Comprehensive Structured Transition Program with Dedicated Transition Navigator Reduced Lost to Follow-up and Improved Medication Adherence in Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia Adolescents and Young Adults

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 317-317
Author(s):  
Brooke Allemang ◽  
Kate Allan ◽  
Colleen Johnson ◽  
Melina Cheong ◽  
Patrina Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Transition Program ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Appointment Attendance ◽  
One Year ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

Abstract Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia transitioning from pediatric to adult health care experience a lack of engagement with adult care providers, are at high risk of loss to follow-up, emergence of psychosocial issues, morbidity and mortality. The shift from a pediatric to an adult setting can be challenging for AYA who are coping with multiple life transitions and are expected to acquire the necessary skills to manage their own care. Hypothesis: implementation of a comprehensive structured transition program with dedicated transition navigator (TN) in a pediatric and adult hemoglobinopathy comprehensive care center will reduce loss to follow-up and hospitalization, improve adherence to medication and attendance to appointments compared to an unstructured transfer from pediatric to adult program. Methods: A structured comprehensive transition program with a dedicated TN, based on a quality improvement framework with an iterative design to refine the intervention over time, was developed and deployed across a pediatric and adult hemoglobinopathy comprehensive care center (Hospital for Sick Children (HSC) and Toronto General Hospital (TGH) respectively) starting August 1, 2014. Prior to this, patients at age 18 were transferred without preparation. With the TN model, adolescents, from age 12 were followed at each visit by the TN and up to one year after transitioning. Prior to transition to the adult center, adolescents were seen jointly by pediatric and adult care providers and TN in a transition clinic. Patients were assessed for transition readiness and provided with tailored education at each appointment. This observational study compared all AYA with SCD or thalassemia who turned 18 years between August 1, 2013 and August 1, 2015. Patients in the cohort prior to the comprehensive transition program were compared to patients who transitioned through the formal program. Data from one year prior to last appointment at HSC and one year after the first appointment at TGH were collected. The effects of covariates on imaging/clinic/transfusion/subspecialist appointment attendance, medication adherence and hospitalizations were analyzed by multivariable regression. Results: 112 patients met the criteria for transfer/transition, of which 51 transferred prior to August 1, 2014 and 61 transitioned through the comprehensive transition program. No significant differences were observed in baseline demographics including age at transfer/transition, phenotype, distance from the center, medications, parental/guardian appointment attendance, immigration status, family structure, first language spoken or documented cognitive impairment. The youngest patient to undergo transition in the observation period was 16.6 years. The transition process significantly reduced the proportion of patients lost to follow-up from 29% (11/38) to 7% (4/57) (P = 0.0335, Figure 1). In patients who were on hydroxyurea or iron chelation, significant increase in the proportion of patients who maintained or improved their medication adherence to 4 or more days a week was observed in the transition cohort (P = 0.047, LR 4.668) and the presence of the transition program was independently associated with the improvement. A trend towards improvement or maintenance of ≥ 90% attendance to appointments was observed (P = 0.096, OR 2.254). Variations in appointment attendance can be explained by patient's age, distance from the comprehensive hemoglobinopathy center, and English as patient's first language. No independent predictor was found in frequency of hospitalization. No new overt strokes or deaths occurred in the year after moving to the adult center. Conclusions: Comprehensive structured transition program with dedicated transition navigator significantly reduced the number of AYA lost to follow-up, and significantly improved and maintained fair to good medication adherence. Further analysis of economic benefit and patient satisfaction will be conducted. A clustered randomized-controlled trial will be forthcoming to determine the effectiveness of this transition model of care on AYA patients with sickle cell disease on patient-important outcomes. Disclosures Allemang: Novartis: Other: Funding for the transition navigator program; ApoPharma: Other: Funding for the transition navigator program; Sickkids Foundation: Other: Funding for the transition navigator program. Kuo:Apotex: Other: Unrestricted education grant; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

scholarly journals Sickle-Cell Disease Patients' Attitudes Towards Their Treatment with Hydroxycarbamide

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1013-1013
Author(s):  
Frédéric Galactéros ◽  
Ersi Voskaridou ◽  
Anoosha Habibi ◽  
Giovanna Cannas ◽  
Laure Joseph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Fetal Hemoglobin ◽  
Treatment Discontinuation ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees

Hydroxyurea (HU) is approved in the EU and USA for prevention of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) including acute chest syndromes (ACS) in patients over 2 years with sickle-cell disease (SCD). The major benefits of HU in SCD are directly related to its abilities to increase HbF, decrease sickling of red blood cells and hemolysis, leading to reduction of vaso-occlusive episodes, need for blood transfusions and consequently reduction of morbidity and mortality. Adherence to the treatment is paramount for effectiveness, but in spite of proven benefits, barriers to adherence persist.[1] ESCORT-HU study (European Sickle Cell Disease COhoRT - HydroxyUrea), is a multicentric, prospective, non-interventional European study designed to evaluate the safety profile of HU in real life. Patients were enrolled from January 2009 to June 2017 with a follow-up of up to 10 years. All interruptions and resumptions of HU treatment exceeding 15 days were recorded in this study. We hereby present the analysis of the group of patients who self-discontinued HU at least once during the study before informing their caregiver, with a view to identify potential barriers to long-term adherence. In total, 1906 patients were enrolled in ESCORT-HU from 63 centers in France, Germany, Greece and Italy. Of these, 619 patients (32%) stopped HU for over 15 days at least once, and around a third (11% of all patients) were due to patient's will. The mean duration of HU treatment before the first discontinuation was 4.8 ± 5.1 years. Data are summarized in table 1. Compared to the rest of the cohort, the 'treatment discontinuation' group had similar distribution by gender and indication for HU prescription, but a higher proportion of adults stopped HU more than 15 days. It is notable that the proportion of patients with SC genotype was higher in the 'treatment discontinuation' group (4.5% vs 1.7%). The patients in the 'treatment discontinuation' group had more frequent SCD symptoms before enrolment in the study (table 2). Hematological and clinical improvement compared to the baseline was observed in both groups. However, average mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Fetal Hemoglobin percentage (HbF%) were lower and mean percentages of patients with SCD symptoms were higher over the three years of follow-up in the 'treatment discontinuation' group, suggesting that HU daily dose was insufficient (table 2). Sixty patients have no treatment resumption date reported which suggest a permanent interruption of their treatment. Among them 32% preferred to switch to another HU medicinal product and 13% have safety issue (table 3). Understanding and managing self-discontinuation of HU before taking medical advice is challenging for the physician. It is tempting to speculate that it may be due, at least in part, to lack of effectiveness potentially due to an underdosage of the treatment. Resistance to the treatment may also be suggested based on past literature data revealing a great variability in the response (determined by HbF%) to HU therapy. There is evidence that genetic modifiers affect individual response to HU.[2],[3] Finally, weariness from long-term use may also explain the patient's wish to discontinue HU. But treatment at optimal effective should be the primary goal of caregivers. [1]Smaldone A., Manwani D., Green NS, Greater number of perceived barriers to hydroxyurea associated with poorer health-related quality of life in youth with sickle cell disease, Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2019 [2] Steinberg MH, Voskaridou E, Kutlar A, Loukopoulos D, Koshy M, et al. (2003). Concordant fetal hemoglobin response to hydroxyurea in siblings with sickle cell disease. Am J Hematol 72: 121-126 [3] Ware RE, Despotovic JM, Mortier NA, Flanagan JM, He J, et al. (2011) Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics of hydroxyurea treatment for children with sickle cell anemia. Blood 118: 4985-4991 Disclosures Galactéros: Addmedica: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Voskaridou:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Protagonist: Research Funding; Genesis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding; Addmedica: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cannas:Addmedica: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

scholarly journals Outcomes of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease and Eskd in the Usrds Registry

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4056-4056
Author(s):  
Rima Zahr ◽  
Marianne McPherson Yee ◽  
Kenneth I. Ataga ◽  
Jeffrey Winer ◽  
Jeffrey D. Lebensburger
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Graft Rejection ◽  
Treatment Initiation ◽  
Rejection Rate ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
One Year

Abstract Introduction: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and kidney disease are at increased risk for mortality; understanding the outcomes of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) highlights the importance of monitoring the progression of kidney disease, target interventions, and highlight disparities in care. We obtained data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) from 1998-2017 to understand potential risk factors for developing ESKD, outcomes, and access to organ transplantation. Methods: We abstracted predictor variables including age, sex, race, ethnicity, first ESKD treatment type, comorbid conditions, and hydroxyurea use at the time of ESKD from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). We recorded outcome variables including 1-year mortality after ESKD treatment initiation, transplant within 1 year after ESKD treatment initiation, and 1-year graft rejection rate. All values were adjusted for age (on a continuous scale), sex, ethnicity, initial treatment modality, hemodialysis access type, pre-ESKD nephrology care, and comorbidities. One-year mortality, transplant rate, and graft rejection rate were estimated for all patients. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, with 95% confidence intervals, were calculated using logistic regression. All statistical analysis was performed in SPSS (Version 27.0; IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). A P value of <.05 was considered significant. Results: We identified 1920 black SCD patients and 598,726 black non-SCD patients that developed ESKD from 1998-2017. SCD patients developed ESKD earlier than non SCD patients (adjusted OR: 0.62 (0.61 ,0.64). The mean age of ESKD diagnosis was 43.3± 13.3years for black SCD patients as compared to 58.4±15.5 years for non-SCD black patients. Importantly, 20% of black SCD patients developed ESKD prior to age 30 as compared to 8.5% of non-SCD patients. Male patients with SCD developed ESKD earlier than female patients (median 42 vs 46 years, p<0.001). At the time of ESKD, 12% of SCD patients were receiving hydroxyurea. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, first ESKD treatment, SCD patients with ESKD had higher odds of having congestive heart failure and cerebrovascular disease. SCD patients with ESKD had a higher one-year mortality rate than non-SCD patients (adjusted OR: 2.24 95%CI:2.03-2.47). The overall one-year mortality was 26.2% in black SCD patients with ESKD and 17.4% in black non-SCD ESKD. The one-year mortality in black SCD patients with ESKD decreased from 28.4% (1998-2005), 27.0% (2006-2010) to 22.8% (2011-2017). Patients with SCD were less likely to receive a kidney transplant than those patients without SCD (OR: 0.63, 95% CI:0.45-0.87). We identified no difference in graft rejection between SCD and non-SCD ESKD patients. (OR: 1.11, 0.6-2.04) Conclusion: The USRDS database continues to demonstrate that patients with SCD develop ESKD earlier in life than race matched controls and have a higher one-year mortality after being diagnosed with ESKD. Additional research is needed to understand why male patients are at higher risk of developing ESKD earlier than females and whether genetic or clinical modifiers impact the high prevalence of ESKD in patients <30 years. Additional public health measures are needed to decrease the disparities in access to organ transplantation. As hydroxyurea may be discontinued due to ESKD-associated anemia, prospective studies should be conducted to determine the role of SCD modifying therapies or other renoprotective agents in delaying progression to ESKD. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Ataga: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Forma Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Global Blood Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Lebensburger: Novartis: Consultancy; Bio Products Laboratory: Consultancy.

scholarly journals Real World Clinical Experience with Oxbryta Therapy in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 15-16
Author(s):  
Jaime Luis Betancourt ◽  
Shuo You ◽  
Sean Campbell ◽  
Sabrina Pink ◽  
Merin Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Hemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Dose Modifications

Background: Oxbryta is a recently approved drug for patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), which decreases HbS polymerization, thus reducing red cell hemolysis and increasing hemoglobin concentration. It was first available for Expanded Access May 9, 2019 and received fast track approval for commercial use by the FDA on November 25, 2019. Objective: This analysis aims to gain insights to the real word experience for patients with SCD who are prescribed Oxbryta, identify barriers to its use, and measure health outcomes. Methods: Electronic medical records of 54 patients with SCD who were prescribed Oxbryta from January until June 2020 were reviewed and evaluated for data regarding demographics, initiation of treatment, hematological response, side effects, dosage modifications and terminal discontinuations. Results: A total of 54 patients were prescribed Oxbryta in the study period who were 96% (52/54) HbSS, and 4% HbSβ0 (2/54); 46% (25/54) male and 54% (29/54) female, and a mean age of 41 years (range 21-70). At time of initiation, 52% (28/54) of patients were taking hydroxyurea (HU). Indication for initiation of therapy was anemia and hemolysis. In this cohort, 65% of patients (35/54) were able to access drug with a mean time to obtain drug of 45 days (range 0-118 days). The most common barriers to obtaining drug were: requiring a prior authorization or appeal 9% (5/54), incomplete patient follow up 7% (4/54), missing documentation for application 6% (3/54) and high patient co-pay 6% (3/54). Of the 35 patients who started Oxbryta, 46% (16/35) experienced at least 1 side effect with 31% (11/35) reporting multiple side effects. The most common side effects reported were gastrointestinal distress (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea) in 23% (8/35), dermatologic effects (itching and/or rash) in 17% (6/35), and experiencing an acute VOC or increase in daily pain in 11% (4/35). Twenty nine percent (10/35) of patients required a dose modification to address side effects (half who successfully continued the drug on a modified dosage), an additional 23% (8/35) of patients terminated usage of Oxbryta in response to side effects. After two to four weeks of taking Oxbryta 63% of patients had a hemoglobin increase of at least 1g/dl or greater. Conclusion: Oxbryta produces a substantial rise in hemoglobin for persons living with sickle cell and high baseline levels of hemolysis in about 60 % of patients, similarly to the results from the HOPE trial. However, there are significant barriers to access that require close follow up in the immediate period following prescription of the drug in order to minimize delays in access. Furthermore, in our cohort we observed a higher incidence of side effects than the 23% (900mg) -26% (1500mg) reported in the pivotal trial that led to its approval. While some individuals were able to be continue therapy after dose modifications, most discontinued therapy because of side effects. Figure Disclosures Minniti: CLS Behring: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Emmaus: Consultancy; Forma: Consultancy; Global Blood Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Teutona: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bluebird Bio: Other; Sodium Nitrate for SCD leg ulcers: Patents & Royalties.

scholarly journals First Year Comparison of Sickle Cell Pediatric Cohorts from Haiti and Miami (CSHSCD Multicenter Study): Baseline Data

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2042-2042
Author(s):  
Ofelia A. Alvarez ◽  
Nora St Victor Dely ◽  
Michele Paul-Hanna ◽  
Alejandro Mantero ◽  
Rony Saint Fleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Oral Tablet ◽  
Hydroxyurea Treatment

Abstract Background: The NIH-sponsored observational study "Comparative Study of Haiti and Miami Cohorts of Sickle Cell Disease CSHSCD" (R01HL149121) coordinates the follow up of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Haiti and compares it to a Miami cohort of children of either Haitian or African American ethnicity for the purpose of assessing barriers through questionnaires and examining differences in the care received in their respective environments. Methods: Children less than 6 years of age with SCD are eligible for enrollment in five participating sites: University of Miami (UM, Miami, Florida), Hôpital Saint Damien (HSD, Tabarre, Haiti), Hôpital de l' Université d'Etat d'Haïti (HUEH, Port-au-Prince, Haiti), Hôpital Universitaire Justinien (HUJ, Cap Haitien, Haiti), and Hôpital Sacré Coeur (HSC, Milot, Haiti). Medians and interquartile ranges or percentages were compared at baseline regarding demographics, clinical and growth parameters, laboratory tests, and the children's hydroxyurea (HU) utilization during the first year of enrollment (May 25, 2020-May 24,2021). A Likert-scale barrier questionnaire was distributed at baseline to assess differences in healthcare access. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant to establish differences. Results: 130 children were enrolled during the reported period. Significant differences were observed in age, weight percentiles, hemoglobin levels, pain rates, HU treatment, and pneumococcal vaccination. Penicillin prophylaxis was always given by oral route in Miami, but only 39.8% times in Haiti, with 58% of children receiving prophylaxis by intramuscular injection every month and 2.2% (N=2 children) with either unknown or not receiving prophylaxis. Previous medication outsourcing accounted for the oral tablet form in Haiti. Parents in Haiti had more barriers regarding not able to afford treatment (21.5% compared to 8.1% in Miami) and had similar responses regarding not able to afford coming to clinic (21.5% vs. 18.9%). Parents in Miami expressed living far away from clinic (70.2% compared to 25.8% in Haiti), but had more help from other family members (78.4% vs. 33.3%). Interestingly, parents in Miami did not know sometimes what to do when the child was sick (40% respondents vs. 11% in Haiti). There were no major differences between the responses from the African Americans and Haitians living in Miami, except for not knowing sometimes what to do when child is sick (African-Americans having less doubts than Haitians; 25% vs. 52.6%). In short-term follow up, no enrolled children died, although two eligible children in Haiti died before enrollment. One child developed COVID-19 in Miami with only mild symptoms, which resolved. Conclusion: At entry children in Haiti are older, weigh less, are more anemic, have more pain episodes, and fewer receive hydroxyurea treatment. Under-vaccination with pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (Prevnar-13) is notable in Haiti. There were significant differences detected on the barrier questionnaire among respondents in both countries. Acknowledgment: We acknowledge NHLBI for supporting this work. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Alvarez: GBT: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forma Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

scholarly journals Clinical and Biomarker Predictors for Avascular Necrosis in Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3091-3091
Author(s):  
Michael Rabaza ◽  
Maria Armila Ruiz ◽  
Liana Posch ◽  
Faiz Ahmed Hussain ◽  
Franklin Njoku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Avascular Necrosis ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Early Management

Abstract Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects 1 in 365 African Americans and approximately 25 million people world-wide. A common skeletal system complication is avascular necrosis (AVN), which can cause substantial pain and a reduced quality of life. While early management of AVN is focused on increasing range of motion with physical therapy and pain relief, there are no clear predictors for who is more likely to develop AVN and earlier institution of these preventive measure could help decrease disease progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a biomarker of endothelial injury and may indicate reduced vascular supply to the femoral or humeral head. Here we describe potential risk factors and biologic pathways for AVN in SCD, as understanding these may lead to improvements in future monitoring, early detection, and early intervention practices. Methods We investigated clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with AVN in a cohort of 435 SCD patients from our center. Blood samples, clinical, and laboratory data were collected at the time of enrollment during a clinic visit. Genotyping for alpha thalassemia was performed by PCR and the serum concentration of VEGF was measured by ELISA. AVN status was confirmed by review of the medical record and available imaging. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis comparing categorical and linear variables by AVN status using the chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis test, respectively. The independent association of the clinical and laboratory variables with AVN status was determined by logistic regression analysis. The initial model included variables with a P-value < 0.1 on univariate analysis and the final model was ascertained by stepwise forward and backward selection. Median values and interquartile range (IQR) are provided. Results The median age of the cohort was 32 (IQR, 24 - 43) years, 57% (250/435) were female, and 46% (198/435) were on hydroxyurea. AVN was observed in 34% (149/435) of SCD patients. SCD patients with AVN were older, had more frequent vaso-occlusive crises requiring medical attention, and had a higher body mass index (Table I) (P ≤ 0.002). We measured VEGF in 241 of the SCD patients with serum samples available at the time of enrolment. Serum VEGF concentrations trended higher in SCD patients with versus without AVN (420 vs. 359 pg/mL, respectively; P = 0.078). In the multivariate analysis model, AVN was independently associated with increased number of vaso-occlusive crises (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0 - 1.14; P = 0.02), AST concentration (natural log OR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2 - 0.9; P = 0.03), VEGF concentration (natural log OR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0 - 1.9; P = 0.047), and tobacco use (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 0.9 - 3.7; P = 0.078). Discussion In conclusion, we demonstrate a high prevalence of AVN in an adult cohort of SCD patients. The presence of AVN was independently associated with a greater frequency of vaso-occlusive pain episodes, which may demonstrate a shared pathophysiology between AVN and vaso-occlusion that merits further investigation. We demonstrate that serum VEGF concentrations are higher in SCD patients with AVN and may be a clinical tool to identify those at high-risk and for earlier intervention for this complication. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Gordeuk: Modus Therapeutics: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Emmaus: Consultancy, Research Funding; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Consultancy. Saraf: Pfizer: Research Funding; Global Blood Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of Haiti and Miami Cohorts of Sickle Cell Disease (CSHSCD): Methods, Accomplishments, and Implementation

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4054-4054
Author(s):  
Ofelia A. Alvarez ◽  
Tally Hustace ◽  
Emmeline Lerebours ◽  
Nora St Victor Dely ◽  
Rony Saint Fleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Newborn Screening ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Isoelectric Focusing ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
American Ethnicity

Abstract Background: There are significant limitations in Haiti for the diagnosis and management of sickle cell disease (SCD), including the non-availability of universal newborn screening (NBS) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound screening, and the lack of diagnostic laboratory resources, oral penicillin and hydroxyurea (HU). Methods: Beginning in September 2019, CSHSCD (R01HL149121), a 5-year NIH-sponsored observational comparative study of children with SCD from Haitian ethnicity in Miami and in Haiti compared to children of African American ethnicity with SCD, was designed to increase access to care in Haiti. The study aims are 1) to compare the incidence of SCD among newborns from Haitian and African American ethnicity in Miami, 2) to establish NBS programs for hemoglobinopathies in Haiti, and 3) to compare cohorts of children in SCD at the study sites. The participating sites are the University of Miami (UM, Miami, Florida), Hôpital Saint Damien (HSD, Tabarre, Haiti), Hôpital de l'Université d'Etat d'Haïti (HUEH, Port-au-Prince, Haiti), Hôpital Universitaire Justinien (HUJ, Cap Haitien, Haiti), and Hôpital Sacré Coeur (HSC, Milot, Haiti). HUJ and HSC use two NBS screening methods (isoelectric focusing and Sickle SCAN rapid test) and HSD and HUEH use isoelectric focusing only. CSHSCD supplies penicillin and HU and trains TCD examiners to implement stroke risk screening. Data are collected in REDCap. Results: During the first 2 years and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we established NBS sites with a cohesive network of physicians and nurses trained in the care of children with SCD in Haiti. This capacity building will support sustainability of the program. We successfully identified at least 15 new cases of SCD via newborn screening, trained six TCD examiners, and enrolled 130 children with SCD in follow up, providing them with penicillin prophylaxis and hydroxyurea for severe cases according to local protocols . Implementation activities which have helped are close communications between the investigators, monthly Zoom meetings to coordinate efforts with enrollment updates every month, the availability of rapid tests (Sickle SCAN and Gazelle miniature cellulose acetate electrophoresis) for the diagnosis of SCD, especially when there is no laboratory equipment on site. Implementation challenges we have faced are mostly two. The first is the timely completion of DUNS and SAM registration for the two public hospitals, with one site achieving this after 9 months and the other site taking 18 months to complete. The reasons for the delay are the inability for the UM site to direct these efforts, following strict rules, and the Haitian hospital officers' lack of familiarity with website requirements. We were able to achieve these registrations with the assistance of one Haitian study staff who is very acquainted with internet navigation and became familiarized with requirements. Outsourcing materials to Haiti is another major challenge, with either gaps in the delivery of supplies because of multiple steps involved in ordering and shipping or with delays in releasing equipment once it is at the Port-au-Prince customs, resulting in gaps in NBS in one of the sites for 8 weeks. We have minimized these issues by opening a one-year ticket to order materials from the different companies involved. Also, Haiti's lack of infrastructure, available materials and medications, and political instability limit health care delivery. Conclusion: Since its inception, we have achieved major milestones, including capacity building and implementation of NBS, TCD training, and enrollment of children with SCD into the prospective cohorts despite the current COVID-19 pandemic. Material outsourcing challenges have been the major implementation problem we have faced due to systemic factors. We anticipate that these factors will be corrected or minimized as we have learned how to handle them. These problems were expected as part of conducting an international study in a low-resource setting. Acknowledgment: We acknowledge NHLBI for supporting this work. Disclosures Alvarez: Forma Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GBT: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Romano: Genentech: Research Funding; Vycor: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; NovaVision: Consultancy.

scholarly journals Crizanlizumab Therapy Is Associated with Lower Levels of Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 955-955
Author(s):  
Cristiane Maria de Souza ◽  
Carolina Lanaro ◽  
Irene Pereira dos Santos ◽  
Oladele Olatunya ◽  
Sara T Olalla Saad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Activated Platelets

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron structures released in blood circulation by different cell types which have been found to be increased in sickle cell disease (SCD) and are associated with clinical complications. The most abundant EVs in SCD patients derive from platelets, endothelial cells, and red blood cells (RBCs) and EVs have been explored as biomarkers of clinical severity. Crizanlizumab is a monoclonal antibody against P-selectin, an adhesion molecule expressed in activated platelets and endothelial cells. P-selectin facilitates the formation of heterocellular aggregates and is implicated in the pathophysiology of vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) in SCD. This study aimed to investigate the circulating levels of EVs in patients with SCD on standard of care or treated with crizanlizumab. We collected peripheral blood samples from 20 adults with SCD (Non treated group: 7 patients on hydroxyurea treatment and 7 without it. Treated group: 6 patients undergoing treatment with crizanlizumab in combination with hydroxyurea). Patients received the last dose of crizanlizumab at least a month prior to the study. EVs were identified by lactadherin+calcein stain and quantified by flow cytometry to determine the immunophenotype of their parent cell (platelet, endothelial cell, and RBC, with CD41+; CD146+/CD45-; CD235+, respectively). EV quantification was calculated in number per ml of blood as previously described by our group (Olatunya et al., 2019). We found that patients on crizanlizumab had lower total circulating EV counts than patients not receiving the drug (62.670.000,00 ± 15.600.000,00 vs 13.100.000,00 ± 3.513.000,00/mL, respectively, p=0,0076). The difference was statistically significant in platelet-derived EVs levels (5.397.000,00 ± 953.875,00 vs 2.413.000,00 ± 745.165,00/mL, p=0,0169), but not in endothelium-derived or RBC-derived EVs (345714 ± 101817 vs 220000 ± 64291, and 2.189.000,00 ± 1.648.000,00 vs 1.013.000,00 ± 572775, respectively). Crizanlizumab therapy has been shown to reduce the incidence of VOEs in SCD. EVs have been recognized as bio-effectors involved in VOEs, contributing to a hypercoagulable state, chronic inflammation, and endothelial damage. Our findings show an association between the use of crizanlizumab and lower EV levels, particularly of the platelet-derived type. While the anti-P-selectin activity of crizanlizumab could be expected to help remove platelets from circulation, clinical studies have not reported a reduction in platelet counts in patients treated with crizanlizumab. Therefore, we speculate that crizanlizumab may decrease the release of EV by activated platelets, reduce platelet activation, or contribute to EV removal from circulation. Our findings suggest that crizanlizumab therapy may modulate EV levels in the plasma of SCD patients and provide, for the first time, data to support exploring the use of extracellular vesicles as biomarkers to monitor the clinical response to this drug in patients. Further studies on EV expression of P-selectin and how crizanlizumab interacts with EVs and platelets may help clarify this particular effect of this drug. Disclosures Benites: Novartis: Honoraria. Fertrin: Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Costa: Novartis: Consultancy.

scholarly journals Real World Outcomes of Adult Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Receiving Fixed Dose Intravenous Rituximab in the Philippine General Hospital

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 5029-5029
Author(s):  
Josephine Anne Lucero ◽  
Danielle Benedict Sacdalan ◽  
Cecilia Jimeno ◽  
Ivy Mae S. Escasa
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Fixed Dose ◽  
Average Dose ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Lost To Follow Up

Abstract Introduction. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent type of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The backbone of therapy includes rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m 2 however, the rationale for which is not explained in pharmacokinetic studies but has been the set dose for succeeding clinical trials. In limited-resource settings, standard regimen or fixed dose adaptations of certain cancer medicines are common. This study investigated the clinical profile and treatment outcomes of patients who received fixed dose intravenous (IV) rituximab of 500 mg per cycle for DLBCL. Methods. This study was a retrospective cohort conducted through review of records of adults diagnosed with DLBCL given fixed dose IV rituximab of 500mg at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. Clinical characteristics, stage, international prognostication index (IPI), body surface area dosing, response assessment, and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were recorded. The computed sample size was 110 patients however, all patients within the period of observation were included. Results. One hundred thirty-two adult patients with DLBCL were identified of which, 77 received a rituximab-based regimen, and 71 received fixed dose IV rituximab of 500mg and were included in the study. Table 1 summarizes the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants. The mean age was 46 years old with a slight male predominance. Eighty percent of patients received a dose below 350 mg/m 2. Fifty-one percent of patients had bulky and advanced stage of disease. Thirty-nine percent of patients presented with B symptoms. Eighty-two percent had one or no comorbidities on consult. Sixty-six percent had a low-risk IPI of 0 or 1, 30% with a low-intermediate risk IPI of 2, and 4% with a high-intermediate risk IPI of 3. Ninety percent of patients received rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (RCHOP). The mean number of doses of rituximab received was 6 and patients received treatment at a mean interval of 1 month from diagnosis. Notably, only three patients underwent immunohistochemistry studies to determine the subtype of DLBCL. All three were found to have activated B cell as the cell of origin. Table 2 summarizes the distribution of outcomes in relation to average dose received. Of the original 71 who received fixed-dose Rituximab, 25 patients had no documentation of objective response assessment. Thirty or 43% showed complete response and 20% showed progressive disease. Complete response was documented across dose ranges from 250 to 400 mg/m 2 however, 77% of complete responders received a dose lower than 350 mg/m 2. Conversely, 79% of patients with progressive disease received a dose lower than 350 mg/m 2. There were no noted significant associations between these outcomes and the average dose range of rituximab received based on Fisher's exact test. This finding is also illustrated in Figure 1, which is a boxed plot diagram of the range of dose received across clinical outcomes. Because of the limited number of patients and sparse distribution of outcomes, a Cox proportional hazard model could not be made. Table 3 shows the distribution of characteristics across clinical outcomes. Age and follow-up time were significantly different across the three groups. No difference was found for the other clinical variables. A Kaplan-Meier survival plot could not be constructed due to the high lost to follow-up rate, with 66% of patients being lost to follow-up at time of analysis. Discussion and Conclusions. The study identified the high use of fixed dose IV rituximab in our hospital rather than the recommended dosing of 375 mg/m 2. These patients showed comparable initial response rates of fixed dose rituximab in adult patients with DLBCL compared to response rates from previous RCTs, however long-term response rates were not evaluable. The study was not able to demonstrate the durability of response, given the lack of data and high lost to follow-up rate. At the time of analysis, the use of subcutaneous (SC) rituximab has not progressed in the treatment center, and the prohibitive cost of both IV and SC rituximab has affected its optimal use. Pharmacokinetic modeling and longer-term cohorts of fixed-dose studies may provide more robust data to support the use of fixed-dose treatment strategies. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Jimeno: Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Johnson and Johnson: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Astrazeneca: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; Servier: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau. Escasa: Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: lecturer, registration and travel grants; Novartis: Other: lecturer, registration and travel grants; Roche: Other: lecturer; Sun Pharma: Other: lecturer, registration and travel grants.

scholarly journals Sex Based Differences in Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 37-37
Author(s):  
Rita V Masese ◽  
Dominique Bulgin ◽  
Mitchell Knisely ◽  
Liliana Preiss ◽  
Eleanor Stevenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Blood Institute ◽  
National Heart Lung

Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorders in the United States. The disease predominantly affects African Americans with 1 out of every 365 individuals born with SCD. The disease is characterized by vascular inflammation and vaso-occlusion leading to numerous complications and multi-organ dysfunction. Previous studies have shown women with SCD tend to outlive their male counterparts. Other than the increased life expectancy, sex-based clinical outcome differences in SCD remain largely unknown. To better characterize sex-based differences in SCD, we assessed sociodemographic characteristics, pain, treatment characteristics, laboratory measures and complications among males and females currently enrolled in the Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium (SCDIC) registry. Methods The SCDIC consists of eight academic and comprehensive SCD centers, and one data-coordinating center that received funding from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to improve outcomes for individuals with SCD. Participants were eligible for the enrollment in the SCDIC registry if they were 15 to 45 years of age and had a confirmed diagnosis of SCD. Participants were excluded if they had sickle cell trait or had a successful bone marrow transplant. Enrolled participants completed surveys. Data were also abstracted from the participants' medical records. Data were entered into a REDCap database and analyzed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute; Cary, NC). Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, continuous variables were presented as medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) or means and standard deviations. Categorical variables were analyzed using Chi-Square or Fisher exact tests when appropriate. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test or independent sample t-tests depending on the distribution. A two-sided p-value less than 0.05 was deemed significant. Results A total of 2,124 participants were included in the study. The mean (SD) age of our participants was 27.8 (7.9) years. Almost all (95.6%) were Africa American, female (56%) and had hemoglobin SS (68.2%) SCD genotype. More males (55.4 % vs. 44.6%, p <0.0001) were taking hydroxyurea. Females had significantly worse reports of pain frequency and severity (p=0.0002 and <0.0001 respectively), more vaso-occlusive episodes (p=0.01) and a higher occurrence of 3 or more hospital admissions in the past year (30.9 % vs. 25.5, p= 0.03). Males had significantly more skin ulcers and respiratory, musculoskeletal, genitourinary and cardiovascular complications while females had more anxiety, depression and autoimmune conditions. Males also had significantly higher creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, albumin and liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases). Females had higher fetal hemoglobin levels with and without hydroxyurea use. There were no statistical differences in ethnicity, marital and employment status. Conclusion Key differences in SCD presentation and occurrence of complications exist among males and females. Females had higher rates of depression and anxiety while males had more chronic end-organ complications that are life threatening. Our findings emphasize the need for stratification of data analysis by sex in future SCD studies. Disclosures Hankins: Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Honoraria, Research Funding; LINKS Incorporate Foundation: Research Funding; American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology: Honoraria; MJH Life Sciences: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties; UptoDate: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding. Treadwell:UpToDate: Honoraria; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy. King:Tioma Therapuetics: Consultancy; WUGEN: Current equity holder in private company; RiverVest: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Cell Works: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Magenta Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bioline: Consultancy; Novimmune: Research Funding; Amphivena Therapeutics: Research Funding. Gordeuk:CSL Behring: Consultancy, Research Funding; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Imara: Research Funding; Ironwood: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. Kanter:bluebird bio, inc: Consultancy, Honoraria; SCDAA Medical and Research Advisory Board: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AGIOS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Medscape: Honoraria; Guidepoint Global: Honoraria; GLG: Honoraria; Jeffries: Honoraria; Cowen: Honoraria; Wells Fargo: Honoraria; NHLBI Sickle Cell Advisory Board: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BEAM: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Glassberg:Eli Lilly and Company: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy. Shah:Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Alexion: Speakers Bureau.

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