SUMMARY
Insightful research into both sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia was presented at EHA 2021. Firstly, an overview of the worldwide mortality and morbidity of SCD was presented, which highlighted the treatment advances of the past twenty years, as well as the emerging co-morbidities that arise as SCD patients live longer. In this regard, SCD-associated cognitive dysfunction that arises from neurovascular complications were detailed, and the YEARS pulmonary embolism (PE) clinical decision algorithm was evaluated in SCD patients. Additionally, a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of luspatercept highlighted the drug’s ability to induce a clinically meaningful increase in Haemoglobin (Hb) in non-transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):189-94)
