in this setting.
Objective: The aim of this study is to design a longitudinal, mixed methods study to understand the usability and acceptability of HS among recipients of AHCT.