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1.
Red cell transfusion thresholds in outpatients with myelodysplastic syndromes: Results of a pilot randomized trial RBC-ENHANCE
Buckstein, R., Callum, J., Prica, A., Bowen, D., Wells, R. A., Leber, B., Heddle, N., Chodirker, L., Cheung, M., Mozessohn, L., et al
Transfusion. 2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND The optimal hemoglobin (Hb) threshold for red blood cell transfusions in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has not been defined. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a pilot randomized multi-center study of two transfusion algorithms (liberal, to maintain Hb 110-120 g/L, transfuse 2 units if Hb < 105 g/L and 1 unit if Hb 105-110 g/L vs. restrictive, 85-105 g/L, transfuse 2 units when Hgb < 85 g/L). Primary objectives were 70% compliance in maintaining the q2 week hemoglobin within the targeted range and the achievement of a 15 g/L difference in pre-transfusion Hb. Secondary outcomes included measures of quality of life (QOL), iron studies and safety. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients were randomized between February 2015-2020, 13 to the restrictive arm and 15 to the liberal arm in three tertiary care centers. The compliance was 66% and 45% and the mean pre-transfusion Hb thresholds were 86 (standard deviation [SD] 8) and 98 g/L (SD 10) in the restrictive and liberal arms, (mean difference 11.8 g/L, p < .0001), respectively. Patients in the liberal arm experienced a mean of 3.4 (SD 2.6) more transfusion visits and received a mean of 5.3 (SD 5.5) more units of blood during the 12-week study. Ferritin increased by 1043 (SD 1516) IU/L and 148 (SD 1319) IU/L in the liberal and restrictive arms, respectively. Selected QOL scores were superior pre-transfusion and more patients achieved clinically important improvements in the liberal arm compared with the restrictive arm for selected symptoms and function domains. CONCLUSION The results establish that policies for transfusion support can be delivered in practice at multiple hospitals, but further research is required to understand the full clinical effects and safety of liberal transfusion policies in MDS outpatients.
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2.
Subcutaneous marzeptacog alfa (activated) for on-demand treatment of bleeding events in subjects with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors
Faraj, A., Nyberg, J., Blouse, G. E., Knudsen, T., Simonsson, U. S. H.
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. 2024
Abstract
Marzeptacog alfa (MarzAA) is under development for subcutaneous treatment of episodic bleeds in hemophilia A/B patients and was studied in a Phase 3 trial evaluating MarzAA compared to standard-of-care (SoC) for on-demand use. The work presented here aimed to evaluate MarzAA and SoC treatment of bleeding events on a standardized 4-point efficacy scale (poor, fair, good and excellent). Two continuous-time Markov modeling approaches were explored; a four-state model analyzing all four categories of bleeding improvement and a two-state model analyzing a binarized outcome (treatment failure [poor/fair], and treatment success [good/excellent]). Different covariates impacting improvement of bleeding episodes as well as a putative relationship between MarzAA exposure and improvement of bleeding episodes were evaluated. In the final four-state model, higher baseline diastolic blood pressure and higher age (>33 years of age) were found to negatively and positively impact improvement of bleeding condition, respectively. Bleeding events occurring in knees and ankles were found to improve faster than bleeding events at other locations. The covariate effects had most impact on early treatment success (=<3 hours) whereas at later timepoints (>12 hours), treatment success was similar for all patients indicating that these covariates might be clinically relevant for early treatment response. A statistically significant relationship between MarzAA zero-order absorption and improvement of bleedings (p< 0.05) were identified albeit with low precision. No statistically significant difference in treatment response between MarzAA and intravenous SoC was identified, indicating the potential of MarzAA for treatment of episodic bleeding events with a favorable subcutaneous administration route.
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3.
Long-term treatment with fostamatinib in Japanese patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia: An open-label extension study following a phase 3 placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study
Kuwana, M., Ito, T., Kowata, S., Hatta, Y., Fujimaki, K., Naito, K., Kurahashi, S., Kagoo, T., Tanimoto, K., Saotome, S., et al
American journal of hematology. 2024
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4.
Results of clinical effectiveness of conventional versus Mirasol-treated Apheresis Platelets in Patients with Hypoproliferative Thrombocytopenia (MiPLATE) trial
Koepsell, S. A., Stolla, M., Sedjo, R. L., Carson, J., Knudson, M., Cook, R., Fasano, R., Ngamsuntikul, S. G., Cohn, C., Gorlin, J., et al
Transfusion. 2024
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mirasol® Pathogen Reduction Technology System was developed to reduce transfusion-transmitted diseases in platelet (PLT) products. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS MiPLATE trial was a prospective, multicenter, controlled, randomized, non-inferiority (NI) study of the clinical effectiveness of conventional versus Mirasol-treated Apheresis PLTs in participants with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia. The novel primary endpoint was days of ≥Grade 2 bleeding with an NI margin of 1.6. RESULTS After 330 participants were randomized, a planned interim analysis of 297 participants (145 MIRASOL, 152 CONTROL) receiving ≥1 study transfusion found a 2.79-relative rate (RR) in the MIRASOL compared to the CONTROL in number of days with ≥Grade 2 bleeding (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-4.67). The proportion of subjects with ≥Grade 2 bleeding was 40.0% (n = 58) in MIRASOL and 30.3% (n = 46) in CONTROL (RR = 1.32, 95% CI 0.97-1.81, p = .08). Corrected count increments were lower (p < .01) and the number of PLT transfusion episodes per participant was higher (RR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.41) in MIRASOL. There was no difference in the days of PLT support (hazard ratio = 0.86, 95% CI 0.68-1.08) or total number of red blood cell transfusions (RR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.91-1.37) between MIRASOL versus CONTROL. Transfusion emergent adverse events were reported in 119 MIRASOL participants (84.4%) compared to 133 (82.6%) participants in CONTROL (p = NS). DISCUSSION This study did not support that MIRASOL was non-inferior compared to conventional platelets using the novel endpoint number of days with ≥Grade 2 bleeding in MIRASOL when compared to CONTROL.
PICO Summary
Population
Participants with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusions, enrolled in the MiPLATE trial (n= 297).
Intervention
Mirasol-treated plasma-stored apheresis platelets (Mirasol group, n= 145).
Comparison
Conventional plasma-stored apheresis platelets (Control group, n= 152).
Outcome
The novel primary endpoint was days of ≥Grade 2 bleeding with a non-inferiority margin of 1.6. Participants in the Mirasol group had more days of grade ≥2 bleeding than participants in the Control group (RR 2.74; 95% CI [1.66, 4.53]), the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints showed a similar proportion of participants in each group with days of grade ≥2 bleeding and no difference in red blood cell transfusion despite a higher rate of participants with platelets refractoriness, platelet transfusions, and lower corrected count increments in the Mirasol group.
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5.
Efficacy and safety of deferoxamine, deferasirox and deferiprone triple iron chelator combination therapy for transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia with very high iron overload: a protocol for randomised controlled clinical trial
Premawardhena, A., Perera, C., Wijethilaka, M. N., Wanasinghe, S. K., Rajakaruna, Rhmg, Samarasinghe, Rankk, Williams, S., Mettananda, S.
BMJ open. 2024;14(2):e077342
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the improvement in medical management, many patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia die prematurely due to transfusion-related iron overload. As per the current guidelines, the optimal chelation of iron cannot be achieved in many patients, even with two iron chelators at their maximum therapeutic doses. Here, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple combination treatment with deferoxamine, deferasirox and deferiprone over dual combination of deferoxamine and deferasirox on iron chelation in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia with very high iron overload. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a single-centre, open-label, randomised, controlled clinical trial conducted at the Adult and Adolescent Thalassaemia Centre of Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka. Patients with haematologically and genetically confirmed transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia are enrolled and randomised into intervention or control groups. The intervention arm will receive a combination of oral deferasirox, oral deferiprone and subcutaneous deferoxamine for 6 months. The control arm will receive the combination of oral deferasirox and subcutaneous deferoxamine for 6 months. Reduction in iron overload, as measured by a reduction in the serum ferritin after completion of the treatment, will be the primary outcome measure. Reduction in liver and cardiac iron content as measured by T2* MRI and the side effect profile of trial medications are the secondary outcome measures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval for the study has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya (Ref. P/06/02/2023). The trial results will be disseminated in scientific publications in reputed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER The trial is registered in the Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry (Ref: SLCTR/2023/010).
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6.
Cardiac effects of deferasirox in transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: TELESTO study
Sarocchi, M., Li, J., Li, X., Wu, D., Montaño Figueroa, E., Rodriguez, M. G., Hou, M., Finelli, C., Shi, H. X., Xiao, Z., et al
British journal of haematology. 2024
Abstract
Iron overload from repeated transfusions has a negative impact on cardiac function, and iron chelation therapy may help prevent cardiac dysfunction in transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). TELESTO (NCT00940602) was a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomised study to evaluate the iron chelator deferasirox in patients with low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS and iron overload. Echocardiographic parameters were collected at screening and during treatment. Patients receiving deferasirox experienced a significant decrease in the composite risk of hospitalisation for congestive heart failure (CHF) or worsening of cardiac function (HR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.99; nominal p = 0.0322) versus placebo. No significant differences between the arms were found in left ventricular ejection fraction, ventricular diameter and mass or pulmonary artery pressure. The absolute number of events was low, but the enrolled patients were younger than average for patients with MDS, with no serious cardiac comorbidities and a modest cardiovascular risk profile. These results support the effectiveness of deferasirox in preventing cardiac damage caused by iron overload in this patient population. Identification of patients developing CHF is challenging due to the lack of distinctive echocardiographic features. The treatment of iron overload may be important to prevent cardiac dysfunction in these patients, even those with moderate CHF risk.
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7.
Determinants of lenalidomide response with or without erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in myelodysplastic syndromes: the HOVON89 trial
van de Loosdrecht, A. A., Cremers, E. M. P., Alhan, C., Duetz, C., In 't Hout, F. E. M., Visser-Wisselaar, H. A., Chitu, D. A., Verbrugge, A., Cunha, S. M., Ossenkoppele, G. J., et al
Leukemia. 2024
Abstract
A randomized phase-II study was performed in low/int-1 risk MDS (IPSS) to study efficacy and safety of lenalidomide without (arm A) or with (arm B) ESA/G-CSF. In arm B, patients without erythroid response (HI-E) after 4 cycles received ESA; G-CSF was added if no HI-E was obtained by cycle 9. HI-E served as primary endpoint. Flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing were performed to identify predictors of response. The final evaluation comprised 184 patients; 84% non-del(5q), 16% isolated del(5q); median follow-up: 70.7 months. In arm A and B, 39 and 41% of patients achieved HI-E; median time-to-HI-E: 3.2 months for both arms, median duration of-HI-E: 9.8 months. HI-E was significantly lower in non-del(5q) vs. del(5q): 32% vs. 80%. The same accounted for transfusion independency-at-week 24 (16% vs. 67%), but similar in both arms. Apart from presence of del(5q), high percentages of bone marrow lymphocytes and progenitor B-cells, a low number of mutations, absence of ring sideroblasts, and SF3B1 mutations predicted HI-E. In conclusion, lenalidomide induced HI-E in patients with non-del(5q) and del(5q) MDS without additional effect of ESA/G-CSF. The identified predictors of response may guide application of lenalidomide in lower-risk MDS in the era of precision medicine. (EudraCT 2008-002195-10).
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8.
Mitapivat improves ineffective erythropoiesis and iron overload in adult patients with pyruvate kinase deficiency
van Beers, E. J., Al-Samkari, H., Grace, R. F., Barcellini, W., Glenthøj, A., DiBacco, M., Wind-Rotolo, M., Xu, R., Beynon, V., Patel, P., et al
Blood advances. 2024
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare, hereditary disease characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia. Iron overload is a common complication regardless of age, genotype, or transfusion history. Mitapivat, an oral, allosteric PK activator, improves anemia and hemolysis in adult patients with PK deficiency. Mitapivat's impact on iron overload and ineffective erythropoiesis was evaluated in adults with PK deficiency who were not regularly transfused in the phase 3 ACTIVATE trial and long-term extension (LTE) (NCT03548220/NCT03853798). Patients in the LTE received mitapivat throughout ACTIVATE/LTE (baseline to Week [W] 96; mitapivat-to-mitapivat [M/M] arm) or switched from placebo (baseline to W24) to mitapivat (W24 to 96; placebo-to-mitapivat [P/M] arm). Changes from baseline in markers of iron overload and erythropoiesis were assessed to W96. Improvements in hepcidin (mean [95% confidence interval ⟨CI ⟩] 4770.0 ng/L [-1532.3, 11,072.3], erythroferrone (-9834.9 ng/L [-14,328.4, -5341.3]), soluble transferrin receptor (-56.0 nmol/L [-84.8, -27.2]), and erythropoietin (-32.85 IU/L [-54.65, -11.06]) were observed in the M/M arm (n=40) from baseline to W24, sustained to W96. No improvements were observed in the P/M arm (n=40) to W24; however, upon transitioning to mitapivat, improvements similar to the M/M arm were seen. Mean (95% CI) changes from baseline in liver iron concentration (LIC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at W96 were -2.0 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw) (-4.8, -0.8; M/M arm) and -1.8 mg Fe/g dw (-4.4, 0.80; P/M arm). Mitapivat is the first disease-modifying pharmacotherapy shown to have beneficial effects on iron overload and ineffective erythropoiesis in patients with PK deficiency.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with pyruvate kinase deficiency not regularly transfused, enrolled in the phase 3 ACTIVATE clinical trial and long term extension (LTE) (n= 80).
Intervention
Mitapivat throughout ACTIVATE/LTE baseline to week (W) 96 (mitapivat-to-mitapivat M/M arm, n= 40).
Comparison
Switched from placebo (baseline to W24) to mitapivat W24 to 96 (placebo-to-mitapivat P/M arm, n= 40).
Outcome
Changes from baseline in markers of iron overload and erythropoiesis were assessed to W96. Improvements in hepcidin (mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] 4770.0 ng/L [-1532.3, 11,072.3]), erythroferrone (-9834.9 ng/L [-14,328.4, -5341.3]), soluble transferrin receptor (-56.0 nmol/L [-84.8, -27.2]), and erythropoietin (-32.85 IU/L [-54.65, -11.06]) were observed in the M/M arm from baseline to W24, sustained to W96. No improvements were observed in the P/M arm to W24; however, upon transitioning to mitapivat, improvements similar to the M/M arm were seen. Mean (95% CI) changes from baseline in liver iron concentration by magnetic resonance imaging at W96 were -2.0 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw) (-4.8, -0.8; M/M arm) and -1.8 mg Fe/g dw (-4.4, 0.80; P/M arm).
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9.
Red cell transfusion thresholds in outpatients with myelodysplastic syndromes: Combined results from two randomized controlled feasibility studies
Buckstein, R., Callum, J., Prica, A., Bowen, D., Wells, R. A., Leber, B., Heddle, N., Chodirker, L., Cheung, M., Mozessohn, L., et al
American journal of hematology. 2023
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Editor's Choice
PICO Summary
Population
Red blood cell, transfusion dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes enrolled in two feasibility trials: REDDS in United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and RBC-Enhance in Canada (n= 66).
Intervention
Liberal transfusion strategy (maintain Hb 110-125 g/L), (n= 33).
Comparison
Restrictive transfusion strategy (maintain Hb 85-100 g/L), (n= 33).
Outcome
The transfusion strategy was applied for 12 weeks. In total, 232 and 471 units of red blood cells were transfused in the restrictive and liberal arms, respectively. Patients in the liberal arm had more complete blood count tests (13.8 vs. 10.3), a mean of 3.1 ± 2.9 more transfusion visits, and a mean of 6.3 ± 5.9 extra units of blood. Overall, the authors of this combined analysis of two feasibility trials, observed less variability in Hb levels in the liberal arm with patients reporting clinically important improvements pre- and post-transfusion (compared with baseline) in selected symptom and functional domains. However, many patients in both transfusion arms experienced stability or declines in their scores.
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10.
Ferric carboxymaltose effects on restless legs syndrome and on brain iron in patients with iron deficiency anemia
Bae, H., Cho, Y. W., Kim, K. T., Li, X., Earley, C. J.
Sleep medicine. 2023;109:128-131
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain iron status is fundamental in RLS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy and brain iron concentration improvement in RLS patients with IDA, using 1500 mg FCM. METHODS This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. RLS patients with IDA were grouped into either 1500 mg FCM or placebo. The primary outcomes were the change from baseline on the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group scale (IRLS) and brain iron measured by QSM and R2∗. RESULTS A total of 18 RLS patients with IDA were enrolled, 10 in the FCM group and 8 in the placebo. At the week 6 endpoint, the FCM group showed significant improvement in both IRLS (-13.60 ± 9.47 vs. -3.63 ± 5.40, p = 0.011) and VAS (-40.50 ± 28.81 vs. -0.63 ± 28.28, p = 0.004) from baseline. Change from baseline with R2∗ techniques showed a treatment effect for the thalamus and QSM technique for both the substantia nigra and pulvinar. A correlation was proved between the IRLS difference and the difference of QSM in thalamus (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that 1500 mg FCM effectively treats RLS symptoms in IDA patients over six weeks, with MRI measurements of improved brain iron content serving as a potential biomarker for RLS patients.