BJH - volume 13, issue 7, november 2022
T. Mercier MD, PhD, S. Fieuws PhD, K. Theunissen MD, M-C. Ngirabacu MD, PhD, N. Straetmans MD, PhD, C. Spilleboudt MD, D. Mazure MD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, A. De Becker MD, D. Selleslag MD, D. Breems MD, PhD, D. Deeren MD, S. Servais MD, PhD, C. Jacquy MD, PhD, H. Poirel MD, PhD, D. Van Beckhoven MD, K. Blot MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD
In the early weeks of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, little was known about the risk factors of this novel disease in haematology patients. We therefore created a national, multi-center, retrospective study via a national consortium of haematology centres in Belgium to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in haematology patients. By combining these data with data collected through the national public health institute Sciensano and the national Belgian Cancer Registry, we were able to show that haematology patients were at an increased risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19 (1 in 250 haematology patients versus 1 in 2000 in the general population). Furthermore, we found that patients with multiple myeloma and acute leukaemia were overrepresented in these hospitalisations. Mortality at 90 days was 38% during the first wave, compared to 19.3% in the general population. We therefore conclude that haematology patients with COVID-19 are at a significantly higher risk of both hospitalisation and death.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(7):269–76)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 4, june 2020
A. Janssens MD, PhD, D. Bron MD, PhD, V. Van Hende MD, V. Galle MD, K. Jochmans MD, PhD, S. Meers MD, PhD, M. André MD, PhD, M-C. Ngirabacu MD, PhD, K.L. Wu MD, PhD, B. De Prijck MD, P. Verhamme MD, PhD, C. Hermans MD, PhD
In recent years ibrutinib emerged as a paradigm shifting agent in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM). In clinical trials and in real-world studies ibrutinib proved to be an effective agent with an overall favourable tolerability profile. However, compared with standard chemo-immunotherapy (CIT), ibrutinib was associated with a higher incidence of clinically significant bleeding. This has been hypothesized to be linked to the platelet-specific effects of inhibiting Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). Most bleeding events under ibrutinib are low-grade with a decreasing incidence over time. However, bleeding can have a significant impact on patients and interfere with persistence and compliance of ibrutinib treatment. Currently, no clear consensus exists on the use of ibrutinib in patients with an increased bleeding risk, on the management of ibrutinib-induced bleeding and on the use of ibrutinib around surgery or invasive procedures. In this paper, a panel of Belgian haematology and haemostasis specialists formulated practical advice on bleeding prevention and management in ibrutinib-treated patients.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(4):174–84)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 1, february 2020
M-C. Ngirabacu MD, PhD
Hundreds of oral- and poster presentations were communicated during the 61st Annual Meeting of ASH in San Diego. Of course, it is impossible to cover all topics and give detailed highlights. In this presentation, I will give you my ‘favourites’, sometimes in a historical perspective. For a more complete overview of congress highlights, I refer to the other articles in this special issue of the BJH.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(1):3–8)
Read moreBJH - volume 9, issue 5, september 2018
C. Bonnet MD, M.C. Ngirabacu , M. Maerevoet MD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD, M. André MD, PhD
The 4th edition of the LYSA meeting was organised by Professor Steven Legouill’s team and held in Nantes from the 8th to 10th February, 2018. It was a real opportunity for the 500 participants to learn novelties on lymphoma and to be updated on ongoing clinical trials conducted by this cooperative group. All the presentations were outstanding and gave us new indications on how to better treat our patients in the near future.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;9(5):195–8)
Read moreBJH - volume 5, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2014
J. Dallemagne , M-C. Ngirabacu MD, PhD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, B. Bailly MD, F. Benghiat , M. Maerevoet MD, M.F. Dehou MD, N. Meuleman MD, PhD, D. Bron MD, PhD
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