Speaker Biography

Ehsan Shahverdi

Blood Transfusion Research Center, Iran

Title: Complication of MRC UK ALL X Protocol in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Retrospective Analysis

Ehsan Shahverdi
Biography:

Shahverdi is a MD medical graduate (2016), who commenced his interest in Blood transfusion, cancer treatment and research in 2014. He completed a MD postgraduate qualifications before taking up positions in transfusion in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) and then in cancer treatment and research in MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center and Pediatric Growth and Development Research Center of the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism. He became Medical researcher of the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization in 2014 before moving to the High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine in 2015 and Pediatric Growth and Development Research Center of the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2017, where he is now a clinical researcher in the Department of Immunohematology and endocrinology and metabolism. Dr E. Shahverdi has been a Council member of the Blood and Cancer Research Center of the MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center and Pediatric Growth and Development Research Center of the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is Chairman of the department of Young Doctors and Researchers of the IPHOS and Pediatric Growth and Development Research Center of the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism. His experience covers all areas of transfusion medicine research. He was secretary of the Young Researchers Panel of different national and international hematology and oncology congress for 5 years and chaired theirs Scientific Committee. Additionally, he has served on many other transfusion related organizations. He has written over 60 scientific papers and is in demand as a speaker to a number of international congress. He has a particular interest in the transfusion services of developing countries and has travelled to many of them to lecture and assist in practical workshops. Over the years, he has been awarded life memberships of various organizations and has won several prestigious awards from medical societies. He is now very active in various community support organizations. His main interest is now in medical history and writing.
 

Abstract:

Background and aim: Leukemia has the highest incidence in paediatric malignancy and ALL is the most common. In the recent years, treatment has been remarkably improved and now most of the patients are cured successfully. UK ALL-X is a protocol with 1 or 2 consolidation therapy phase regarding to the patient’s conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the response to therapeutic procedure and complications related to consolidation therapy phase in this protocol.Material and Methods: In this retrospective cross sectional study, ALL Patients from 2008 to 2015 in Bahrami pediatric hospital, Iran were enrolled. Patients' demographic information and clinical characteristics, including age, gender, ALL morphology subtype, WBC and neutrophil caunts, Hb level, length of hospitalization and outcome were collected.Results: Sixty seven ALL patients who were under UK ALL-X protocol, were enrolled for analysing. 28 (41.7%) and 19 (28.3%) cases were between 0-5 and 10-15 years old respectively. 44 patients )65.6%) were boys and 23 cases (34.4%) were girls. 7 patients (10.7%) relapsed in the 3 years of diagnosis. 50 subjects (74.6%) had an overall survival of 3 years. 47% of mortalities occurred in 0-5 years old patients. 45 (67.2%) and 17 (51.5%) of patients were L1 and L2 respectively. Among 33 cases received the first phase of consolidation, 17 patients (51.5%) had experienced neutropenia. Neutropenia happened in 19 patients among 35 cases (54.2%) who received the second line therapy. There was no report of mortality caused by neutropenia subsequent to consolidation. There was no significant association between age and mortality and neither age and incidence of neutropenia subsequent consolidation therapy. Conclusion: Considering 3 year survival, no mortality report related to consolidation-therapy-induced neutropenia and low percentage of relapse in this study can suggest that this protocol is an appropriate treatment strategy in countries such as Iran.