E-ISSN: 1308-5263
Turkish Journal of Hematology - Turk J Hematol: 41 (2)
Volume: 41  Issue: 2 - 2024
REVIEW
1. Advancements in the Management of Follicular Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Review
Reid Merryman, Özgür Mehtap, Ann Lacasce
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0015  Pages 69 - 82
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common subtype of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Western countries. While FL is generally incurable, standard initial therapies are associated with high response rates and durable remissions for most patients. In addition, novel targeted agents and immunotherapies are changing the treatment algorithm for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. This review discusses the initial staging, prognosis, and treatment options for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory FL. Initial treatment options for FL include active surveillance, radiotherapy, rituximab monotherapy, and chemoimmunotherapy. Staging with positron emission tomography/ computed tomography and bone marrow biopsy is crucial for identifying early-stage patients. Most patients with FL will receive chemoimmunotherapy as the initial treatment with options including rituximab or obinutuzumab plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone; cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone; bendamustine; or lenalidomide. No significant differences in overall survival have been observed in randomized studies comparing these regimens. Maintenance therapy with rituximab or obinutuzumab in responders to initial chemoimmunotherapy improves progression-free survival. For relapsed/refractory FL, treatment options include chemoimmunotherapy, lenalidomidebased regimens, tazemetostat, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy (axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel), and CD3/ CD20 bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). Given the encouraging outcomes obtained with CAR-T cell therapy and BsAbs, multiple trials are testing these highly active agents in earlier lines of therapy and among highrisk patients with early relapse after frontline chemoimmunotherapy. Additional studies and follow-up are needed to understand how these novel agents may further change treatment algorithms for FL.

RESEARCH ARTICLE
2. Do Alarmins Have a Role in Multiple Myeloma?
Ayfer Gedük, Merve Gökçen Polat, Esra Terzi Demirsoy, Berrin Öztaş, Baldan Huri Eryılmaz, Emel Merve Yenihayat, Hayrunnisa Albayrak, Haşim Atakan Erol, Özgür Mehtap, Pınar Tarkun, Abdullah Hacıhanefioğlu
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2023.0469  Pages 83 - 90
Objective: Calprotectin (CLP), S100A6, and high mobility group nucleosome-binding protein 1 (HMGN1), known as alarmins, are involved in the pathogenesis of many tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships of serum CLP, S100A6, and HMGN1 levels with the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and their roles in the pathogenesis of MM.
Materials and Methods: We measured the serum CLP, S100A6, and HMGN1 levels of 55 newly diagnosed patients and 32 healthy controls using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The medical records of the patients were also reviewed.
Results: Serum CLP, S100A6, and HMGN1 levels were significantly decreased in MM patients compared to the control group (p=0.012, p=0.001, and p=0.030, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine diagnostic cut-off values for serum CLP, S100A6, and HMGN1 of <98 ng/mL (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.663, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.554-0.761, p=0.009), <1174.5 pg/mL (AUC: 0.706, 95% CI: 0.598-0.799, p=0.001), and <440.18 pg/mL (AUC: 0.640, 95% CI: 0.530-0.740, p=0.03), respectively. CLP levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in patients with light chain MM (91.58±22.57 ng/mL) compared to heavy chain MM (79.42±15.83 ng/mL) (p=0.03). A negative correlation was observed between CLP and M protein, immunoglobulin G, globulin, and beta-2 microglobulin (correlation coefficients: -0.361, -0.370, -0.279, -0.300, respectively; p=0.024, p=0.06, p=0.04, p=0.0033).
Conclusion: In this study, we found that serum CLP, S100A6, and HMGN1 levels were statistically lower in patients with newly diagnosed MM compared to the control group. These results suggest that CLP may bind to the paraprotein produced by heavy chain MM in the blood, causing its blood levels to be low. Additionally, low levels of HMGN1, which is involved in DNA repair, suggest that HMGN1 may contribute to the complex genetic abnormalities found in cases of MM.

3. A New Scoring System for the Evaluation of Ibrutinib-Associated Arrhythmias in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: The ACEF Score
İlhan Koyuncu, Betül Koyuncu, Mehmet Can Uğur, Emin Koyun, Oktay Şenöz, Mustafa Doğduş, Oktay Bilgir
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0045  Pages 91 - 96
Objective: Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibition in cardiac tissue causes inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which is responsible for protecting cardiac tissue during stress. Therefore, there is an increase in the risk of arrhythmia. This study explores the prediction of that risk with the Age-Creatinine-Ejection Fraction (ACEF) score as a simple scoring system based on the components of age, creatinine, and ejection fraction.
Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and receiving ibrutinib treatment for at least 1 year were evaluated with echocardiography and Holter electrocardiography and the results were compared with a control group of CLL patients who had not received treatment. ACEF score was calculated with the formula age/left ventricular ejection fraction+1 (if creatinine >2.0 mg/dL).
Results: When the arrhythmia development of the patients was evaluated, no statistically significant difference was found between the control and ibrutinib groups in terms of types of arrhythmias other than paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). PAF was found to occur at rates of 8% versus 22% (p=0.042) among ibrutinib non-users versus users. For patients using ibrutinib, an ACEF score of >1.21 predicted the development of PAF with 77% sensitivity and 75% specificity (area under the curve: 0.830, 95% confidence interval: 0.698-0.962, p<0.001).
Conclusion: The ACEF score can be used as a risk score that predicts the development of PAF in patients diagnosed with CLL who are scheduled to start ibrutinib.

4. Management of Adult Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: Delphi- Based Consensus Recommendations
Ahmet Muzaffer Demir, Elif Gülsüm Ümit, Muhlis Cem Ar, Mesut Ayer, Meltem Aylı, Volkan Karakuş, Emin Kaya, Fahir Özkalemkaş, Nilgün Sayınalp, Mehmet Sönmez, Fahri Şahin, Selami Koçak Toprak, Tayfur Toptaş, İrfan Yavaşoğlu, Ümran Çalış
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0055  Pages 97 - 104
Objective: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder related to the increased destruction and/or impaired production of platelets. Its diagnosis and management are challenging and require expertise and the interpretation of international consensus reports and guidelines with national variations in availability. We aimed to assess the agreement of hematologists in Türkiye on certain aspects of both first-line and second-line management of patients with pITP.
Materials and Methods: Applying a modified Delphi method, the Turkish National ITP Working Group (14 steering committee members), founded under the auspices of the Turkish Society of Hematology, developed a 21-item questionnaire consisting of statements regarding the first-line and second-line treatment of pITP. A total of 107 adult hematologists working in either university or state hospitals voted for their agreement or disagreement with the statements in two consecutive rounds.
Results: The participants reached consensus on the use of corticosteroids as first-line treatment and with limited duration. Methylprednisolone was the corticosteroid of choice rather than dexamethasone. Use of intravenous immunoglobulin was not preferred for patients without bleeding. It was also agreed that thrombopoietin receptor antagonists (TPO-RAs) or rituximab should be recommended as second-line treatment and that splenectomy could be considered 12-24 months after diagnosis in patients with chronic pITP.
Conclusion: The optimization of the dose and duration of TPO-RAs in addition to corticosteroids is necessary to improve the management of patients with pITP.

5. Assessment of Aspirin and Clopidogrel Resistance in Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery: A Single-Center Cross- Sectional Study
Abdullah Özer, Hüseyin Demirtaş, Sercan Tak, Başak Koçak, Eda Nur Yiğiter, Gürsel Levent Oktar, Zühre Kaya
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0043  Pages 105 - 112
Objective: We aimed to investigate antiplatelet drug resistance utilizing light transmission-lumiaggregometry (LT-LA) and the Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (PFA-100) in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.
Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients diagnosed with stable coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular diseases that required surgery. Participants were divided into three groups: patients receiving aspirin (ASA) (n=21), patients receiving clopidogrel (CLO) (n=19), and patients receiving dual therapy (ASA+CLO) (n=20). Aggregation and secretion tests by LT-LA and closure time by the PFA- 100 were used to measure antiplatelet drug resistance.
Results: Based on the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aggregation test, 43% of patients were resistant to ASA, 22% to CLO, and 15% to dual therapy. Diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were the most commonly identified comorbid disorders. In patients with comorbid risk factors, the median value of platelet aggregation response to ADP was significantly higher in the ASA group than in the CLO and dual therapy groups (p=0.0001). In patients receiving ASA monotherapy, the maximum amplitude of aggregation response to platelet agonists was ≥70% in 43% of patients for ADP and 28% for collagen by LT-LA. Elevated ADP (≥0.29 nmol) and collagen (≥0.41 nmol)-induced adenosine triphosphate release were found by LT-LA in 66% of patients utilizing an ADP agonist and 80% of patients using a collagen agonist undergoing ASA therapy. Closure times obtained with the PFA-100 were normal in 28% of patients using collagen- ADP cartridges and 62% of patients using collagen-epinephrine (CEPI) cartridges who received ASA. Recurrent thrombosis and bleeding were observed in 12 (20%) patients with cardiovascular disease. Three of these individuals (25%) showed ASA resistance with normal responses to ADP-induced aggregation (≥70%) and secretion (≥0.29 nmol), as well as normal CEPI closure times.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that antiplatelet drug monitoring with LT-LA and PFA-100 may be useful in high-risk and complicated cardiovascular patients.

IMAGES IN HEMATOLOGY
6. Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia with Basophilic Differentiation: A Rare Variant
Andrés Felipe Melo Arias, Silvia Escrıbano Escribano Serrat, Marta Polo Zarzuela, Cristina García Sánchez, Miguel Gómez Álvarez, Eduardo Anguita, Celina Benavente Cuesta, Fernando Ataulfo González Fernández
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2023.2023.0344  Pages 113 - 115
Abstract |Full Text PDF

7. Hypopigmentation of the Skin and Hair Associated with Dasatinib Therapy
Vishnu Sharma, Vansh Bagrodia
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2023.2023.0280  Pages 116 - 117
Abstract |Full Text PDF

8. A Visceral Leishmaniasis Case from the Black Sea Region: Skin Lesions and Leishmania donovani Amastigotes in the Bone Marrow
Birgül Öneç, Cihadiye Elif Öztürk, Ayten Yazıcı
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2023.2023.0254  Pages 118 - 120
Abstract |Full Text PDF

LETTER TO EDITOR
9. Persistent Moderate-to-High Levels of Isolated Anticardiolipin Antibody IgA or Anti-β2-Glycoprotein-I IgA Isotypes: Do They Have Any Clinical Relevance?
Ayşe Bahar Keleşoğlu Dinçer, Jonathan Thaler, Doruk Erkan
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0068  Pages 121 - 122
Abstract |Full Text PDF

10. A Case of Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Coexistence of the JAK2V617F Clone
Li-li Han, Xia Yang, Haiping Dai, Junfeng Zhu
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2023.0467  Pages 123 - 125
Abstract |Full Text PDF

11. Refractory Burkitt Lymphoma Following Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Patient with Homozygous PMS2 Deficiency
Dildar Bahar Genç, Zeynep Yıldız Yıldırmak, Murat Elli, Akif Ayaz, Özlem Ton
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2023.0476  Pages 126 - 127
Abstract |Full Text PDF

12. Novel Four-Way t(8;14;15;21)(q22;q22;q15;q22.1) Translocation Variant in Acute Myeloid Leukemia with RUNX1: : RUNX1T1
Noriko Tsuge, Fumiya Ogasawara, Takumi Kondo, Shohei Yoshida, Kensuke Kojima
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0038  Pages 128 - 129
Abstract |Full Text PDF

13. Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors: A Case Series
Pusem Patır, Kübra Çerçi, Erdal Kurtoğlu
doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2024.2024.0050  Pages 130 - 132
Abstract |Full Text PDF