Ashutosh Panigrahi

Purpose Our objective was to identify whether procalcitonin (PCT) and C Reactive protein (CRP) are useful biomarkers for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL) and febrile neutropenia (FN). We included patients ≥ 15 years of age as existing literature on them is limited. Methods In this prospective observational study, high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and PCT were estimated for all patients at baseline, 48 hours, and 96 hours after administration of broad-spectrum empirical antibiotics. The level of these parameters was then correlated with bacteremia, requirement of antibiotic augmentation, septic shock, ICU admission, prolonged hospitalisation, and death. Results We analysed 33 episodes of FN. Bacteremia was seen in 12% and augmentation of antibiotics was done in 30% of the episodes. Two patients had septic shock; no death or ICU admission was observed. Prolonged hospitalisation was required in 36% of the episodes. The hsCRP and PCT peaked at 48 hours, and the PCT level was significantly higher in the group with bacteremia, antibiotic augmentation, and prolonged hospitalisation. The area under the curve (AUC) for PCT (at 48 hours) was greater than hsCRP for antibiotic augmentation and prolonged hospitalisation. Conclusion As a supplement to clinical decision making, serial monitoring of PCT should be done. Levels of PCT at 48 hours of starting antibiotic therapy (≥ 0.82ng/ml) can be used for early augmentation of antibiotic therapy to prevent complications of FN in patient undergoing treatment for ALL.

To study the cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox 2) expression in newly diagnosed plasma cell myeloma cases by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlate with clinicohematological characteristics. Immunohistochemical expression of Cox 2 on bone marrow trephine biopsy was studied in seventy-three newly diagnosed myeloma cases [56 males, 17 females, median age; 58 years (36–75)] and fifteen controls using SP21 clone antibody. A median immuno-score (proportion x intensity) stratified the entire cohort into low and high expressors. Cox 2 immunoexpression was compared and correlated with clinicolaboratory characteristics and marrow histomorphology and survival. Twenty one of 73 (38.7%) cases had a plasmablastic morphology whereas remainder fifty-two (61.3%) had a differentiated morphology. The Cox 2 expression was noted in 71/73 (97.2%) cases (median score = 127.3) and 15/15 (100%) controls. Low expressors was associated with higher circulating plasma cells, increased marrow tumor burden, blastic morphology, and lower proliferation index (p < 0.05) with a peculiar ‘dot-block’ cytoplasmic positivity (p < 0.001); whereas high expressors had thinned out bony trabeculae with granular cytoplasmic positivity with or without membrane accentuation (p < 0.001). Cox 2 expression had a weak negative correlation with tumor burden (r; -0.32, p = 0.01) and positive correlation with proliferation index (r; 0.29, p = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference in the survival between low (n = 20) and high (n = 23) expressors (log rank p = 0.11). A high proportion of myeloma cells in our cohort expressed Cox 2 using SP21 clone; and this may have a role in futuristic research and therapy.