In high-risk patients with proximal deep-vein thrombosis, the initial beneficial effect of vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism was counterbalanced by an excess of recurrent deep-vein thrombosis, without any difference in mortality. Our data also confirmed that low-molecular-weight heparin was as effective and safe as unfractionated heparin for the prevention of pulmonary embolism.

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This report deals with 81 pulmonary episodes occurring in 130 consecutive patients who underwent al-logeneic bone marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancy in the same unit over a 5-year period. These episodes observed in 69/130 patients (53%) were mostly of infectious origin, and were investigated by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The main causes of pneumonia were: cytomegalovirus (CMV) (n = 25), bacterial pneumonia (n = 17), invasive aspergillosis (n = 11) and pulmonary hemorrhage (n = 9). The overall mortality due to or associated with pneumonia was 26/130 (20%). Graft-versus-host disease clearly increased the incidence of infectious pneumonia and the mortality due to or associated with pneumonia. Granulocyte transfusions did not influence the incidence of CMV pneumonitis. The main causes and risk factors for pneumonia are discussed. The role of BAL as a noninvasive procedure is stressed. Cancer 58:1047-1054, 1986 NEUMONITIS is a life threatening complication after P allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).'?* Previous immunodeficiency, underlying hematologic disease, pretransplant conditioning regimen, granulocyte transfusions, and graft-versus-host diseasee (GVHD) have been raised as the most important factors associated with an increased incidence of p n e ~ m o n i t i s. ~-~ Although non-bacterial nonfungal diffuse interstitial pneumonitis is perhaps the most interesting problem raised by the pulmonary complications after BMT,6 its frequency is lower than From the

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