The role of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the management of hemato-oncological disorders

This issue of Acta Haematologica evaluates the role of evidence-based medicine in hemato-oncology as reflected by the influence of meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The systematic reviews can be divided into two categories. The first includes primary treatment of disorders such as multiple myeloma, follicular lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia and aplastic anemia. The second represents supportive care including the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in cancer patients, the issue of myeloid colony-stimulating factors in hematological malignancies and the management of infections in patients with hemato-oncological diseases. Finally, a commentary challenging the role of evidence-based medicine is presented. This special issue will be of benefit to clinicians in the fields of hemato-oncology, oncology, infectious diseases as well as clinicians and scientists dealing with evidence-based medicine and meta-analyses.