OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of high-dose sequential chemotherapy in a Brazilian population. METHODS: High-dose cyclophosphamide followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective and feasible therapy for refractory/relapsed lymphomas; this regimen has never before been evaluated in a Brazilian population. All patients (106 with high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 77 with Hodgkin's lymphoma) submitted to this treatment between 1998 and 2006 were analyzed. Chemotherapy consisted of the sequential administration of high-dose cyclophosphamide (4 or 7 g/m²) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (300 µg/day), followed by peripheral blood progenitor cell harvesting, administration of etoposide (2g/m²) and methotrexate (8 g/m² only for Hodgkin's lymphoma) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: At diagnosis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients had a median age of 45 (range: 8-65) years old, 78% had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and 83% had stage III/IV disease. The Hodgkin's lymphoma patients had a median age of 23 (range: 7-68) years old, 64.9% had the nodular sclerosis subtype and 65% had stage III/IV disease. Nine Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (13%) and 10 (9%) non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients had some kind of cardiac toxicity. The overall survival, disease-free survival and progression-free survival in Hodgkin's lymphoma were 29%, 59% and 26%, respectively. In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, these values were 40%, 49% and 31%, respectively. High-dose cyclophosphamide-related mortality was 10% for Hodgkin's lymphoma and 5% for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. High-dose cyclophosphamide dosing had no impact on toxicity or survival for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a greater prevalence of poor prognostic factors, our results are comparable to the literature. The incidence of secondary neoplasias is noteworthy. Our study suggests that this approach is efficient and feasible, regardless of toxicity-related mortality.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A anemia aplástica e a agranulocitose são doenças raras, entretanto freqüentemente letais. Muitas vezes são causadas por medicações e outras exposições ambientais. A incidência dessas doenças parece variar consideravelmente entre diferentes regiões geográficas, e poucos dados sobre a incidência são disponíveis para os países da América Latina. O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar a incidência de anemia aplástica e agranulocitose no Brasil. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo de incidência. Sete centros participaram da fase piloto do estudo representando as cinco regiões brasileiras. MÉTODOS: Cada centro realizou busca ativa por novos casos em uma região definida, por meio de contatos regulares com todos os hematologistas, principais laboratórios clínicos e clínicos de hospitais de sua região. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 74 casos de anemia aplástica e 16 casos de agranulocitose. A mediana de idade dos pacientes com agranulocitose foi de 31 anos (intervalo inter-quartil - IIQ 12,5 - 48,2), 32,2% eram do sexo masculino e 81,2% eram da raça branca. A mediana de idade dos pacientes com anemia aplástica foi de 21 anos (IIQ 15,0-35,2), 62,2% eram do sexo masculino, 50,0% da raça branca e 39,2% da raça parda. A incidência de agranulocitose foi estimada em 0,5 casos/milhão de habitantes/ano, variando de 0,0 a 1,1 caso/milhão de habitantes/ano entre as diferentes regiões brasileiras. A incidência de anemia aplástica foi de 2,7 casos/milhão de habitantes/ano, variando de 1,1 a 7,1 casos/milhão de habitantes/ano entre as diferentes regiões. CONCLUSÕES: A anemia aplástica e a agranulocitose são doenças raras no Brasil. Entretanto existe considerável variabilidade na incidência destas doenças entre as diferentes regiões brasileiras.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis are rare but life-threatening disorders, often caused by drugs and other environmental exposures. Reported incidence of these diseases seems to vary between different geographic regions, and few data on their incidence are available for Latin American countries. The aim of this work is to determine the incidence of agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Incidence study. Seven centers took part in the pilot phase, so as to represent all Brazilian regions. METHODS: Each center conducted an active search for new cases in a defined region by means of regular contacts with all hematologists, main clinical laboratories and clinicians in hospitals of the region. RESULTS: 74 patients with aplastic anemia and 16 with agranulocytosis were identified. Patients with agranulocytosis had a median age of 31 years (interquartile range, IQR: 12.5-48.2); 32.2% were male and 81.2% were white. The median age of aplastic anemia patients was 21 years (IQR 15.0-35.2); 62.2% were male, 50.0% were white and 39.2% mulatto. The incidence of agranulocytosis was estimated to be 0.5 cases per million individuals per year, ranging from 0.0 to 1.1 cases per million per year between regions. The incidence of aplastic anemia was 2.7 cases per million per year, ranging from 1.1 to 7.1 cases per million per year between regions. CONCLUSIONS: Aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis are rare diseases in Brazil. However, there is considerable variability in their incidences between different regions.