Key Points• High anti-ADAMTS13 antibody and low ADAMTS13 antigen levels adversely affect outcome in immunemediated TTP with greater mortality seen.• A raised troponin at presentation confers a sixfold increase and reduced GCS a nine-fold increase in mortality in acute TTP.Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disorder caused by antibodies against ADAMTS13. From the United Kingdom TTP registry, we undertook a prospective study investigating the impact of the presenting anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody and ADAMTS13 antigen on mortality. A total of 312 episodes involving 292 patients over 87 months were included; 68% were female, median age 46 (range, 11-88 years), and median presenting ADAMTS13 of <5% (range, <5%-18%). The mortality rate was 10.3% (n 5 32); 68% of patients had a raised troponin at presentation conferring a sixfold increase in mortality compared with those with normal troponin levels (12.1% vs 2.0%, P 5 .04). Twenty-four percent had a reduced Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at presentation with a ninefold increase in mortality (20% vs 2.2% for normal GCS at presentation, P < .0001). Mortality increased with higher anti-ADAMTS13 antibody levels and lower ADAMTS13 antigen levels. Those with antibody levels in the upper quartile (antibody >77%) had a mortality of 16.9% compared with 5.0% for the lowest quartile (antibody <20%) (P 5 .004). Those with an antigen level in the lowest quartile (antigen <1.5%) had a mortality of 18% compared with 3.8% for the highest quartile (antigen >11%) (P 5 .005). The synergistic effect of anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody in the upper quartile and ADAMTS13 antigen in the lowest quartile had the highest mortality of 27.3%. We conclude that both anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody and ADAMTS13 antigen levels correlate with outcome in TTP with increased cardiac and neurological involvement and increased mortality. (Blood. 2017;130(4):466-471)

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Summary Clofarabine is a second‐generation purine nucleoside analogue, which has shown promising activity in relapsed and refractory paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). This report summarizes the early United Kingdom experience of clofarabine for the treatment of paediatric ALL in 23 patients, outside of the context of a clinical trial. Our results demonstrated that clofarabine‐based chemotherapy regimes were effective and well‐tolerated in this heavily pre‐treated group, with an overall response rate of 67% when used in combination regimes. Responses were seen in both B and T cell disease and in patients with adverse cytogenetics.

Nuclear-encoded disorders of mitochondrial translation are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Genetic causes include defects of mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and factors required for initiation, elongation and termination of protein synthesis as well as ribosome recycling. We report on a new case of myopathy, lactic acidosis and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA) syndrome caused by defective mitochondrial tyrosyl aminoacylation. The patient presented at 1 year with anemia initially attributed to iron deficiency. Bone marrow aspirate at 5 years revealed ringed sideroblasts but transfusion dependency did not occur until 11 years. Other clinical features included lactic acidosis, poor weight gain, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe myopathy leading to respiratory failure necessitating ventilatory support. Long-range PCR excluded mitochondrial DNA rearrangements. Clinical diagnosis of MLASA prompted direct sequence analysis of the YARS2 gene encoding the mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, which revealed homozygosity for a known pathogenic mutation, c.156C>G;p.F52L. Comparison with four previously reported cases demonstrated remarkable clinical homogeneity. First line investigation of MLASA should include direct sequence analysis of YARS2 and PUS1 (encoding a tRNA modification factor) rather than muscle biopsy. Early genetic diagnosis is essential for counseling and to facilitate appropriate supportive therapy. Reasons for segregation of specific clinical phenotypes with particular mitochondrial aminoacyl tRNA-synthetase defects remain unknown. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Summary The safety and efficacy of rituximab with CODOX‐M/IVAC (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, methotrexate/ifosfamide, etoposide, high dose cytarabine) was retrospectively analysed in 23 patients with non‐human immunodeficiency virus‐related B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma with proliferation index >95% [14 with classical Burkitt lymphoma (BL), five with B‐cell lymphoma unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and BL, and four with DLBCL]. Six (26%) low‐risk (LR) patients received three cycles of CODOX‐M and 17 (74%) high‐risk (HR) cases were assigned to four cycles of alternating CODOX‐M/IVAC. Rituximab 375 mg/m2 was infused on days 1 and 10 of each cycle. Toxicity was comparable to that reported with CODOX‐M/IVAC, with no treatment‐related death. Two patients developed grade 3 rituximab‐induced delayed neutropenia, with no adverse outcome. After completing treatment, 83% LR patients and 71% HR patients achieved CR by positron emission tomography–computerized tomography (PET–CT). Three (13%) patients received salvage treatment. At a median follow‐up of 34 months (range = 18–75), 19 (83%) patients (100% LR and 74% HR) were alive, including one case undergoing salvage for late relapse. Four HR patients (17%) had died, three from primary progressive disease and one from treatment‐refractory relapse 2 months after achieving CR. These results with R‐CODOX‐M/R‐IVAC compare favourably with existing data using CODOX‐M/IVAC and warrant further prospective studies. The potential pitfalls of PET–CT to assess response are highlighted.

The authors provide evidence of a novel association between transcription factor IKZF5, one of the IKAROS family proteins, and thrombocytopenia with decreased alpha granules, thus significantly extending our understanding of the gene defects leading to inherited thrombocytopenia.

Childhood ITP is often considered to be a relatively mild haematological disorder, with only a minority of patients requiring treatment for troublesome bleeding. Over recent years, wider effects of the condition have been identified in some adults, particularly relating to fatigue and cognitive impairment. In this study, we sought to investigate such effects in a group of children with ITP and further our understanding of their psychological profile. Children attending routine haematology outpatient clinics and their parents were asked to complete standardised questionnaires designed to assess a range of psychological and cognitive factors. Although the majority of children had some scores within the normal range, a significantly high proportion had difficulties with fatigue (70Á6%), emotional and behavioural symptoms (25Á7%) or executive functioning (19Á4%). Quality of life and subjective evaluation of the illness (appraisal) correlated significantly with each of these domains, but bleeding severity and platelet count did not. Our findings provide valuable insight into the broader impact of childhood ITP, which could aid in providing holistic care, potentially contribute to decisions regarding medical treatment, and guide future research.