New guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of a primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in children and adults, on the basis of modern pathogenesis conceptions and considering possibilities of hematological practice in Russia are presented. Guidelines are based on a consensus of international and Russian experts on ITP. Diagnostic features of ITP are noted and various I, II and III lines treatment, including new effective medical products which have recently appeared in Russia, in particular, trombopoietin receptor agonists (romiplostim, eltrombopag), considerably expanded conservative treatment possibilities are offered. The presented guidelines can help hematologists to develop individual schedule for each given patients with ITP and to improve patients quality of life.

There are only limited data coming from isolated case reports regarding the real-world use of emicizumab for the treatment of children with hemophilia A and inhibitors (HAI) in Russia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis in children with severe HAI. Ethical approval was not required since the study only involved the use of anonymized and generalized retrospective data obtained during routine clinical practice. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of children with HAI who had been treated with emicizumab at 11 institutions located in Russia, taking into consideration such parameters as annualized bleeding rates (ABR), annualized spontaneous bleeding rates (ASBR), annualized joint bleeding rates (AJBR) and annualized bleeding rates for bleeds requiring additional therapy (ABRRT), as well as the presence and severity of adverse events during the treatment. The median age of patients at the time of initiation of emicizumab prophylaxis was 65 (11–170) months. Before the treatment, ABR was 19.9 (95% confidence interval (CI), 15.4–26.1), ASBR – 13.6 (95% CI, 10.6–17.8), AJBR – 6.6 (95% CI, 4.7–9.7), ABRRT – 16.6 (95% CI, 12.4–22.7). After the initiation of the treatment, bleeding rates changed dramatically: ABR decreased by 98.6% (95% CI, 96.7–99.4), AJBR – by 99.4% (95% CI, 95.3–99.9), ABRRT – by 98.8% (95% CI, 96.8–99.6); and there were no signs of spontaneous bleeding during 10 (1–32) months of treatment. No adverse events leading to the interruption or discontinuation of the treatment with emicizumab were reported. The use of emicizumab in children with HAI in the real-world clinical setting results in a significant (> 98%) and safe reduction in bleeding episodes without any signs of spontaneous bleeding.

To improve the results of treatment of severe hemophilia in children, the efficiency and safety of the use of venous catheter ports in patients of this group has been analyzed. The problem of optimizing vascular access in hemophilia, especially young patients, remains relevant, despite the emergence of drugs with a subcutaneous route of administration. In global clinical practice, implantable permanent venous access devices (IVAD) have been successfully used for a long time to initiate preventive therapy or to conduct immune tolerance therapy when detecting inhibitor to coagulation factor VIII as early as possible. In Russia, this experience is still local and not reflected in the literature. Materials and methods of research: a single-center retrospective uncontrolled non-randomized study was performed. In a total of 19 patients (100% boys) between the age of 1 and 8 years (median 2 years [1; 6]) have been installed 21 IVADs. The observation period ranged from 200 to 1,897 days, with a total number of 17,484 catheter days in the group. Results: a statistically significant decrease in the number of hemorrhages requiring treatment per year (p<0,001) has been observed in the general group of patients following the implantation of IVAD and the optimum treatment. The incidence of infectious complications was 0,22 per 1000 catheter days with no other complications recorded. Conclusion: the results of the presented case report demonstrate that the use of a port-type IVAD to ensure adequate vascular access in young children with severe hemophilia with a high degree of safety significantly increases the effectiveness of substitution/hemostatic therapy.

Malassezia spp.is a commensal yeast that represents normal microflora in humans and some animals. However,Malassezia spp.can cause life-threatening invasive mycosis. Evidence on Malassezia spp. infections is limited mostly to a case reports describing disease in newborns and premature infants, because lipid infusions (total parenteral nutrition) given through central venous catheter is a major risk factor. Here, we report two cases of CNS infection caused by Malassezia species in non-neonates with acute leukemia.

Randomized multicenter trials in the area of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face considerable challenges, therefore, their amount is relatively small. Most clinical guidelines are based on the data of multicenter registry studies or well-controlled prospective single-center non-randomized studies. To determine the criteria of a well-controlled single-center trial the results of which can be confi rmed by a multicenter analysis, the total of 44 groups of patients from 22 cooperative studies in collaboration with EBMT were analyzed. The results of these studies were compared with single-center data and the results of the planned studies of RM Gorbacheva Scientifi c Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantation. In 43 % of cases signifi cant diff erences were observed. The probability of diff erences did not decrease with an increasing number of patients in the single-center groups, but became higher (odds ratio 1.037; 95% confi dence interval 1.001-1.074; p = 0.046), which highlights the diff erences in methods of single- and multicenter trials. While analyzing the reasons for signifi cant diff erences the following necessary criteria for high-quali ty single-center trials in the area of HSCT were formulated: 1) conditioning regimens and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (if they are not subject of the study) need to be consistent with the most frequently used practices; 2) groups of patients should be status-homogeneous; 3) the trial must not include patients treated more than 5 years before the analysis; 4) patients should receive current antitumor therapy at pre- and post-transplantation stages; 5) each compared group should include more than 30-40 patients

Проведение рандомизированных многоцентровых исследований в области трансплантации гемопоэтических стволовых клеток (ТГСК) представляет значительные трудности, поэтому доля таких исследований невелика. Большинство клинических рекомендаций основывается на данных популяционных многоцентровых исследований регистров или хорошо контролируемых проспективных одноцентровых нерандомизированных исследований. С целью определить критерии хорошо контролируемого одноцентрового исследования, результаты которого могут быть подтверждены в многоцентровом анализе, проанализировано 44 группы пациентов из 22 совместных с группой EBMT исследований. Проведено сравнение результатов этих исследований с одноцентровыми данными и спланированными исследованиями НИИ ДОГиТ им. Р.М. Горбачевой. Выявлено, что статистически значимые различия наблюдались в 43 % случаев, при этом вероятность расхождения результатов при повышении числа пациентов в одноцентровых группах не уменьшалась, а увеличивалась (отношение шансов 1,037; 95%-й доверительный интервал 1,001–1,074; p = 0,046), что свидетельствует о различиях в методологии одноцентровых и многоцентровых исследований. При анализе причин статистически значимых результатов сформулированы следующие необходимые критерии высококачественных одноцентровых исследований в области ТГСК: 1) режимы кондиционирования и профилактики реакции «трансплантат против хозяина» (если они не являются предметом исследования) должны соответствовать наиболее часто используемым в практике; 2) группы пациентов должны быть однородными по своему статусу; 3) в исследование не должны включаться пациенты, получавшие лечение более чем за 5 лет до анализа; 4) пациенты должны получать современную противоопухолевую терапию на до- и посттрансплантационном этапах; 5) каждая сравниваемая группа должна включать более 30–40 пациентов.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The conditioning regimen administered for this patient based on busulfan (Bu) combined with cyclophosphamide (Cy), fludarabine (Flu) or some other agents. Comparisons of myeloablative conditioning (MAC) versus reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) have demonstrated a various results between relapse and toxicity in a few reports. We suppose, that dose intensity of Bu across regimens may affect treatment outcomes. Aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the impact dose of busulfan to overall survival (OS), transplant-related mortality (TRM), relapse-free survival (RFS), toxicity, the incidence of primary graft failure and acute "graft versus host" disease (GvHD) in transplantation in children and adolescents with AML. The study was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee and the Scientific Council of the I.P. Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University. We analyzed 110 AML pediatric patients with the median age 9 (range 1–19) y.o., who underwent first allo-HSCT with Bu based conditioning in R.M. Gorbacheva Memorial Institute from 2002 to 2018. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Bu1 – patients, who received Bu at the dose 8–10 mg/kg, n = 34 (31%), in Bu2 – dose of Bu was 12 mg/kg, n = 35 (32%), in Bu3 – dose of Bu was > 12 mg/kg, n = 41 (37%). In Bu1 Bu was combined with Flu in 31 (91%) pts and Cy in 3 (9%); in Bu2 – with Flu in 12 (34%), Cy in 7 (20%) and other agents in 16 (46%); in Bu3 – with Cy in 32 (78%), with Flu in 7 (17%) and other agents in 2 pts (5%) (p < 0.001). Patients in Bu2 received more Cy based GvHD prophylaxis regimens (69% vs 44% in Bu1, vs 29% in Bu3, p = 0.003) and more haplo grafts (51% vs 29% in Bu1, vs 15% in Bu3, p = 0.003). The complete remission at the HSCT was observed in 79 % in Bu1, 49% in Bu2, 61% in Bu3 (p = 0.02). Probabilities of OS, RFS, TRM were estimated by using the Kaplan–Meier method. Incidence of toxicity, acute GvHD and primary graft failure – by using Mann–Whitney U-test. Transplant engraftment was achieved in 95 (86%) of patients. Graft failure occurs in the 5 patients of Bu1 group (15%), in the 6 pts of Bu2 (17%) and in the 4 pts of Bu3 (10%) (p = 0.7). Median follow-up was 2 years for Bu1 and Bu3, 1 year for Bu2. Two-year OS was similar (Bu1 = 59% vs Bu2 = 60% vs Bu3 51%, p = 0.7). Two-year OS of pts with CR before HSCT was 70% in Bu1, 82% in Bu2, 60% in Bu3, p = 0,3 and 14%, 39%, 38% for pts with progression disease (PD), respectively (p = 0.5). Two-year RFS was 74% in Bu1, 82% in Bu2, 64% in Bu3 at CR (p = 0.4); 43%, 39% and 38% in pts with progression, respectively (p = 0.9). Median of RFS were also similar for the pts in PD (4 months in Bu1, 5 months in Bu2 and Bu3, p = 0.9) and not achieved for pts at CR. Drug related toxicity grade III–IV 4 experienced in 35% pts in Bu1, 29% in Bu2, in 54% in Bu3 (p = 0.04). Mucositis and toxic hepatitis were the most common adverse events. Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) experienced in 8 pts from different group: 4 from Bu2 (11%), 3 from Bu3 (7%) and only pts from Bu1 (3%) with previously treated of inotuzumab (p = 0.4). The most pts with VOD (3/5) had PD at the HSCT. Cumulative incidence of acute GvHD grade 2 (15% vs 14% vs 10%, p = 0.8) were not different. Acute GvHD grade III–IV was observed a bit more often in Bu3 (34%), than in Bu1 (18%) and Bu2 (17%) (p = 0.09). TRM up to D+100 was also higher in Bu3 (15%), than in Bu2 (6%) and Bu1 (0%) (p = 0.05). The transplant results of children with similar disease status of AML, received MAC or RIC conditioning with various dose of Bu, were not associated with significant differences in overall outcomes. The higher dose Bu may increase incidence of toxicity grade III–IV (p = 0.04) and acute GvHD grade III–IV (p = 0.09) with increasing of early TRM (p = 0.05).

Aсute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children aged 0–2 years and aсute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) up to 1 year (i.e., infants) frequently characterize high risk and poor prognosis. Аllogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (аllo-HCST) is a main curative but toxic option for these patients, and choice of allogeneic donor may be one of the important factor for long-term survival. Aim. To evaluate overall survival (OS), relapse free survival (RFS), transplant related mortality (TRM), "graft versus host" disease free/relapse free survival (GRFS) in infant with acute leukemia underwent allo-HCST from MUD vs haplodonor at 1st or 2nd remission. The study was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee and the Scientific Council of the I.P. Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University. 34 children with infant acute leukemia: 23 pts with AML (68%) and 11 – with ALL (32%) – underwent allo-HSCT from MUD vs haplo at 1st or 2nd remission between 2004–2018 were analyzed. Median age at allo-HCST – 22 months (6 months – 5 y.o.). HSCT was performed from MUD in 19 (56%) pts (group 1), haplo – 15 (44%) pts (group 2). Myeloablative conditioning received 29 (85%) pts. Reduced intensity conditioning received 5 (15%) pts. Posttransplant cyclophosphomyde (PtCy) was used in 10 (53%) pts in the group 1 and 14 (93%) pts. in the group 2 (p = 0.043). Engraftment was identified in 18 pts (95%) of group 1 and 12 pts (80%) of group 2 (p = 0.28). At the median follow up 3.5 years OS is 79% in the group 1 аnd 73% in the group 2 (p = 0.68). RFS is 79% in the group 1 аnd 67% in the group 2 (p = 0.41). GRFS is 39% in the group 1 аnd 47% in the group 2 (p = 0.5). TRM occurred in 2 pts (11%) of group 1 (due to infectious and toxicity) and no one of the group 2 (p = 0.2). Haplo-HSCT with PtCy is a good alternative to MUD with high efficacy and acceptable toxicity in children with infant acute leukemia at 1st or 2nd remission.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS IH; Hurler syndrome) is a hereditary storage disease caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase. Enzyme replacement therapy may extend the lifespan of affected patients by 6–12 years but the only currently available radical treatment option is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Objectives: We aim to evaluate the influence of conditioning regimens of various intensities and “graft versus host” disease (GvHD) prophylaxis with anti-thymocyte globulin and post-transplant Cyclophosphamide (PTCy) on overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survival, the incidence of GvHD, the normalization of alpha-L-iduronidase and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels over time as well as cardiovascular and cognitive recovery following allo-HSCT. The study was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee and the Scientific Council of the I.P. Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University. We included 28 patients with MPS IH who had received allo-HSCT at the clinic at the R.М. Gorbacheva Memorial Institute of Children Oncology, Haematology and Transplantation. The five-year OS was 89%, the EFS – 57%. The use of myeloablative conditioning regimens and allo-HSCT within 12 months of diagnosis improve EFS in affected patients. The cumulative incidence of grade II–IV acute GvHD and grade III–IV acute GvHD was 43% and 18% respectively. The use of PTCy results in a significantly lower incidence of this complication (69% vs 33%, p = 0.013). After allo-HSCT, normal alpha-L-iduronidase levels and urinary GAG excretion were achieved in cases where graft function was normal. Allo-HSCT is an effective treatment for patients with MPS IH. Myeloablative conditioning regimens are the preferred treatment modality for this group of patients but in cases of comorbidities or poor physical status at the time of allo-HSCT, conditioning regimens with reduced intensity may be opted for instead. PTCy may be used for GVHD prevention in patients with MPS IH without increasing the risk of cardiac toxicity.

Background. Recent advances in the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) are attributed to the implementation of immunotherapy methods which include blinatumomab, the bispecific engager of a patient's endogenous T-cells (Blincyto™, Amgen®) (BC). Aim. To assess BC efficacy and toxicity in the treatment of R/R ALL patients with persistence of minimal tumor clone before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Materials & Methods. The trial included 66 B-ALL patients with CD19+ aged 18 to 72 years, 23 (35 %) of them with measurable minimal residual disease (MRD+) and 43 (65 %) with R/R ALL. In 18 (27 %) patients BC was administered after prior allo-HSCT. Results. In the overall group 2-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with response to BC treatment were 53 % and 38 % respectively. In the R/R ALL group complete remission (CR) was achieved in 29 (67 %) patients including 24 (83 %) patients with negative MRD. CR rate was higher in standard cytogenetic risk group (73 %) in comparison with high-risk group (59 %). In patients with more or less than 50 % blast cells in bone marrow CR rate was 85 % and 61 %, respectively. When BC was administered after prior allo-HSCT and without it CR rate was 80 % and 60 %, respectively. In R/R ALL patients with response to BC 2-year OS and DFS were 40 % and 26 %, respectively, in the MRD+ group of ALL patients they were 66 % and 51 %, respectively. Relapse rate was lower in the group with allo-HSCT than in the group without it, i.e. 21 % vs. 55 %. Adverse events of grade 3-4 were observed in 25 (38 %) patients. In 11 (16 %) patients BC therapy had to be discontinued, in 5 (7 %) patients it was terminated prior to the scheduled date. Conclusion. BC efficacy is higher in the MRD+ group and in R/R ALL patients with smaller tumor mass. BC treatment after allo-HSCT yields remissions in most patients and can be combined with immune-adoptive therapy.

Acute leukemias in children aged under 1 year has different clinical manifestations as compared to patients of older age groups. The prognostic values of ALL and AML in children under 1 year are different. In ALL there are additional independent risk factors which worsen the prognosis. Clinical researches in the field of infant acute leukemia is still under develop and making a significant contribution to the understanding of the biology of leukemogenesis and therapy. The results of therapy in different research groups were comprised: POG, CCG, COG (USA), JPLSG (Japan), Interfant (BFM, researchers from New Zealand, Australia and the USA). The difference of the results led to discrepancy regarding the role of allo-HSCT in the infants treatment. In Raisa Gorbacheva Memorial Research Institute of Children Oncology, Hematology and Transplantation, the 10-year OS after allo-HSCT in the pediatric group with high-risk infant leukemias was 55 %, in the group of patients with restructuring of the MLL gene – 53 % versus 59 % without MLL gene. The results of allo-HSCT depended on the disease stage at the time of treatment, in I–II CR 5-year OS was 79 % (n = 35), in III–IV CR or progression –16 % (n = 20).

In the retrospective multicenter study during 2007–2017 we included 59 oncohematological patients with mucormycosis and 541 patients with invasive aspergillosis. Our study showed that mucomorhycosis more often developed in children and adolescents (p = 0.001), and after «graft versus host» disease development (p = 0.0001). Patients with mucormycosis were more immunosuppressed: severe neutropenia was in 88 % vs. 82 %, median duration of neutropenia ‒ 30 days vs. 14 days, p = 0.0001, lymphocytopenia – 77 % vs. 65 %, median duration of lymphocytopenia – 25 days vs. 14 days, p = 0.001. The main sites of infection were lungs, nevertheless in patients with mucormycosis it was less frequent (73 % vs. 97 %, p = 0.02), but more frequent were ≥2 organs involvement (42 % vs. 8 %, p = 0.001) and paranasal sinuses involvement (15 % vs. 6 %, p = 0.04). Typical clinical features of mucomorhycosis were localized pain syndrome (53 % vs. 5 %, p = 0.0001), hemoptysis (32 % vs. 6 %, p = 0.001), on lung computed tomography scan – pleural effusion (53 % vs. 7 %, p = 0.003), lesions with destruction (38 % vs. 8 %, p = 0.0001) and “a reverse halo” symptom (17 % vs. 3 %). The overall 12-week survival was significantly lower in patients with mucormycosis (49 % vs. 81 %, p = 0.0001). In both groups unfavorable prognosis factors were: ≥2 organs involvement (p = 0.0009) and concomitant bacterial or viral infection (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008 respectively). In mucormycosis patients favorable prognosis factor was remission of underlying disease (p = 0.006), in invasive aspergillosis patients – early bronchoscopy (p = 0.003), voriconazole use (p = 0.0007) and secondary antifungal prophylaxis (p = 0.0001).

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare (orphan) blood disease. Most frequent manifestations of ITP are purpura, petechiae and bleedings with many patients have either no symptoms or minimal bleedings manifestation. The management of ITP varies widely and must be based on current international recommendations and individual assessment of clinical course. The paper presents the results of interim analysis of clinical course and therapeutic approaches in the Russian register of ITP patients with immune thrombocytopenia and literature review about ITP treatment approaches.

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare (orphan) blood disease. Most frequent manifestations of ITP are purpura, petechiae and bleedings with many patients have either no symptoms or minimal bleedings manifestation. The management of ITP varies widely and must be based on current international recommendations and individual assessment of clinical course. The paper presents the results of interim analysis of clinical course and therapeutic approaches in the Russian register of ITP patients with immune thrombocytopenia and literature review about ITP treatment approaches.