Correspondence n engl j med 375;11 nejm.org September 15, 2016 excluded for right-sided pulmonary-vein diameters greater than 26 mm. In the trial, 98.9% of all pulmonary veins were isolated at the index procedure in the cryoballoon group, as compared with 97.9% in the radiofrequency group. In the cryoballoon group, 100% of the left common pulmonary veins (28 of 28) and 92% of the right middle pulmonary veins (12 of 13) were isolated at the index procedure. In the radiofrequency group, 77% of the left common pulmonary veins (30 of 39) and 48% of the right middle pulmonary veins (11 of 23) were isolated at the index ablation.Currently, prescreening of pulmonary-vein anatomical features is not required. More important, the cryoballoon group has shown significantly fewer reinterventions and rehospitalizations than the radiofrequency group, 3 and these patient-relevant disease-burden characteristics should be considered when making the decision about what type of catheter ablation should be performed.
(N Engl J Med. 2016;375:1101–1103)
In this letter to the editor, the authors discussed a report from Brazil of 2 cases of Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission by blood transfusion.
Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a nonmalignant histiocytic disorder of unknown origin
that is extremely rare. By immunohistochemistry, the RDD cells are characteristically
S-100 positive and CD1a negative. Emperipolesis is a common histopathological
finding, although not specific for RDD. Lymph node and cutaneous manifestations are
most frequent, but diverse organs can be affected. The clinical course is
unpredictable regardless of treatment. Here, we present a series of 8 cases
presenting lymph node and/or cutaneous lesions. Lymph node involvement was seen in
diverse regions, including mediastinal and retroperitoneal. The treatment response to
steroids was diversified, and the chemotherapy response was disappointing. Associated
autoimmune diseases (Sjögren syndrome and antiphospholipid syndrome) were observed in
2 patients. Regardless of therapy modality, these patients exhibited a favorable
prognosis in a follow-up duration that ranged from 15 to 80 months.
PURPOSE To describe event-free survival (EFS) and toxicities in children with low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) assigned to receive either continuous 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and weekly methotrexate (MTX) or intermittent 6-MP with intermediate-dose MTX, as maintenance treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between October 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007, 635 patients with low-risk ALL were enrolled onto Brazilian Childhood Cooperative Group for ALL Treatment (GBTLI) ALL-99 protocol. Eligible children (n = 544) were randomly allocated to receive either continuous 6-MP/MTX (group 1, n = 272) or intermittent 6-MP (100 mg/m(2)/d for 10 days, with 11 days resting) and MTX (200 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks; group 2, n = 272). RESULTS The 5-year overall survival (OS) and EFS were 92.5% +/- 1.5% SE and 83.6% +/- 2.1% SE, respectively. According to maintenance regimen, the OS was 91.4% +/- 2.2% SE (group 1) and 93.6% +/- 2.1% SE (group 2; P = .28) and EFS 80.9% +/- 3.2% SE (group 1) and 86.5% +/- 2.8% SE (group 2; P = .089). Remarkably, the intermittent regimen led to significantly higher EFS among boys (85.7% v 74.9% SE; P = .027), while no difference was seen for girls (87.0% v 88.8% SE; P = .78). Toxic episodes were recorded in 226 and 237 children, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 toxic events for groups 1 and 2 were, respectively, 273 and 166 for hepatic dysfunction (P = .002), and 772 and 636 for hematologic episodes (P = .005). Deaths on maintenance were: seven (group 1) and one (group 2). CONCLUSION The intermittent use of 6-MP and MTX in maintenance is a less toxic regimen, with a trend toward better long-term EFS. Boys treated with the intermittent schedule had significantly better EFS.
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