Various polymorphisms of non-HLA genes have recently been investigated as candidate risk factors in allogeneic haematopoietic SCT (aHSCT). Our study aimed at exploring possible associations of IL6 and CCL2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with aHSCT outcome. A total of 166 HLA-identical aHSCT pairs recruited in were genotyped for IL6 −174 G/C, IL6 −597 G/A, CCL2 −2518 A/G and CCL2 −2076 A/T SNPs by PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The association between IL6 −174 GG genotype and increased risk of acute GVHD was found in whole study group (P=0.03) and in the subgroup of related aHSCT (P=0.01), association between IL6 −597 GG genotype and the occurrence of acute GVHD was detected only in the related aHSCT pairs (P=0.02). Furthermore, reduction in OS was revealed among recipients possessing IL6 −174*G allele in the group of related aHSCT pairs (P=0.04). Presence of CCL2 −2076 TT genotype was associated with decrease of OS (P=0.04) and increase of TRM (P=0.02) in patients transplanted by related donor. These results, in the context of previous findings, suggest that IL6 gene polymorphisms may be associated with aHSCT outcome, particularly in patients transplanted from a related donor.

Združenje hematologov Slovenije SZD Uroš Mlakar1, Dušan Andoljšek1, Nataša Fikfak2, Marjana Glaser3, Mateja Grat4, Tatjana Grmek-Zemljič3, Irena Preložnik-Zupan1, Jože Pretnar1, Samo Zver1 1 Klinični oddelek za hematologijo, Klinični center, Zaloška 7, 1525 Ljubljana 2 Interni oddelek, Splošna bolnišnica dr. Franca Derganca, Ul. padlih borcev 13/A, 5290 Šempeter pri Novi Gorici 3 Oddelek za hematologijo, Splošna bolnišnica Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, 2000 Maribor 4 Oddelek za sistemske in presnovne bolezni, Odsek za hematologijo, Splošna bolnišnica Celje, Oblakova 5, 3000 Celje

The Infectious Diseases Working Party of the European Blood and Marrow Transplant Group conducted a survey to obtain information about the frequency, presentation, and treatment of mycobacterial infection (MBI) in stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients. Among 29 centers, MBI was diagnosed in 0.79% of 1513 allogeneic and 0.23% of 3012 autologous SCT recipients during 1994 - 1998 a median of 160 days after transplantation. The mean interval between first symptoms and diagnosis was 29 days and was still longer for patients with atypical MBI or recipients of corticosteroid therapy. The prevalence of MBI was highest among those who received matched unrelated or mismatched STCs from related donors. Of 31 patients, 20 had tuberculosis, 8 had atypical MBI, and 3 had diagnoses based on histological findings only. Five patients (16%) died, all of whom had received an allogeneic SCT. Because of the increased numbers of unmatched donors and transplantation programs in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis, constant vigilance is required to early detect MBI in SCT recipients.