BJH - volume 13, issue 5, september 2022
B. Gulbis MD, PhD
Research in the field of haemoglobinopathies, and in particular for sickle cell disease, has enabled the implementation of new therapies, both modifying and curative. The congress was the opportunity to present the experience gained from their use in real life or in phase III trials; it has demonstrated their potential benefit while emphasising that careful monitoring of these new treatments remains necessary. The congress was also an opportunity to present new tools used in the field of haemoglobinopathies. They contribute to the assessment of the impact of new modifying therapies in sickle cell disease, i.e., oxygen gradient ektacytometry, or in the field of diagnosis using artificial intelligence, i.e., SCD silent cerebral infarct and liver iron overload.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):207–9)
Read moreBJH - volume 13, issue 5, september 2022
M.C. Vekemans MD
The 30th EHA meeting was held in Vienna in June 2022, an opportunity to meet again with colleagues from all over the world after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We selected ten abstracts featuring clinical advances and novel treatment approaches across hematologic diseases, abstracts that will probably change our daily practice in the near future.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):214–8)
Read moreBJH - volume 13, issue 5, september 2022
J. Blokken PhD, PharmD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
During the past European Hematology Association’s annual congress (EHA 2022), four oral sessions were devoted to clinical trials and recent advances in myeloma. These sessions covered newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), antibody-based therapy in relapsed/refractory (RR) MM, BCMA-directed treatment in RRMM and biology and translational research. Below, we summarise the highlights from some of the studies that were presented in each of these sessions.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):219–23)
Read moreBJH - volume 13, issue 1, february 2022
R. Schots MD, PhD
This paper reports on selected oral abstracts presented at ASH 2021 on the treatment of newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) patients.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(1):5–10)
Read moreBJH - volume 13, issue 1, february 2022
A.M. Dekker , T. Feys MBA, MSc
Over the past few years, the exploration of the genomic and molecular landscape of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), identification of mutations associated with the pathogenesis and understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to treatment has led to a significant shift in the treatment paradigms for patients with AML, resulting in improved clinical outcomes.1 Nevertheless, there is a persistent high need to improve survival and quality of life for patients with AML, especially with our aging population. During the Belgian Hematology Society post- ASH 2021 meeting Dr. Spilleboudt, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, gave a comprehensive summary of the highlights in advancements of AML treatment ranging from first line options, treatment in relapsed/refractory (R/R) patients, maintenance, and data on the burden of care in elderly patients.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(1):48-54)
Read moreBJH - volume 13, issue 1, february 2022
A. De Becker MD
Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is a complex procedure that involves many different factors: patient characteristics, disease characteristics, donor choice, stem cell source, choice of conditioning regimen, graft versus host disease (GvHD) prevention and treatment, prevention and treatment of disease relapse and management of (non-)infectious complications. This paper discusses some key studies that were presented regarding patient characteristics, donor choice, GvHD prophylaxis and treatment and treatment of disease relapse after alloHCT. Now two years into the pandemic, it is impossible to ignore SARS-CoV-2, seroconversion after mRNA vaccination of alloHCT recipients in France will be discussed.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(1):43-7)
Read moreBJH - volume 13, issue 1, february 2022
C. Hermans MD, PhD
New therapeutic developments in the field of haemophilia were highlighted at the ASH 2021 congress. These included the results of inhibition of antithrombin production via fitusiran for the prevention of bleeding events in haemophilia A and B patients with or without inhibitors, the success of emicizumab, a bispecific antibody that mimics the action of FVIII, in patients with moderate or mild haemophilia A, and finally the promising results of FVIII fused to the Fc fragment of the immunoglobulins as an agent for FVIII tolerance induction in patients with inhibitors. In the field of antithrombotics, a meta-analysis confirms the place of direct oral anticoagulants in cancer patients with thrombosis. Xarelto has demonstrated its value in patients with visceral venous thrombosis and a large study does not support the thrombogenicity of mRNA-based COVID vaccines.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(1):37-42)
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