Articles related to ANEMIA

In this “Letters to Blood,” the author demonstrated that luspatercept provided prolonged periods of transfusion independence (TI), significantly decreased the transfusion burden among HTB and LTB patients, and generally had an acceptable and predictable safety profile, all of which helped to maintain or enhance patient quality of life. Compared to the results from the primary analysis, these data further demonstrate the clinical benefits of luspatercept in patients with LR-MDS-RS.

Blue sclera has an 87% to 89% sensitivity and a 64% to 94% specificity for iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiency in adults (ie, anemia need not always be present). Blue sclera has been reported, albeit infrequently, in other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and long-term steroid therapy.

Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD of MD Anderson Cancer Center, is interviewed for answers to the questions of when to start treatment in a patient with myelofibrosis, an update on current treatment options, considerations for selecting treatment, dose optimization, sequencing of therapy, and more.

A newly developed prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (agents that increase endogenous erythropoietin production) holds the promise of improving outcomes for patients with anemia of chronic kidney disease. Randomized controlled trials have found these drugs to be at least as effective as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said “no” to Akebia Therapeutics’ drug application for vadadustat, a therapy to treat anemia due to chronic kidney disease. Vadadustat is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor designed to mimic the physiologic effect of altitude on oxygen availability. The FDA cited safety concerns as the main reason for it rejecting the application.

After diagnosis during a partial mastectomy, this patient’s estimated blood loss was 58 mL, causing anemia and requiring a red blood cell transfusion along with ventriculoperitoneal drain placement. With a substantive bleeding history before the diagnosis, what would you do next with this patient? Work her up for von Willebrand disease? Do a complete blood count test to look at platelet count, a peripheral smear to look at the morphology of the platelets, and a coagulation profile? Offer genetic testing for fibrinogen disorders? What would your next steps be? Read the full case presentation and expert opinion to see how your peers responded.