Protein Predicts Marrow Transplant Trouble

[Guest guest]

SATURDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Measuring levels of a specific

protein seven days after bone-marrow transplant helps predict which

patients are likely to develop the serious and potentially deadly

complication called graft vs. host disease (GVHD), researchers report.

The protein, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), is known to be

elevated in people who develop GVHD, which occurs when the

transplanted bone marrow immune cells attack the patient's skin,

liver and gastrointestinal cells, resulting in a massive inflammatory

response that can cause death.

This University of Michigan study included 170 bone-marrow transplant

patients, including 94 who developed GVHD. Bone-marrow transplants

are typically given to children or adults with certain kinds of

cancer -- such as leukemia or lymphoma -- or with some blood or

immune disorders.

The researchers pointed out that the 94 patients had elevated TNF

levels a week after their transplant, but before they showed any

signs of GVHD.

They also found that patients with elevated TNF levels seven days

after transplant had a 20 percent lower survival rate: just 62

percent of these patients were alive a year after their transplant,

compared with 85 percent of patients with lower TNF levels.

" This suggests we could target patients to prevent graft vs. host

disease based on their post-transplant level of TNF, " study author

Dr. Levine, associate professor of pediatrics and internal

medicine, said in a prepared statement. " If we can develop a test

that can reliably predict this complication, we can look at treating

it before any symptoms develop. This is one small step in a long road

to making transplants safer and more effective. "

The findings were presented Friday at the annual meeting of the

American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant in Honolulu.

[Guest guest]

>

>

>

> SATURDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Measuring levels of a

specific

> protein seven days after bone-marrow transplant helps predict

which

> patients are likely to develop the serious and potentially deadly

> complication called graft vs. host disease (GVHD), researchers

report.

>

> The protein, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), is known to be

> elevated in people who develop GVHD, which occurs when the

> transplanted bone marrow immune cells attack the patient's skin,

> liver and gastrointestinal cells, resulting in a massive

inflammatory

> response that can cause death.

>

> This University of Michigan study included 170 bone-marrow

transplant

> patients, including 94 who developed GVHD. Bone-marrow transplants

> are typically given to children or adults with certain kinds of

> cancer -- such as leukemia or lymphoma -- or with some blood or

> immune disorders.

>

> The researchers pointed out that the 94 patients had elevated TNF

> levels a week after their transplant, but before they showed any

> signs of GVHD.

>

> They also found that patients with elevated TNF levels seven days

> after transplant had a 20 percent lower survival rate: just 62

> percent of these patients were alive a year after their

transplant,

> compared with 85 percent of patients with lower TNF levels.

>

> " This suggests we could target patients to prevent graft vs. host

> disease based on their post-transplant level of TNF, " study author

> Dr. Levine, associate professor of pediatrics and internal

> medicine, said in a prepared statement. " If we can develop a test

> that can reliably predict this complication, we can look at

treating

> it before any symptoms develop. This is one small step in a long

road

> to making transplants safer and more effective. "

>

> The findings were presented Friday at the annual meeting of the

> American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant in Honolulu.

>

THANKS FOR THAT LOAD OF INFORMATION AMY..IM GONNA PRINT IT OUT AND

TAKE IT TO TIM WHEN I SEE HIM NEXT...

SUSIE LEECH

DX NOV 2002

CURRENTLY OFF GLEEVEC