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We report the clinical presentation and risk factors for survival in 175 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and COVID-19, diagnosed between February and June 2020. After a median follow-up of 50 days, mortality was higher than in the general population and reached 48% in myelofibrosis (MF). Univariate analysis, showed a significant relationship between death and age, male gender, decreased lymphocyte counts, need for respiratory support, comorbidities and diagnosis of MF, while no association with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and prefibrotic-PMF (pre-PMF) was found. Regarding MPN-directed therapy ongoing at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, Ruxolitinib (Ruxo) was significantly more frequent in patients who died in comparison with survivors ( p  = 0.006). Conversely, multivariable analysis found no effect of Ruxo alone on mortality, but highlighted an increased risk of death in the 11 out of 45 patients who discontinued treatment. These findings were also confirmed in a propensity score matching analysis. In conclusion, we found a high risk of mortality during COVID-19 infection among MPN patients, especially in MF patients and/or discontinuing Ruxo at COVID-19 diagnosis. These findings call for deeper investigation on the role of Ruxo treatment and its interruption, in affecting mortality in MPN patients with COVID-19.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and attributable mortality in oncohematologic patients. Timely diagnosis is essential but challenging. Herein we retrospectively describe 221 cases of antifungal treatments (AFT) administered in a monocentric real-life cohort of hematological malignancies. Between January 2010 and July 2017, 196 oncohematologic patients were treated with AFT at our Hematology Department. Diagnosis of IFIs was carried out according to EORTC/MSG-2008 guidelines.The most represented disease was acute myeloid leukemia (104 patients). Median age was 61 years; at fever onset 177 (80%) patients had a neutrophil count<0.5x109/L. Twenty-nine (13%) patients were receiving antifungal prophylaxis (26 posaconazole, 2 fluconazole, 1 itraconazole). The incidence of AFT was 13%. Serum galactomannan antigen (GM) was positive in 20% of the tested cases, while 85% of the patients had a CT scan suggestive for IFI. Twenty-one percent of these cases had a GM positive. Sixty-five out of 196 patients (33%) showed positive culture results, in particular Candida spp. were identified in 45 isolates, while Aspergillus spp. in 16 cases. Fourteen patients presented multiple positivity. Twenty-two (10%) cases were classified as proven IFIs, 61 (28%) as probable and 81 (37%) as possible, but 57 (26%) cases could not be classified. Fifty-nine percent of the patients received single agent AFT, 37% sequential AFT, 8% a combination regimen. Liposomal-amphotericin-B was the most used AFT. IFIs attributable mortality was 20%. This epidemiologic survey underlined a persistent significant use of AFT and a high mortality rate of IFIs. We suggest that further powerful diagnostic approaches should be investigated to improve the diagnostic accuracy and potential therapeutic implication.

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) characterized by splenomegaly, symptoms, cytopenias, and chronic inflammation. PMF has two stages: pre-fibrotic (prePMF) and overt PMF. PrePMF and essential thrombocythemia share a similar high thrombotic risk, but few studies have examined thrombosis risk factors in prePMF. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), reflecting the imbalance between systemic inflammation and immunity, has emerged as a prognostic biomarker in various diseases. We investigated the predictive value of NLR for thrombotic risk in a multicenter cohort of 225 prePMF patients enrolled in the retro-prospective observational INFLA-ME (INFLAmmation in MyeloproliferativE disease) cooperative study. After a median follow-up of 5.9 years, 37 thrombotic events occurred in 31 patients (2.5 events/100 patients/year; 18 arterial, 19 venous). Multivariate analysis linked venous thrombosis risk to prior venous events (HR 4.46, p  = 0.001) and NLR ≥ 6 (HR 3.82, p  = 0.008). The patients with NLR ≥ 6 showed a shorter venous thrombosis-free survival ( p  = 0.003). NLR value had no significant association with total and arterial thrombotic events. In conclusion, NLR is an inexpensive and accessible prognostic biomarker of venous thrombosis in prePMF. The integration of NLR into conventional risk scores may allow for better identification of pre-PMF patients requiring cytoreduction.

Sweet’s syndrome (SS) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis often associated with hematologic malignancies. Due to its infectious mimicry, diagnosis is frequently delayed. We report a case of primary myelofibrosis initially treated for suspected cellulitis, which progressed to necrotic lesions and refractory fever despite broad‐spectrum antibiotics. A skin biopsy confirmed neutrophilic vasculitis consistent with SS. Prompt treatment with corticosteroids followed by ruxolitinib achieved rapid resolution by suppressing the underlying cytokine storm.

Background Incorporating real‐world data in the drug development process allows the improvement of health outcomes by providing better representation of actual patterns of drug safety and efficacy. Aims and Methods Here, we present the results of a retroprospective, observational real‐life study of 154 patients with myelofibrosis treated with ruxolitinib in a real‐life setting in seven Italian centers of the MYNERVA project. Results Median drug exposure was 29 (range, 3–98) months. Discontinuation rate was 27% after a median time of 13 (range, 3–61). While hematological toxicities were in line with previous findings, infections occurred frequently, representing a not negligible cause of discontinuation and death. Anemia, symptoms, and spleen responses were obtained at any time in 23%, 91%, and 68% of patients, respectively; most patients achieved their responses by week 24. Larger splenomegaly and delayed treatment initiation correlated with lower spleen response at 24 weeks. Spleen response was associated with a superior overall survival, regardless of DIPSS. Of interest, both achievement and loss of spleen response had prognostic implications. Discussion and Conclusion Overall, our findings provide insights on the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib in a real‐world, multicenter cohort of Italian MF patients. This Brief Report presents the results of a real‐world study from the MYNERVA project that enrolled 154 patients with myelofibrosis treated with ruxolitinib. Hematological toxicities were consistent with previous studies, while infections occurred frequently, representing a not negligible cause of discontinuation and death. Anemia, symptoms and spleen responses were obtained by 23%, 91%, and 68% of patients, respectively. Both achievement and loss of spleen response had prognostic implications.

Hematological patients at higher risk of severe COVID‐19 were excluded from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) vaccine trials. In this single‐center observational prospective study (NCT05074706), we evaluate immune response in the hematological patients followed at the Hematological Division of San Gerardo Hospital, Monza (Italy) deemed to be severely immunosuppressed after vaccination with two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 immunoglobulin G titers above the cutoff value of 33.8 BAU/ml were detected in 303 (80.2%) out of the 378 patients enrolled. Patients with lymphoproliferative disorders had a significant lower probability of immunization (43.2% vs. 88.4%, p < 0.001). Patients treated with anti‐CD20 showed a significantly lower probability of immunization compared to all other treatments (21.4%, p < 0.0001). Among 69 patients who failed seroconversion, 15 patients (22.7%) showed a positive T‐cell response. Patients previously treated with anti‐CD20 were 2.4 times more likely to test positive for T‐cell responses (p = 0.014). Within a follow‐up of 9 months from the second COVID‐19 vaccination, symptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 infections were reported by 20 patients (5.3%) and four of them required hospitalization. Successful serological or T‐cell‐mediated immunization conferred protection from symptomatic COVID‐19. Patients treated with anti‐CD20 who were not seroconverted after vaccination might still be protected from COVID‐19 due to the T‐cell immune response.