CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes

Therapeutic options in MDS

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic malignancies characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias, due to ineffective erythropoiesis and a risk for progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Progress in this field aims to decrease the transfusion burden, delay progression to AML, improve the quality-of-life of patients and extend survival.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1): 20–4)

Highlights in acute leukemia

Summary

This report on the best ASH abstracts for acute leukemia will be divided into a section on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a second section on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):27–30)

Highlights related to plasma cell disorders

Summary

The field of multiple myeloma (MM) treatment and related plasma cell disorders is ever expanding. New drugs are introduced at a fast pace potentially making things complicated for the treating haematologist. Furthermore, the disease is very heterogeneous and no patient is alike. ASH offers professionals the annual opportunity to witness the joint efforts made by patients, basic scientists, clinicians and the pharmacological industry in fighting this disease. This text is but a small anthology on the most exciting clinical data on plasma cell disorders as presented at ASH 2015.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):34–8)

Highlights in aggressive lymphomas

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1): 42–4)

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation at ASH 2015

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):48–52)

Novelties in the treatment of sickle cell disease

Summary

At the 2015 annual meeting of the American Society of Hemtology (ASH), potentially practice-changing novelties were published, which reform our way of thinking about sickle cell disease. Three highlighted studies were mentioned, two of these present promising new insights for managing the disease in children, the third demonstrates a new oral therapy.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1): 53–4)

Clinical highlights in hemophilia

(BELG J HEMATOL; 7(1):55–8)