The records of 458 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been reviewed. The diagnosis of ALL was based on clinical examination and morphological, cytochemical and immunophenotypic characteristics (20% or more blasts reacting with lymphoid monoclonal antibodies) of blood and/or bone marrow. Blast cells of 6 (1.3%) patients showed positive reaction with Sudan black B (SBB) in the absence of reactivity to any other myeloid markers. Positive reaction with SBB stain cannot be considered specific for myeloid series.

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Background and Objectives: Anemia during peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) transplant is considered a bad prognostic marker. The study aimed to determine whether pretransplant anemia influence peritransplant transfusion requirements in myeloma patients. Methods: Myeloma patients planned for PBSC transplant were stratified based on hemoglobin levels at time of mobilization, PBSC collection, and PBSC infusion. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to study the predictors for good mobilization, adequate CD34 yield by apheresis, and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in the peritransplant period. Results: Of 67 patients, the prevalence of anemia at mobilization, PBSC collection, and PBSC infusion was 37%, 58%, and 70%, respectively. Eighty-five percent had good mobilization with peripheral blood CD34 count of 50 cells/μl (8–123) and 81% had adequate CD34 yield with first apheresis. Thirty-two percent patients received peritransplant RBC transfusion with the median of one unit (range: 0–5). Anemia on the day of infusion did influence the RBC transfusions in the peritransplant period (P = 0.03). Conclusion: One third of myeloma patients require RBC transfusion support in the peritransplant period. We identified pretransplant anemia neither influenced mobilization nor PBSC collection but increased the risk for RBC transfusion in the peritransplant period.

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