We present the results of a multicenter clinical trial using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) generated from EBV-seropositive blood donors to treat patients with EBVpositive posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) on the basis of the best HLA match and specific in vitro cytotoxicity. Thirty-three PTLD patients who had failed on conventional therapy were enrolled. No adverse effects of CTL infusions were observed and the response rate (complete or partial) in 33 patients was 64% at 5 weeks and 52% at 6 months. Fourteen patients achieved a complete remission, 3 showed a partial response, and 16 had no response at 6 months (5 died before completing treatment). At 5 weeks, there was a significant trend toward better responses with higher numbers of CD4 ؉ cells in infused CTL lines (P ؍ .001) that were maintained at 6 months (P ؍ .001). Patients receiving CTLs with closer HLA matching responded better at 6 months (P ؍ .048). Female patients responded better than male patients, but the differences were not statistically significant. Our results show that allogeneic CTLs are a safe and rapid therapy for PTLD, bypassing the need to grow CTLs for individual patients. The response rate in this poor prognosis patient group is encouraging. (Blood.
Mortality in women with Turner syndrome is 3-fold higher than in the general population, is raised for almost all major causes of death, and is raised at all ages, with the greatest excess mortality in older adulthood. These risks need consideration in follow-up and counseling of patients and add to reasons for continued follow-up and preventive measures in adult, not just pediatric, care.
The risk of death from myocardial infarction after treatment for Hodgkin disease remains high for at least 25 years. The increased risks are related to supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy but may also be related to anthracycline and vincristine treatment.
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