Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2008; 14(15): 2388-2393
Published online Apr 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2388
Primary gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: Clinical data predicted treatment outcome
Milena Todorovic, Bela Balint, Miodrag Jevtic, Nada Suvajdzic, Amela Ceric, Dragana Stamatovic, Olivera Markovic, Maja Perunicic, Slobodan Marjanovic, Miodrag Krstic
Milena Todorovic, Nada Suvajdzic, Maja Perunicic, Institute of Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Bela Balint, Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia
Bela Balint, Miodrag Jevtic, Dragana Stamatovic, Slobodan Marjanovic, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia
Amela Ceric, Clinic for Internal Medicine, Clinical Center Banja Luka, Banjaluka, Bosnia and Hercegovina
Olivera Markovic, Clinical Hospital Bezanijska Kosa, Belgrade, Serbia
Miodrag Krstic, Institute for Digestive Disease, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Author contributions: Todorovic M, Balint B, Suvajdzic N and Krstic M designed the study; Todorovic M, Jevtic M, Suvajdzic N, Ceric A, Stamatovic D, Markovic O, Perunicic M, Marjanovic S and Krstic M collected the patient data and did the clinical research; the statistical data were carried out by Todorovic M, Balint B, Ceric A and Marjanovic S; Perunicic M did the pathohistological analysis; Todorovic M, Jevtic M, Suvajdzic N, Ceric A, Stamatovic D, Markovic O, Perunicic M, Marjanovic S and Krstic M discussed and interpreted the data; Todorovic M and Balint B wrote the paper and organized the figures.
Correspondence to: Milena Todorovic, MD, PhD, Institute of Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. bb.lena@gmail.com
Telephone: +381-11-3065112
Fax: +381-11-3065112
Received: November 16, 2007
Revised: February 29, 2008
Published online: April 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To determine clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of gastric lymphoma after chemotherapy and immuno-chemotherapy.

METHODS: Thirty four patients with primary gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (Ann Arbor stages I to IV) were enrolled. All had upper gastric endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, CT and H pylori status assessment (histology and serology). After anti-H pylori treatment and initial chemotherapy, patients were re-examined every 4 mo.

RESULTS: Histological regression of the lymphoma was complete in 22/34 (64.7%) and partial in 9 (26.5%) patients. Median follow up time for these 31 responders was 60 mo (range 48-120). No regression was noted in 3 patients. Among the 25 (73.5%) H pylori positive patients, the eradication rate was 100%.

CONCLUSION: Using univariate analysis, predictive factors for overall survival were international prognostic index (IPI) score, hemoglobin level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and platelet numbers (P < 0.005). In addition to this, Cox proportion hazard model differentiate IPI score, ESR, and platelets as predictors of survival.

Keywords: MALT lymphoma; Prognostic factors; Clinical features; Treatment