Key Points• Prednisone, as an adjunct to PEX, effectively suppresses the autoantibody inhibitor of ADAMTS13 in the treatment of iTTP.Although steroids are routinely used as an adjunct to plasma exchange (PEX) therapy in the treatment of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP), limited data regarding their efficacy or effect on ADAMTS13 biomarkers are available. We report the results of a prospective, randomized study that compared the effectiveness of prednisone or cyclosporine (CSA) as adjuncts to PEX in the treatment of iTTP. A total of 26 of the planned 72 subjects were enrolled and treated from November 2007 until February 2014 before the study was halted after a planned interim analysis. Fourteen patients were randomly assigned to the prednisone arm, and 12 to the CSA arm of the study. One patient died in each arm of the study, and 2 patients in the prednisone arm of the study failed to achieve a response and crossed over to the CSA arm, leaving 11 patients in each arm of the study evaluable for the primary end point of exacerbation. One of the 11 prednisone-treated subjects (9%) suffered an exacerbation, whereas 3 of the 11 (27%) patients in the CSA arm suffered an exacerbation. Although there was no significant difference in the exacerbation rate, suppression of the anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies and improvement in ADAMTS13 activity in the first month after stopping PEX were significantly better in the prednisone-treated subjects. Side effects were manageable and comparable in both arms of the study. These data demonstrate the superiority of prednisone over CSA as an adjunct to PEX in the suppression of the anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies and improvement in ADAMTS13 activity.This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00713193.
Before the mid-1980s, haemophilia often was unknowingly treated with contaminated plasma products, resulting in high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. To estimate the impact of these infections, a new cohort was established. All HCV-seropositive patients, age 13-88 years, at 52 comprehensive haemophilia treatment centres were eligible. Cross-sectional data collected during April 2001 to January 2004 (median June 2002) were analysed. Plasma HIV-1 and HCV RNA were quantified by polymerase chain reaction. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was defined as use of at least three recommended medications. Among 2069 participants, 620 (30%) had HIV-1. Of 1955 with known HBV status, 814 (42%) had resolved HBV and 90 (4.6%) were HBV carriers. Although 80% of the HIV-1-positive participants had > or = 200 CD4+ cells microL(-1), only 59% were on HAART. HIV-1 RNA was undetectable in 23% of those not taking antiretroviral medications. Most (72%) participants had received no anti-HCV therapy. HCV RNA was detected less frequently (59%) among participants treated with standard interferon plus ribavirin (P = 0.0001) and more frequently among HIV-1-positive than HIV-1-negative participants (85% vs. 70%, P < 0.0001). HIV-1-positive participants were more likely to have pancytopenia and subclinical hepatic abnormalities, as well as persistent jaundice, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and ascites. HAART recipients did not differ from HIV-negative participants in the prevalence of ascites. The clinical abnormalities were more prevalent with older age but were not confounded by HBV status or self-reported alcohol consumption. Eleven participants presented with or previously had hepatocellular carcinoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although prospective analysis is needed, our data reveal the scale of hepatic and haematological disease that is likely to manifest in the adult haemophilic population during the coming years unless most of them are successfully treated for HIV-1, HCV or both.
AA is significantly associated with an increased risk for exacerbations of TTP. These data also suggest that decreasing pretreatment ADAMTS13 activity was associated with an increased risk for exacerbation, even after accounting for the effect of race.
BACKGROUND: Pharmacists have the ability to enhance comprehensive care for bleeding disorders patients by bridging the gap between hemophilia treatment centers (HTC) and specialty pharmacies, specifically by monitoring bleeding logs. In September 2015, a pharmacist-driven monitoring program was implemented through the specialty pharmacy associated with a medical center to improve bleeding log completeness and electronic documentation for HTC patients.
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