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BAY 81-8973 Efficacy and Safety in Previously Untreated and Minimally Treated Children with Severe Hemophilia A: The LEOPOLD Kids Trial
Ljung, R., Chan, A. K. C., Glosli, H., Afonja, O., Becker, B., Tseneklidou-Stoeter, D., Mancuso, M. E., Saulyte-Trakymiene, S., Kenet, G.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2023;123(1):27-39
Abstract
INTRODUCTION BAY 81-8973, a full-length recombinant factor VIII for hemophilia A treatment, has been extensively evaluated in previously treated patients in the LEOPOLD (Long-Term Efficacy Open-Label Program in Severe Hemophilia A Disease) clinical trials. AIM: To assess BAY 81-8973 efficacy and safety when used for bleed prophylaxis and treatment in previously untreated/minimally treated patients (PUPs/MTPs). METHODS In this phase III, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled study, PUPs/MTPs (<6 years old) with severe hemophilia A received BAY 81-8973 (15-50 IU/kg) at least once weekly as prophylaxis. Primary efficacy endpoint was the annualized bleeding rate (ABR) within 48 hours after prophylaxis infusion. Adverse events and immunogenicity were assessed. Patients who developed inhibitors were offered immune tolerance induction (ITI) treatment in an optional extension phase. RESULTS Fifty-two patients were enrolled, with 43 patients (mean age: 13.6 months) treated. Median (interquartile range) ABR for all bleeds within 48 hours of prophylaxis infusion was 0.0 (0.0-1.8) among patients without inhibitors (n = 20) and 0.0 (0.0-2.2) among all patients. As expected, inhibitors were the most frequent treatment-related adverse event (high titer: 17 [39.5%] patients; low titer: 6 [13.9%] patients). Six of 12 patients who underwent ITI treatment in the extension phase (high titer [n = 5], low titer [n = 1]) achieved a negative inhibitor titer. CONCLUSION BAY 81-8973 was effective for bleed prevention and treatment in PUPs/MTPs. The observed inhibitor rate was strongly influenced by a cluster of inhibitor cases, and consequently, slightly higher than in other PUP/MTP studies. Overall, the BAY 81-8973 benefit-risk profile remains unchanged and supported by ongoing safety surveillance. Immune tolerance can be achieved with BAY 81-8973.
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Eptacog beta efficacy and safety in the treatment and control of bleeding in paediatric subjects (<12 years) with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors
Pipe SW, Hermans C, Chitlur M, Carcao M, Castaman G, Davis JA, Ducore J, Dunn AL, Escobar M, Journeycake J, et al
Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia. 2022
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Eptacog beta is a new recombinant activated human factor VII bypassing agent approved in the United States for the treatment and control of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors 12 years of age or older. AIM: To prospectively assess in a phase 3 clinical trial (PERSEPT 2) eptacog beta efficacy and safety for treatment of bleeding in children <12 years of age with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors. METHODS Using a randomised crossover design, subjects received initial doses of 75 or 225 μg/kg eptacog beta followed by 75 μg/kg dosing at predefined intervals (as determined by clinical response) to treat bleeding episodes (BEs). Treatment success criteria included a haemostasis evaluation of 'excellent' or 'good' without use of additional eptacog beta, alternative haemostatic agent or blood product, and no increase in pain following the first 'excellent' or 'good' assessment. RESULTS Treatment success proportions in 25 subjects (1-11 years) who experienced 546 mild or moderate BEs were 65% in the 75 μg/kg initial dose regimen (IDR) and 60% in the 225 μg/kg IDR 12 h following initial eptacog beta infusion. By 24 h, the treatment success proportions were 97% for the 75 μg/kg IDR and 98% for the 225 μg/kg IDR. No thrombotic events, allergic reactions, neutralising antibodies or treatment-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION Both 75 and 225 μg/kg eptacog beta IDRs provided safe and effective treatment and control of bleeding in children <12 years of age.
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Efficacy of combined immunosuppression with or without eltrombopag in children with newly diagnosed aplastic anemia
Goronkova O, Novichkova G, Salimova T, Kalinina I, Baidildina D, Petrova UN, Antonova K, Sadovskaya M, Suntsova E, Evseev DA, et al
Blood advances. 2022
Abstract
We compared the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag (ELTR) combined with immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and IST alone in treatment-naïve children with severe (SAA) and very severe (vSAA) aplastic anemia. Ninety-eight pediatric patients were randomized to receive horse antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin A with (n=49) or without (n=49) ELTR. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) at 4 months. After 4 months, nonresponders were crossed over to the alternative group. In all patients, the ORR in ELTR+IST and IST groups was similar (65% vs. 53%, p=0.218); however, the complete response (CR) rate was significantly higher in ELTR+IST group (31% vs. 12%, p=0.027). In severity subgroups, the ORR was 89% vs. 57% (p=0.028) in favor of IST+ELTR in SAA, but it did not differ in patients with vSAA (52% vs. 50%, p=0.902). At 6 months after the crossover, 61% of initial ELTR(-) patients achieved a response compared to 17% of initial ELTR(+) patients (p=0.016). No significant difference in ELTR+IST and IST groups was observed in the 3-year OS (89% vs. 91%, p=0.673) or the 3-year EFS (53% vs. 41%, p=0.326). There was no unexpected toxicity related to ELTR. Adding ELTR to standard IST was well tolerated and increased the CR rate. The greatest benefit from ELTR combined with IST was observed in patients with SAA, but not in those with vSAA. The second course of IST resulted in a high ORR in initial ELTR(-) patients who added ELTR and had limited efficacy among patients who received ELTR upfront. Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT03413306.
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Hydroxyurea for primary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria (SPRING): a double-blind, multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial
Abdullahi, S. U., Jibir, B. W., Bello-Manga, H., Gambo, S., Inuwa, H., Tijjani, A. G., Idris, N., Galadanci, A., Hikima, M. S., Galadanci, N., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2022;9(1):e26-e37
Abstract
BACKGROUND In high-income countries, standard care for primary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell anaemia and abnormal transcranial Doppler velocities results in a 92% relative risk reduction of strokes but mandates initial monthly blood transfusion. In Africa, where regular blood transfusion is not feasible for most children, we tested the hypothesis that initial moderate-dose compared with low-dose hydroxyurea decreases the incidence of strokes for children with abnormal transcranial Doppler velocities. METHODS SPRING is a double-blind, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial of children aged 5-12 years with sickle cell anaemia with abnormal transcranial Doppler velocities conducted at three teaching hospitals in Nigeria. For randomisation, we used a permuted block allocation scheme with block sizes of four, stratified by sex and site. Allocation was concealed from all but the pharmacists and statisticians. Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to low-dose (10 mg/kg per day) or moderate-dose (20 mg/kg per day) oral hydroxyurea taken once daily with monthly clinical evaluation and laboratory monitoring. The primary outcome was initial stroke or transient ischaemic attack, centrally adjudicated. The secondary outcome was all-cause hospitalisation. We used the intention-to-treat population for data analysis. The trial was stopped early for futility after a planned minimum follow-up of 3·0 years to follow-up for participants. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02560935. FINDINGS Between Aug 2, 2016, and June 14, 2018, 220 participants (median age 7·2 years [IQR 5·5-8·9]; 114 [52%] female) were randomly allocated and followed for a median of 2·4 years (IQR 2·0-2·8). All participants were Nigerian and were from the following ethnic groups: 179 (82%) people were Hausa, 25 (11%) were Fulani, and 16 (7%) identified as another ethnicity. In the low-dose hydroxyurea group, three (3%) of 109 participants had strokes, with an incidence rate of 1·19 per 100 person-years and in the moderate-dose hydroxyurea group five (5%) of 111 had strokes with an incidence rate of 1·92 per 100 person-years (incidence rate ratio 0·62 [95% CI 0·10-3·20], p=0·77). The incidence rate ratio of hospitalisation for any reason was 1·71 (95% CI 1·15-2·57, p=0·0071), with higher incidence rates per 100 person-years in the low-dose group versus the moderate-dose group (27·43 vs 16·08). No participant had hydroxyurea treatment stopped for myelosuppression. INTERPRETATION Compared with low-dose hydroxyurea therapy, participants treated with moderate-dose hydroxyurea had no difference in the stroke incidence rate. However, secondary analyses suggest that the moderate-dose group could lower incidence rates for all-cause hospitalisations. These findings provide an evidence-based guideline for the use of low-dose hydroxyurea therapy for children with sickle cell anaemia at risk of stroke. FUNDING National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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Transfusion management of severe anaemia in African children: a consensus algorithm
Maitland K, Kiguli S, Olupot-Olupot P, Opoka RO, Chimalizeni Y, Alaroker F, Uyoga S, Kyeyune-Byabazaire D, M'Baya B, Bates I, et al
British journal of haematology. 2021
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
The phase III Transfusion and Treatment of severe anaemia in African Children Trial (TRACT) found that conservative management of uncomplicated severe anaemia [haemoglobin (Hb) 40-60 g/l] was safe, and that transfusion volume (20 vs. 30 ml/kg whole blood equivalent) for children with severe anaemia (Hb <60 g/l) had strong but opposing effects on mortality, depending on fever status (>37·5°C). In 2020 a stakeholder meeting of paediatric and blood transfusion groups from Africa reviewed the results and additional analyses. Among all 3196 children receiving an initial transfusion there was no evidence that nutritional status, presence of shock, malaria parasite burden or sickle cell disease status influenced outcomes or modified the interaction with fever status on volume required. Fever status at the time of ordering blood was a reliable determinant of volume required for optimal outcome. Elevated heart and respiratory rates normalised irrespective of transfusion volume and without diuretics. By consensus, a transfusion management algorithm was developed, incorporating three additional measurements of Hb post-admission, alongside clinical monitoring. The proposed algorithm should help clinicians safely implement findings from TRACT. Further research should assess its implementation in routine clinical practice.
PICO Summary
Population
Children presenting to hospital with both uncomplicated and complicated severe anaemia enrolled in the TRACT trial (n= 3,196).
Intervention
Large volume of whole blood transfusion: 30 ml/kg, (n= 1,598).
Comparison
Recommended blood volume transfusion by current WHO guidelines: 20 ml/kg (n= 1,598).
Outcome
Transfusion volume (20 vs. 30 ml/kg whole blood equivalent) for children with severe anaemia had strong but opposing effects on mortality, depending on fever status. There was no evidence that nutritional status, presence of shock, malaria parasite burden or sickle cell disease status influenced outcomes or modified the interaction with fever status on volume required. Fever status at the time of ordering blood was a reliable determinant of volume required for optimal outcome. Elevated heart and respiratory rates normalised irrespective of transfusion volume and without diuretics. By consensus, a transfusion management algorithm was developed, incorporating three additional measurements of Hb post-admission, alongside clinical monitoring.
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The safety of activated eptacog beta in the management of bleeding episodes and perioperative haemostasis in adult and paediatric haemophilia patients with inhibitors
Escobar M, Castaman G, Boix SB, Callaghan M, de Moerloose P, Ducore J, Hermans C, Journeycake J, Leissinger C, Luck J, et al
Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia. 2021
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INTRODUCTION Haemophilia patients with inhibitors often require a bypassing agent (BPA) for bleeding episode management. Eptacog beta (EB) is a new FDA-approved recombinant activated human factor VII BPA for the treatment and control of bleeding in haemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors (≥12 years of age). We describe here the EB safety profile from the three prospective Phase 3 clinical trials performed to date. AIM: To assess EB safety, immunogenicity and thrombotic potential in children and adults who received EB for treatment of bleeding and perioperative care. METHODS Using a randomized crossover design, 27 subjects in PERSEPT 1 (12-54 years) and 25 subjects in PERSEPT 2 (1-11 years) treated bleeding episodes with 75 or 225 μg/kg EB initially followed by 75 μg/kg dosing at predefined intervals as determined by clinical response. Twelve PERSEPT 3 subjects (2-56 years) received an initial preoperative infusion of 75 μg/kg (minor procedures) or 200 μg/kg EB (major surgeries) with subsequent 75 μg/kg doses administered intraoperatively and post-operatively as indicated. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. RESULTS Sixty subjects who received 3388 EB doses in three trials were evaluated. EB was well tolerated, with no allergic, hypersensitivity, anaphylactic or thrombotic events reported and no neutralizing anti-EB antibodies detected. A death occurred during PERSEPT 3 and was determined to be unlikely related to EB treatment by the data monitoring committee. CONCLUSION Results from all three Phase 3 trials establish an excellent safety profile of EB in haemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors for treatment of bleeding and perioperative use.
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Novel Dose Escalation to Predict Treatment with Hydroxyurea (NDEPTH): A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Dose-Prediction Equation to Determine Maximum Tolerated Dose of Hydroxyurea in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease
George A, Dinu B, Estrada N, Minard CG, Hurwitz R, Mahoney DH, Yates AM, Vaughan M, Carmouche A, Airewele G, et al
Am J Hematol. 2020
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Comparative Effectiveness of a Web-Based Patient Decision Aid for Therapeutic Options for Sickle Cell Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial
Krishnamurti L, Ross D, Sinha C, Leong T, Bakshi N, Mittal N, Veludhandi D, Pham AP, Taneja A, Gupta K, et al
Journal of medical Internet research. 2019;21(12):e14462
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydroxyurea, chronic blood transfusions, and bone marrow transplantation are efficacious, disease-modifying therapies for sickle cell disease but involve complex risk-benefit trade-offs and decisional dilemma compounded by the lack of comparative studies. A patient decision aid can inform patients about their treatment options, the associated risks and benefits, help them clarify their values, and allow them to participate in medical decision making. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a literacy-sensitive Web-based patient decision aid based on the Ottawa decision support framework, and through a randomized clinical trial estimate the effectiveness of the patient decision aid in improving patient knowledge and their involvement in decision making. METHODS We conducted population decisional needs assessments in a nationwide sample of patients, caregivers, community advocates, policy makers, and health care providers using qualitative interviews to identify decisional conflict, knowledge and expectations, values, support and resources, decision types, timing, stages and learning, and personal clinical characteristics. Interview transcripts were coded using QSR NVivo 10. Alpha testing of the patient decision aid prototype was done to establish usability and the accuracy of the information it conveyed, and then was followed by iterative cycles of beta testing. We conducted a randomized clinical trial of adults and of caregivers of pediatric patients to evaluate the efficacy of the patient decision aid. RESULTS In a decisional needs assessment, 223 stakeholders described their preferences, helping to guide the development of the patient decision aid, which then underwent alpha testing by 30 patients and 38 health care providers and iterative cycles of beta testing by 87 stakeholders. In a randomized clinical trial, 120 participants were assigned to either the patient decision aid or standard care (SC) arm. Qualitative interviews revealed high levels of usability, acceptability, and utility of the patient decision aid in education, values clarification, and preparation for decision making. On the acceptability survey, 72% (86/120) of participants rated the patient decision aid as good or excellent. Participants on the patient decision aid arm compared to the SC arm demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in decisional self-efficacy (P=.05) and a reduction in the informed sub-score of decisional conflict (P=.003) at 3 months, with an improvement in preparation for decision making (P<.001) at 6 months. However, there was no improvement in terms of the change in knowledge, the total or other domain scores of decisional conflicts, or decisional self-efficacies at 6 months. The large amount of missing data from survey completion limited our ability to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the patient decision aid. The patient decision aid met 61 of 62 benchmarks of the international patient decision aid collaboration standards for content, development process, and efficacy. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a patient decision aid for sickle cell disease with extensive input from stakeholders and in a randomized clinical trial demonstrated its acceptability and utility in education and decision making. We were unable to demonstrate its effectiveness in improving patient knowledge and involvement in decision making. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03224429; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03224429 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02326597; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02326597.
PICO Summary
Population
Adult patients and caregivers of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (n=120).
Intervention
Web-based patient decision aid for sickle cell disease.
Comparison
Standard care (SC).
Outcome
Participants on the patient decision aid arm compared to the SC arm demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in decisional self-efficacy and a reduction in the informed sub-score of decisional conflict at 3 months, with an improvement in preparation for decision making at 6 months. However, there was no improvement in terms of the change in knowledge, the total or other domain scores of decisional conflicts, or decisional self-efficacies at 6 months.
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Preterm neonates benefit from low prophylactic platelet transfusion threshold despite varying risk of bleeding or death
Fustolo-Gunnink SF, Fijnvandraat K, van Klaveren D, Stanworth S, Curley AE, Onland W, Steyerberg EW, de Kort E, d'Haens E, Hulzebos C, et al
Blood. 2019
Abstract
The Platelets for Neonatal Thrombocytopenia (PlaNeT-2) trial reported an unexpected overall benefit of a prophylactic platelet transfusion threshold of 25x109/L compared to 50x109/L for major bleeding and/or mortality in preterm neonates (7% absolute risk reduction). However, some neonates in the trial may have experienced little benefit or even harm from the 25x109/L threshold. We aimed to assess this heterogeneity of treatment effect in the PlaNet-2 trial, in order to investigate whether all preterm neonates benefit from the low threshold. We developed a multivariable logistic regression model in the PlaNet-2 data to predict baseline risk of major bleeding and/or mortality for all 653 neonates. We then ranked the neonates based on their predicted baseline risk and categorized them into four risk quartiles. Within these quartiles we assessed absolute risk difference between the 50x109/L and 25x109/L threshold group. A total of 146 neonates died or developed major bleeding. The internally validated C-statistic of the model was 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.58 - 0.68). The 25x109/L threshold was associated with absolute risk reduction in all risk groups, varying from 4.9% in the lowest to 12.3% in the highest risk group. These results suggest that a 25x109/L prophylactic platelet count threshold can be adopted in all preterm neonates, irrespective of predicted baseline outcome risk. Future studies are needed to improve the predictive accuracy of the baseline risk model. Current Controlled Trials number ISRCTN87736839.
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The role of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the absorption of iron preparations in children with iron deficiency anemia
Manoppo J, Tasiringan H, Wahani A, Umboh A, Mantik M
Korean journal of pediatrics. 2019;62(5):173-178
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 plays a role in absorption of iron preparations given to children with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS We performed a quasi-experimental study involving pre- and postintervention tests using a control group in North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, between July and September 2017. We conducted a single-blind controlled trial that included primary school children who were diagnosed with IDA based on reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He) levels <27.8 pg/L. RESULTS A total of 66 children were randomized into 2 groups. Thirty-four children received iron preparations with the addition of L. reuteri DSM 17938 (group 1), whereas the other 32 received iron preparations alone (group 2). The baseline Ret-He levels before intervention were similar in both groups. After 14 days of intervention, mean Ret-He level in group 1 changed from 24.43+/-1.64 to 28.21+/-1.72 pg/ L (P=0.000). Mean Ret-He level in group 2 changed from 24.31+/-1.42 to 27.03+/-2.14 pg/L (P=0.000). Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in Ret-He levels in both groups; Ret-He levels were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Children with IDA receiving iron preparations with L. reuteri DSM 17938 for 14 days show higher Ret-He levels than those receiving iron preparations alone.