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Bizri M, Koleilat R, Akiki N, Dergham R, Mihailescu AM, Bou-Fakhredin R, Musallam KM, Taher AT. Quality of life, mood disorders, and cognitive impairment in adults with β-thalassemia. Blood Rev 2024; 65:101181. [PMID: 38341336 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2024.101181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Advances in understanding the disease process in β-thalassemia supported development of various treatment strategies that resulted in improved survival. Improved survival, however, allowed multiple morbidities to manifest and cemented the need for frequent, lifelong treatment. This has directly impacted patients' health-related quality of life and opened the door for various psychiatric and cognitive disorders to potentially develop. In this review, we summarize available evidence on quality of life, depression and anxiety, suicidality, and cognitive impairment in adult patients with β-thalassemia while sharing our personal insights from experience in treating patients with both transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Bizri
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rawan Koleilat
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nathalie Akiki
- Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Reem Dergham
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Khaled M Musallam
- Center for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD), Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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2
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Sidonio RF, Boban A, Dubey L, Inati A, Kiss C, Boda Z, Lissitchkov T, Nemes L, Novik D, Peteva E, Taher AT, Timofeeva MA, Vilchevska KV, Vdovin V, Werner S, Knaub S, Djambas Khayat C. von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate (Wilate) prophylaxis in children and adults with von Willebrand disease. Blood Adv 2024; 8:1405-1414. [PMID: 38237075 PMCID: PMC10950830 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Long-term prophylaxis with a von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentrate is recommended in patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) who have a history of severe and frequent bleeds. However, data from prospective studies are scarce. WIL-31, a prospective, noncontrolled, international phase 3 trial, investigated the efficacy and safety of Wilate prophylaxis in severe patients with VWD. Male and female patients 6 years or older with VWD types 1, 2 (except 2N), or 3 who had completed a prospective, 6-month, on-demand, run-in study (WIL-29) were eligible to receive Wilate prophylaxis for 12 months. At baseline, patients (n = 33) had a median age of 18 years. Six (18%) patients had severe type 1, 5 (15%) had type 2, and 22 (67%) had type 3 VWD. The primary end point of a >50% reduction in mean total annualized bleeding rate (TABR) with Wilate prophylaxis vs prior on-demand treatment was met; mean TABR during prophylaxis was 5.2, representing an 84.4% reduction. The bleeding reduction was consistent across age, sex, and VWD types. The mean spontaneous ABR was 3.2, representing an 86.9% reduction vs on-demand treatment. During prophylaxis, 10 (30.3%) patients had 0 bleeding events and 15 (45.5%) patients had 0 spontaneous bleeding events. Of 173 BEs, 84.4% were minor and 69.9% treated. No serious adverse events related to study treatment and no thrombotic events were recorded. Overall, WIL-31 showed that Wilate prophylaxis was efficacious and well-tolerated in pediatric and adult patients with VWD of all types. The WIL-29 and WIL-31 trials were registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT04053699 and #NCT04052698, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F. Sidonio
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Ana Boban
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Leonid Dubey
- Communal Nonprofit Enterprise “Western Ukrainian Specialized Children’s Medical Center” of Lviv Regional Council, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Adlette Inati
- Department of Pediatrics, NINI Hospital, Tripoli, Lebanon
- Lebanese American University School of Medicine, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Csongor Kiss
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Boda
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Toshko Lissitchkov
- Department of Chemotherapy, Hemotherapy and Hereditary Blood Diseases at Clinical Hematology Clinic, Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Hematological Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Laszlo Nemes
- Medical Centre of Hungarian Defence Forces, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dzmitry Novik
- Government Agency “Republican Research Center for Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology,” Gomel, Belarus
| | - Elina Peteva
- Pediatric Clinic of Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital St. Marina-Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Margarita Arkadevna Timofeeva
- Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Kirov Scientific-Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion of Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Kirov, Russia
| | | | - Vladimir Vdovin
- Morozovskaya Children’s City Clinical Hospital, Moscow, Russia
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3
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Musallam KM, Cappellini MD, Coates TD, Kuo KHM, Al-Samkari H, Sheth S, Viprakasit V, Taher AT. Αlpha-thalassemia: A practical overview. Blood Rev 2024; 64:101165. [PMID: 38182489 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
α-Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by decreased synthesis of α-globin chains that results in an imbalance of α and β globin and thus varying degrees of ineffective erythropoiesis, decreased red blood cell (RBC) survival, chronic hemolytic anemia, and subsequent comorbidities. Clinical presentation varies depending on the genotype, ranging from a silent or mild carrier state to severe, transfusion-dependent or lethal disease. Management of patients with α-thalassemia is primarily supportive, addressing either symptoms (eg, RBC transfusions for anemia), complications of the disease, or its transfusion-dependence (eg, chelation therapy for iron overload). Several novel therapies are also in development, including curative gene manipulation techniques and disease modifying agents that target ineffective erythropoiesis and chronic hemolytic anemia. This review of α-thalassemia and its various manifestations provides practical information for clinicians who practice beyond those regions where it is found with high frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M Musallam
- Center for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD), Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - M Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas D Coates
- Hematology Section, Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kevin H M Kuo
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hanny Al-Samkari
- Center for Hematology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sujit Sheth
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vip Viprakasit
- Department of Pediatrics & Thalassemia Center, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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El-Beshlawy A, Dewedar H, Hindawi S, Alkindi S, Tantawy AA, Yassin MA, Taher AT. Management of transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT): Expert insights and practical overview from the Middle East. Blood Rev 2024; 63:101138. [PMID: 37867006 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
β-Thalassemia is one of the most common monogenetic diseases worldwide, with a particularly high prevalence in the Middle East region. As such, we have developed long-standing experience with disease management and devising solutions to address challenges attributed to resource limitations. The region has also participated in the majority of clinical trials and development programs of iron chelators and more novel ineffective erythropoiesis-targeted therapy. In this review, we provide a practical overview of management for patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, primarily driven by such experiences, with the aim of transferring knowledge to colleagues in other regions facing similar challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal El-Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hany Dewedar
- Thalassemia Center, Latifa Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Salwa Hindawi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salam Alkindi
- Department of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Azza A Tantawy
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Yassin
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Hodroj MH, Akiki N, Bou-Fakhredin R, Taher AT. Beta-thalassemia: is cure still a dream? Minerva Med 2023; 114:850-860. [PMID: 37534831 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4806.23.08501-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
β-thalassemia is a monogenic disorder characterized by decreased hemoglobin production, resulting in chronic anemia. There are several factors affecting the clinical presentation of patients with β-thalassemia, and several complications such as iron overload or ineffective erythropoiesis have been linked to this disease. Until nowadays, several conservative therapies namely blood transfusions, iron chelation, and the FDA-approved drug Luspatercept have been adopted alongside other debatable permanent cures. Other clinical trials are being conducted to develop better and safer management techniques for these patients. This review will discuss the different treatment strategies of β-thalassemia including novel therapies, besides all possible curative therapies that are being developed for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Hodroj
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nathalie Akiki
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon -
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Taher AT, Wali Y, Cruz MC, Charoenkwan P, Aydinok Y, Werner O, Govindaraju S, Romen F, Viprakasit V. Compliance and clinical benefit of deferasirox granule and dispersible tablet formulation in pediatric patients with transfusional iron overload: in a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II study. Haematologica 2023. [PMID: 37855069 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
CALYPSO (NCT02435212), a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase 2 study evaluated the compliance, clinical benefits, and safety of deferasirox granules and dispersible tablets in pediatric patients with iron overload. Iron chelation therapy-naive and iron chelation therapy-pre-treated patients aged 2 to 0.5 mg/mg; 24.5% and 34.2%), upper respiratory tract infection (28.2% and 29.7%), and pyrexia (26.4% and 23.4%). In iron chelation therapy-naive patients, mean compliance and change from baseline in serum ferritin with both deferasirox formulations were not significantly different. The safety profile was comparable between granule and dispersible tablets formulations, and was consistent with the general safety profile of deferasirox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali T Taher
- American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut.
| | | | - Maria Cecilia Cruz
- Philippine Children's Medical Center, Quezon City, Republic of the Philippines
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Vip Viprakasit
- Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
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7
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Saliba AN, Musallam KM, Taher AT. How I treat non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. Blood 2023; 142:949-960. [PMID: 37478396 PMCID: PMC10644094 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The intricate interplay of anemia and iron overload under the pathophysiological umbrella of ineffective erythropoiesis in non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (NTDT) results in a complex variety of clinical phenotypes that are challenging to diagnose and manage. In this article, we use a clinical framework rooted in pathophysiology to present 4 common scenarios of patients with NTDT. Starting from practical considerations in the diagnosis of NTDT, we delineate our strategy for the longitudinal care of patients who exhibit different constellations of symptoms and complications. We highlight the use of transfusion therapy and novel agents, such as luspatercept, in the patient with anemia-related complications. We also describe our approach to chelation therapy in the patient with iron overload. Although tackling every specific complication of NTDT is beyond the scope of this article, we touch on the management of the various morbidities and multisystem manifestations of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Khaled M. Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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8
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Musallam KM, Lombard L, Kistler KD, Arregui M, Gilroy KS, Chamberlain C, Zagadailov E, Ruiz K, Taher AT. Epidemiology of clinically significant forms of alpha- and beta-thalassemia: A global map of evidence and gaps. Am J Hematol 2023; 98:1436-1451. [PMID: 37357829 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.27006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
This systematic literature review assessed the global prevalence and birth prevalence of clinically significant forms of alpha- and beta-thalassemia. Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for observational studies published January 1, 2000, to September 21, 2021. Of 2093 unique records identified, 69 studies reported across 70 publications met eligibility criteria, including 6 records identified from bibliography searches. Thalassemia prevalence estimates varied across countries and even within countries. Across 23 population-based studies reporting clinically significant alpha-thalassemia (e.g., hemoglobin H disease and hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis) and/or beta-thalassemia (beta-thalassemia intermedia, major, and/or hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia), prevalence estimates per 100 000 people ranged from 0.2 in Spain (over 2014-2017) to 27.2 in Greece (2010-2015) for combined beta- plus alpha-thalassemia; from 0.03 in Spain (2014-2017) to 4.5 in Malaysia (2007-2018) for alpha-thalassemia; and from 0.2 in Spain (2014-2017) to 35.7 to 49.6 in Iraq (2003-2018) for beta-thalassemia. Overall, the estimated prevalence of thalassemia followed the predicted pattern of being higher in the Middle East, Asia, and Mediterranean than in Europe or North America. However, population-based prevalence estimates were not found for many countries, and there was heterogeneity in case definitions, diagnostic methodology, type of thalassemia reported, and details on transfusion requirements. Limited population-based birth prevalence data were found. Twenty-seven studies reported thalassemia prevalence from non-population-based samples. Results from such studies likely do not have countrywide generalizability as they tended to be from highly specific groups. To fully understand the global prevalence of thalassemia, up-to-date, population-based epidemiological data are needed for many countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Musallam KM, Sheth S, Cappellini MD, Kattamis A, Kuo KHM, Taher AT. Luspatercept for transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia: time to get real. Ther Adv Hematol 2023; 14:20406207231195594. [PMID: 37645382 PMCID: PMC10460678 DOI: 10.1177/20406207231195594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M. Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sujit Sheth
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca’ Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonis Kattamis
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kevin H. M. Kuo
- Division of Hematology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020 – Lebanon
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10
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Sheth S, Taher AT, Coates TD, Kattamis A, Cappellini MD. Management of luspatercept therapy in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia. Br J Haematol 2023; 201:824-831. [PMID: 37037668 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia require lifelong, regular red blood cell transfusions for survival; however, frequent blood transfusions are associated with an increased risk of iron overload, transfusion-transmitted disease and alloimmunization, as well as reduced quality of life. Luspatercept, an erythroid maturation agent that promotes late-stage erythroid maturation independently of erythropoietin, has demonstrated efficacy in reducing transfusion burden in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia. In this review, we discuss treatment initiation, ongoing evaluation, dose adjustment and management of adverse events in transfusion-dependent patients with β-thalassaemia receiving luspatercept, and we provide guidance on how to determine whether patients are deriving clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujit Sheth
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Thomas D Coates
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Antonis Kattamis
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Viprakasit V, Hamdy MM, Hassab HMA, Sherief LM, Al-Bagshi M, Khattab M, Chuncharunee S, Dung PC, Küpesiz A, Shekhawat A, Sonawane Y, Perez LT, Slader C, Taher AT. Patient preference for deferasirox film-coated versus dispersible tablet formulation: a sequential-design phase 2 study in patients with thalassemia. Ann Hematol 2023:10.1007/s00277-023-05240-3. [PMID: 37227493 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05240-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Iron chelation therapy (ICT) is the mainstay of treatment in patients with thalassemia requiring blood transfusions. This phase 2 JUPITER study evaluated patient preference between film-coated tablet (FCT) and dispersible tablet (DT) in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) or non-TDT (NTDT) patients treated with both formulations in a sequential manner. The primary endpoint was patient-reported preference for FCT over DT, while secondary outcomes included patient reported outcomes (PROs) evaluated by overall preference, and by age, thalassemia transfusion status, and previous ICT status. Out of 183 patients screened, 140 and 136 patients completed the treatment periods 1 and 2 of the core study, respectively. At week 48, the majority of patients preferred FCT over DT (90.3 vs. 7.5%; difference of percentage: 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75-0.89; P < 0.0001]). FCT scored better on secondary PROs and showed less severe gastrointestinal symptoms than DT, except in the change of modified Satisfaction with Iron Chelation Therapy (mSICT) preference scores, which were similar for both the formulations. Patients with TDT had stable ferritin levels, while it showed a downward trend up to week 48 in patients with NTDT on deferasirox treatment. Overall, 89.9% of patients reported ≥ 1 adverse event (AE), of which 20.3% experienced ≥ 1 serious AE. The most common treatment-emergent AEs were proteinuria, pyrexia, urine protein/creatinine ratio increase, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, transaminase increase, and pharyngitis. Overall, this study reinforced the observations from the previous study by showing a distinct patient preference for FCT over DT formulation and further supported the potential benefits of life-long compliance with ICT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vip Viprakasit
- Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Mona M Hamdy
- Clinical Research Center, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, NA, Egypt
| | - Hoda M A Hassab
- Pediatric Department & Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Laila M Sherief
- Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig Sharqia, 44519, Egypt
| | | | - Mohammed Khattab
- Centre d'Hématologie Et d'oncologie Pédiatrique - CHU Ibn Sina Rabat, 10102, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Phu Chi Dung
- Hochiminh City Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Yamini Sonawane
- Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Hyderabad, India, 500081
| | | | | | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Musallam KM, Taher AT, Kattamis A, Kuo KHM, Sheth S, Cappellini MD. Profile of Luspatercept in the Treatment of Anemia in Adults with Non-Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia (NTDT): Design, Development and Potential Place in Therapy. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:1583-1591. [PMID: 37255740 PMCID: PMC10226484 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s368584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, evidence has been mounting on the detrimental clinical sequelae of untreated anemia in patients with non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (NTDT). There are no pharmacologic agents that are specifically approved for the management of anemia in NTDT, and available options such as splenectomy, transfusion therapy, and hydroxyurea each come with their own shortcomings, especially for long-term use. Luspatercept is an erythroid maturation agent that has been evaluated in a Phase 2, randomized trial and showed a significant benefit in raising hemoglobin level by at least 1 g/dL in adults with NTDT and a baseline hemoglobin level ≤10 g/dL. These data led to luspatercept's approval by the European Commission for the treatment of anemia in adults with NTDT and presents the first evidence-based approach for a novel agent that is able to ameliorate anemia in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Antonis Kattamis
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kevin H M Kuo
- Division of Hematology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sujit Sheth
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca’ Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Cappellini MD, Taher AT, Piga A, Shah F, Voskaridou E, Viprakasit V, Porter JB, Hermine O, Neufeld EJ, Thompson AA, Tang D, Yucel A, Lord-Bessen J, Yu P, Guo S, Shetty JK, Miteva D, Zinger T, Backstrom JT, Oliva EN. Health-related quality of life in patients with β-thalassemia: Data from the phase 3 BELIEVE trial of luspatercept. Eur J Haematol 2023. [PMID: 37095595 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with transfusion-dependent (TD) β-thalassemia require long-term red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) that lead to iron overload, impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS The impact of luspatercept, a first-in-class erythroid maturation agent, versus placebo on HRQoL of patients with TD β-thalassemia was evaluated in the phase 3 BELIEVE trial. HRQoL was assessed at baseline and every 12 weeks using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Transfusion-dependent Quality of Life questionnaire (TranQol). Mean change in HRQoL was evaluated from baseline to week 48 for patients receiving luspatercept + best supportive care (BSC) and placebo + BSC and between luspatercept responders and non-responders. RESULTS Through week 48, for both groups, mean scores on SF-36 and TranQol domains were stable over time and did not have a clinically meaningful change. At week 48, more patients who achieved clinical response (≥50% reduction in RBCT burden over 24 weeks) in the luspatercept + BSC group had improvement in SF-36 Physical Function compared with placebo + BSC (27.1% vs. 11.5%; p = .019). CONCLUSIONS Luspatercept + BSC reduced transfusion burden while maintaining patients' HRQoL. HRQoL domain improvements from baseline through 48 weeks were also enhanced for luspatercept responders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Antonio Piga
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Farrukh Shah
- Department of Haematology, Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ersi Voskaridou
- Centre of Excellence in Rare Haematological Diseases-Haemoglobinopathies, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - John B Porter
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Olivier Hermine
- Necker Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ellis J Neufeld
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Alexis A Thompson
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Derek Tang
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Aylin Yucel
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Peiwen Yu
- Evidera, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shien Guo
- Evidera, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jay T Backstrom
- Acceleron Pharma Inc., a Subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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14
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Abstract
Advances in understanding the underlying pathophysiology of β-thalassemia have enabled efforts toward the development of novel therapeutic modalities. These can be classified into three major categories based on their ability to target different features of the underlying disease pathophysiology: correction of the α/β globin chain imbalance, targeting ineffective erythropoiesis, and targeting iron dysregulation. This article provides an overview of these different emerging therapies that are currently in development for β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Kevin H M Kuo
- Division of Hematology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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15
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Bou-Fakhredin R, Rivella S, Cappellini MD, Taher AT. Pathogenic Mechanisms in Thalassemia I: Ineffective Erythropoiesis and Hypercoagulability. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2023; 37:341-351. [PMID: 36907607 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Erythropoiesis is the physiological process that results in the production of red blood cells (RBCs). In conditions of pathologically altered erythropoiesis or ineffective erythropoiesis, as in the case of β-thalassemia, the reduced ability of erythrocytes to differentiate, survive and deliver oxygen stimulates a state of stress that leads to the ineffective production of RBCs. We herein describe the main features of erythropoiesis and its regulation in addition to the mechanisms behind ineffective erythropoiesis development in β-thalassemia. Finally, we review the pathophysiology of hypercoagulability and vascular disease development in β-thalassemia and the currently available prevention and treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Rivella
- Division of Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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16
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Bou-Fakhredin R, Motta I, Cappellini MD, Taher AT. Clinical Complications and Their Management. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2023; 37:365-378. [PMID: 36907609 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The diversity of disease-related complications among patients with β-thalassemia is complicated by the wide spectrum of genotypes and clinical risk factors. The authors herein present the different complications seen in patients with β-thalassemia, the pathophysiology underlying these complications and their management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Motta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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17
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Taher AT, Musallam KM, Viprakasit V, Kattamis A, Lord-Bessen J, Yucel A, Guo S, Pelligra C, Shields AL, Shetty JK, Miteva D, Bueno LM, Cappellini MD. Psychometric evaluation of the NTDT-PRO questionnaire for assessing symptoms in patients with non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066683. [PMID: 36948565 PMCID: PMC10040027 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia-patient-reported outcome (NTDT-PRO) questionnaire was developed for assessing anaemia-related tiredness/weakness (T/W) and shortness of breath (SoB) among patients with NTDT. Psychometric properties were evaluated using blinded data from the BEYOND trial (NCT03342404). DESIGN Analysis of a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING USA, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Thailand and the UK. PARTICIPANTS Adults (≥18 years) (N=145) with NTDT who had not received a red blood cell transfusion within 8 weeks prior to randomisation, with mean baseline haemoglobin level ≤100 g/L. MEASURES NTDT-PRO daily scores from baseline until week 24, and scores at select time points for the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) and Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S). RESULTS Cronbach's alpha at weeks 13-24 was 0.95 and 0.84 for the T/W and SoB domains, respectively, indicating acceptable internal consistency reliability. Among participants self-reporting no change in thalassaemia symptoms via the PGI-S between baseline and week 1, intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.94 and 0.92 for the T/W and SoB domains, respectively, indicating excellent test-retest reliability. In a known-groups validity analysis, least-squares mean T/W and SoB scores at weeks 13-24 were worse in participants with worse scores for the FACIT-F Fatigue Subscale (FS), SF-36v2 vitality or PGI-S. Indicating responsiveness, changes in T/W and SoB domain scores were moderately correlated with changes in haemoglobin levels, and strongly correlated with changes in SF-36v2 vitality, FACIT-F FS, select FACIT-F items and the PGI-S. Improvements in least-squares mean T/W and SoB scores were higher in participants with greater improvements in scores on other PROs measuring similar constructs. CONCLUSIONS The NTDT-PRO demonstrated adequate psychometric properties to assess anaemia-related symptoms in adults with NTDT and can be used to evaluate treatment efficacy in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Khaled M Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- International Network of Hematology, London, UK
| | - Vip Viprakasit
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Pediatrics & Siriraj Thalassemia Center, Siriraj Research Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Antonis Kattamis
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Aylin Yucel
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Shien Guo
- Evidera, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Jeevan K Shetty
- Celgene International Sàrl, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boudry, Switzerland
| | - Dimana Miteva
- Celgene International Sàrl, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boudry, Switzerland
| | - Luciana Moro Bueno
- Celgene International Sàrl, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boudry, Switzerland
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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18
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Vitrano A, Musallam KM, Meloni A, Karimi M, Daar S, Ricchi P, Costantini S, Vlachaki E, Di Marco V, El-Beshlawy A, Hajipour M, Ansari SH, Filosa A, Ceci A, Singer ST, Naserullah ZA, Pepe A, Cademartiri F, Pollina SA, Scondotto S, Dardanoni G, Bonifazi F, Sankaran VG, Vichinsky E, Taher AT, Maggio A. Development of a Thalassemia International Prognostic Scoring System (TIPSS). Blood Cells Mol Dis 2023; 99:102710. [PMID: 36463683 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2022.102710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A prognostic scoring system that can differentiate β-thalassemia patients based on mortality risk is lacking. We analysed data from 3145 β-thalassemia patients followed through a retrospective cohort design for the outcome of death. An a priori list of prognostic variables was collected. β Coefficients from a multivariate cox regression model were used from a development dataset (n = 2516) to construct a formula for a Thalassemia International Prognostic Scoring System (TIPSS) which was subsequently applied to a validation dataset (n = 629). The median duration of observation was 10.0 years. The TIPSS score formula was constructed as exp (1.4 × heart disease + 0.9 × liver disease + 0.9 × diabetes + 0.9 × sepsis + 0.6 × alanine aminotransferase ≥42 IU/L + 0.6 × hemoglobin ≤9 g/dL + 0.4 × serum ferritin ≥1850 ng/mL). TIPSS score thresholds of greatest differentiation were assigned as <2.0 (low-risk), 2.0 to <5.0 (intermediate-risk), and ≥5.0 (high-risk). The TIPSS score was a good predictor for the outcome of death in the validation dataset (AUC: 0.722, 95%CI: 0.641-0.804) and survival was significantly different between patients in the three risk categories (P < 0.001). Compared to low-risk patients, the hazard ratio for death was 2.778 (95%CI: 1.335-5.780) in patients with intermediate-risk and 6.431 (95%CI: 3.151-13.128) in patients with high-risk. This study provides a novel tool to support mortality risk categorization for patients with β-thalassemia that could help management and research decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Vitrano
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | - Khaled M Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Antonella Meloni
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mehran Karimi
- Haematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shahina Daar
- Department of Haematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman; Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Paolo Ricchi
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Thalassaemia Unit, Ippokratio University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vito Di Marco
- Sezione di Gastroenterologia e Epatologia, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Amal El-Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Hajipour
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Aldo Filosa
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Adriana Ceci
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Sylvia Titi Singer
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | - Alessia Pepe
- Institute of Radiology, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Cademartiri
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Fedele Bonifazi
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elliott Vichinsky
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo, Italy.
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19
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El Hasbani G, Saliba AN, Uthman I, Taher AT. Hematological manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome: Going beyond thrombosis. Blood Rev 2023; 58:101015. [PMID: 36175215 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.101015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Thrombotic complications are a hallmark of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). These vascular - arterial, venous, and/or small vessel - complications are well described and known to hematologists and healthcare providers caring for patients with this disease. In this review, we shed light on other hematological manifestations of the disease, including bleeding, thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and thrombotic microangiopathy syndromes. While these manifestations are not bona fide clinical criteria for the diagnosis of APS, they frequently interact and contribute to the complexity of clinical management of APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges El Hasbani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hartford Healthcare, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT 06606, USA
| | - Antoine N Saliba
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Imad Uthman
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon..
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20
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Hokland P, Daar S, Khair W, Sheth S, Taher AT, Torti L, Hantaweepant C, Rund D. Thalassaemia-A global view. Br J Haematol 2023; 201:199-214. [PMID: 36799486 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The thalassaemias are a group of genetic disorders of haemoglobin which are endemic in the tropics but are now found worldwide due to migration. Basic standard of care therapy includes regular transfusions to maintain a haemoglobin level of around 10 g/dL, together with iron chelation therapy to prevent iron overload. Novel therapies, bone marrow transplantation, and gene therapy are treatment options that are unavailable in many countries with stressed economies. This Wider Perspectives article presents the strategies for management of an adolescent refugee patient with beta thalassaemia, as it would be performed by expert haematologists in six countries: Italy, Lebanon, Oman, the Sudan, Thailand and the United States. The experienced clinicians in each country have adapted their practice according to the resources available, which vary greatly. Even in the current modern era, providing adequate transfusions and chelation is problematic in many countries. On the other hand, ensuring adherence to therapy, particularly during adolescence, is a similar challenge seen in all countries. The concluding section highlights the disparities in available therapies and puts the role of novel therapies into a societal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hokland
- Faculty of Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Shahina Daar
- College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Wael Khair
- Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Sujit Sheth
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Centre, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lorenza Torti
- Hemoglobinopathies Unit, Hematology Department, S. Eugenio Hospital, (ASL Roma 2), Rome, Italy
| | - Chattree Hantaweepant
- Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Deborah Rund
- Department of Haematology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Centre, Jerusalem, Israel
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21
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Musallam KM, Cappellini MD, Daar S, El-Beshlawy A, Taher AT. Magnitude of cumulative iron overload correlates with the severity of anemia in untreated non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. Ann Hematol 2023; 102:467-469. [PMID: 36376596 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-022-05046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Shahina Daar
- Department of Hematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.,Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Amal El-Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon.
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22
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Cappellini MD, Taher AT, Verma A, Shah F, Hermine O. Erythropoiesis in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia. Blood Rev 2022; 59:101039. [PMID: 36577601 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.101039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The hematologic disorders myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia are characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and anemia, often managed with regular blood transfusions. Erythropoiesis, the process by which sufficient numbers of functional erythrocytes are produced from hematopoietic stem cells, is highly regulated, and defects can negatively affect the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of erythroid precursors. Treatments that directly target the underlying mechanisms of ineffective erythropoiesis are limited, and management of anemia with regular blood transfusions imposes a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and health care systems. There is therefore a strong unmet need for treatments that can restore effective erythropoiesis. Novel therapies are beginning to address this need by targeting a variety of mechanisms underlying erythropoiesis. Herein, we provide an overview of the role of ineffective erythropoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia, discuss unmet needs in targeting ineffective erythropoiesis, and describe current management strategies and emerging treatments for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Halim and Aida Daniel Academic and Clinical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Amit Verma
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Farrukh Shah
- Department of Haematology, Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
| | - Olivier Hermine
- Department of Hematology, Hôpital Necker, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, University Paris Cité, Paris, France; INSERM U1163 and CNRS 8254, Imagine Institute, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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23
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Moukalled NM, Bou Fakhredin R, Taher AT. Pregnancy and sickle cell disease: an overview of complications and suggested perinatal care. Expert Rev Hematol 2022; 15:1055-1061. [PMID: 36413684 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2022.2151432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnancy in women with sickle cell disease (SCD) has been identified as high risk owing to increased incidence of materno-fetal complications across various studies and reports. These complications include consequences related to the underlying hemoglobinopathy; chronic anemia/associated inflammation, and pregnancy related including the risk for thromboembolism, bleeding and maternal mortality. Outcomes of neonates born to women with SCD has been suboptimal over the years with recent improvement due to strict monitoring, preventive and therapeutic measures. Much is yet to be unraveled regarding the optimal management of women with SCD during pregnancy, identifying target hemoglobin, delivery mode or timing among others. AREAS COVERED This review includes a summary of available data of the maternal and fetal outcomes; in addition to current recommendations for monitoring and management of women with SCD during pregnancy. EXPERT OPINION To have a successful pregnancy, women should be closely monitored, and interventions provided as needed to guarantee adequate management of anemia, as well as prevention, diagnosis and management of disease. They should also be educated regarding their reproductive health, emphasizing that pregnancy is possible, and achieving optimal results depends on providing adequate care in a health care facility with expertise in high-risk pregnancies and SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour M Moukalled
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rayan Bou Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Abstract
Kuo and colleagues1 evaluated the safety and efficacy of mitapivat, an oral pyruvate kinase activator, in adults with non-transfusion-dependent α-thalassemia or β-thalassemia. The high rate of hemoglobin response and good tolerability encourages further development in thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M. Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy,Corresponding author
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25
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Bou-Fakhredin R, De Franceschi L, Motta I, Cappellini MD, Taher AT. Pharmacological Induction of Fetal Hemoglobin in β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease: An Updated Perspective. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060753. [PMID: 35745672 PMCID: PMC9227505 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant amount of attention has recently been devoted to the mechanisms involved in hemoglobin (Hb) switching, as it has previously been established that the induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production in significant amounts can reduce the severity of the clinical course in diseases such as β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD). While the induction of HbF using lentiviral and genome-editing strategies has been made possible, they present limitations. Meanwhile, progress in the use of pharmacologic agents for HbF induction and the identification of novel HbF-inducing strategies has been made possible as a result of a better understanding of γ-globin regulation. In this review, we will provide an update on all current pharmacological inducer agents of HbF in β-thalassemia and SCD in addition to the ongoing research into other novel, and potentially therapeutic, HbF-inducing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (R.B.-F.); (I.M.)
| | - Lucia De Franceschi
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy;
| | - Irene Motta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (R.B.-F.); (I.M.)
- UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (R.B.-F.); (I.M.)
- UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.D.C.); (A.T.T.)
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Correspondence: (M.D.C.); (A.T.T.)
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Bou-Fakhredin R, De Franceschi L, Motta I, Eid AA, Taher AT, Cappellini MD. Redox Balance in β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease: A Love and Hate Relationship. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11050967. [PMID: 35624830 PMCID: PMC9138068 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11050967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD) are inherited hemoglobinopathies that result in both quantitative and qualitative variations in the β-globin chain. These in turn lead to instability in the generated hemoglobin (Hb) or to a globin chain imbalance that affects the oxidative environment both intracellularly and extracellularly. While oxidative stress is not among the primary etiologies of β-thalassemia and SCD, it plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Different mechanisms exist behind the development of oxidative stress; the result of which is cytotoxicity, causing the oxidation of cellular components that can eventually lead to cell death and organ damage. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of oxidative stress development in β-thalassemia and SCD and describe the current and potential antioxidant therapeutic strategies. Finally, we discuss the role of targeted therapy in achieving an optimal redox balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (R.B.-F.); (I.M.)
| | - Lucia De Franceschi
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy;
| | - Irene Motta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (R.B.-F.); (I.M.)
- UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Assaad A. Eid
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon;
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon;
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (R.B.-F.); (I.M.)
- UOC General Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Moukalled NM, Hashash JG, Taher AT. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Indication to Screen for Thrombophilia? Diseases 2022; 10:diseases10010014. [PMID: 35323181 PMCID: PMC8947449 DOI: 10.3390/diseases10010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are systemic conditions characterized by multiple intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations related to the associated chronic inflammatory state. Among their diverse extra-intestinal complications, venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains one of the most under recognized causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of hypercoagulability, in addition to the role of acquired and inherited risk factors that further increase the risk of thrombosis with its impact on patients’ outcomes. We hereby present a review of the data regarding thrombosis in the setting of IBD, elucidating the possible role for screening in this high-risk category of patients and specifically in areas where inherited thrombophilia is expected to be highly prevalent, reporting two patients with IBD, one who developed a cerebrovascular event and another one who had recurrent VTE events; nevertheless, both of them had inherited thrombophilic mutations. The identification of specific genetic abnormalities in those patients reintroduces the controversy related to the need to screen a specific category of patients with IBD for hereditary thrombophilia, especially in regions characterized by a higher prevalence of such thrombophilic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour M. Moukalled
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon;
- Correspondence:
| | - Jana G. Hashash
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA;
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon;
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Sabbagh S, Jarrah K, Bou-Fakhredin R, Saadeh D, Taher AT. Anhidrosis associated with long-term use of hydroxyurea in a patient with myeloproliferative neoplasm. Ann Hematol 2022; 101:1595-1596. [PMID: 35150295 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-022-04790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Saad Sabbagh
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Kawthar Jarrah
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon
| | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Dana Saadeh
- Department of Dermatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon.
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Musallam KM, Vitrano A, Meloni A, Pollina SA, Karimi M, El‐Beshlawy A, Hajipour M, Di Marco V, Ansari SH, Filosa A, Ricchi P, Ceci A, Daar S, Vlachaki E, Singer ST, Naserullah ZA, Pepe A, Scondotto S, Dardanoni G, Bonifazi F, Sankaran VG, Vichinsky E, Taher AT, Maggio A. Risk of mortality from anemia and iron overload in nontransfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. Am J Hematol 2022; 97:E78-E80. [PMID: 34862982 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Vitrano
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino AOOR Villa Sofia‐V, Cervello Palermo Italy
| | - Antonella Meloni
- MRI Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR‐Regione Toscana Pisa Italy
| | | | - Mehran Karimi
- Haematology Research Center Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz Iran
| | - Amal El‐Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Haematology, Faculty of Medicine Cairo University Cairo Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Hajipour
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Vito Di Marco
- Sezione di Gastroenterologia e Epatologia, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica University of Palermo Palermo Italy
| | | | - Aldo Filosa
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit "Cardarelli" Hospital Naples Italy
| | - Paolo Ricchi
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit "Cardarelli" Hospital Naples Italy
| | - Adriana Ceci
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus Valenzano (BA) Italy
| | - Shahina Daar
- Department of Haematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman; Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Thalassaemia Unit Ippokratio University Hospital Thessaloniki Greece
| | - Sylvia Titi Singer
- Division of Hematology‐Oncology, Department of Pediatrics University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Oakland California USA
| | | | - Alessia Pepe
- MRI Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR‐Regione Toscana Pisa Italy
| | | | | | - Fedele Bonifazi
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus Valenzano (BA) Italy
| | - Vijay G. Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Cambridge Massachusetts USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Elliott Vichinsky
- Division of Hematology‐Oncology, Department of Pediatrics University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Oakland California USA
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino AOOR Villa Sofia‐V, Cervello Palermo Italy
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Atoui A, Jarrah K, Al Mahmasani L, Bou-Fakhredin R, Taher AT. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Ann Hematol 2022; 101:1111-1113. [PMID: 35083524 PMCID: PMC8791702 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04743-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Atoui
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon
| | - Kawthar Jarrah
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon
| | - Layal Al Mahmasani
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon
| | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 11072020, Lebanon.
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Hodroj MH, El Hasbani G, Al-Shamsi HO, Samaha H, Musallam KM, Taher AT. Clinical burden of hemophilia in older adults: Beyond bleeding risk. Blood Rev 2021; 53:100912. [PMID: 34887154 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2021.100912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The prospect of hemophilia patients has dramatically improved in the last few decades with the introduction of various interventions that can effectively treat or prevent their bleeding risk. The life expectancy of patients can now reach that of the healthy population, but this has paved the way for several previously unrecognized morbidities to manifest in older adults with hemophilia. Such clinical complications are attributed to suboptimal management or poor access to effective therapy during childhood as well as chronicity and prolonged exposure to the underlying pathophysiology of the disease and its treatment. Complications common in the aging population are also becoming increasingly relevant in this vulnerable patient subgroup. In this review, we highlight peculiarities of such morbidities including chronic viral infections and liver disease, debilitating joint impairment and bone disease, cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, and cancers. We also reflect on topics of special interest in adulthood such as sexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Humaid O Al-Shamsi
- Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Emirates Oncology Society, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hanady Samaha
- Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Ali T Taher
- American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Musallam KM, Bou‐Fakhredin R, Cappellini MD, Taher AT. 2021 update on clinical trials in β-thalassemia. Am J Hematol 2021; 96:1518-1531. [PMID: 34347889 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The treatment landscape for patients with β-thalassemia is witnessing a swift evolution, yet several unmet needs continue to persist. Patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) primarily rely on regular transfusion and iron chelation therapy, which can be associated with considerable treatment burden and cost. Patients with non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (NTDT) are also at risk of significant morbidity due to the underlying anemia and iron overload, but treatment options in this patient subgroup are limited. In this review, we provide updates on clinical trials of novel therapies targeting the underlying pathology in β-thalassemia, including the α/non-α-globin chain imbalance, ineffective erythropoiesis, and iron dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M. Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
- International Network of Hematology London UK
| | - Rayan Bou‐Fakhredin
- Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community University of Milan, Ca’ Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital Milan Italy
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
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Saliba AN, Taher AT. The Lebanese healthcare sector: The point of exsanguination. Am J Hematol 2021; 96:E403-E404. [PMID: 34416043 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine N. Saliba
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
- Director of the Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
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Musallam KM, Vitrano A, Meloni A, Addario Pollina S, Di Marco V, Hussain Ansari S, Filosa A, Ricchi P, Ceci A, Daar S, Vlachaki E, Singer ST, Naserullah ZA, Pepe A, Scondotto S, Dardanoni G, Karimi M, El-Beshlawy A, Hajipour M, Bonifazi F, Vichinsky E, Taher AT, Sankaran VG, Maggio A. Primary HBB gene mutation severity and long-term outcomes in a global cohort of β-thalassaemia. Br J Haematol 2021; 196:414-423. [PMID: 34697800 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In β-thalassaemia, the severity of inherited β-globin gene mutations determines the severity of the clinical phenotype at presentation and subsequent transfusion requirements. However, data on associated long-term outcomes remain limited. We analysed data from 2109 β-thalassaemia patients with available genotypes in a global database. Genotype severity was grouped as β0 /β0 , β0 /β+ , β+ /β+ , β0 /β++ , β+ /β++ , and β++ /β++ . Patients were followed from birth until death or loss to follow-up. The median follow-up time was 34·1 years. Mortality and multiple morbidity outcomes were analyzed through five different stratification models of genotype severity groups. Interestingly, β0 and β+ mutations showed similar risk profiles. Upon adjustment for demographics and receipt of conventional therapy, patients with β0 /β0 , β0 /β+ , or β+ /β+ had a 2·104-increased risk of death [95% confidence interval (CI): 1·176-3·763, P = 0·011] and 2·956-increased odds of multiple morbidity (95% CI: 2·310-3·784, P < 0·001) compared to patients in lower genotype severity groups. Cumulative survival estimates by age 65 years were 36·8% for this subgroup compared with 90·2% for patients in lower genotype severity groups (P < 0·001). Our study identified mortality and morbidity risk estimates across various genotype severity groups in patients with β-thalassaemia and suggests inclusion of both β+ and β0 mutations in strata of greatest severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M Musallam
- Thalassemia Center, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Angela Vitrano
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella Meloni
- MRI Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Vito Di Marco
- Department of Promozione della Salute, Materno Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Saqib Hussain Ansari
- Department of Pediatric Haematology & Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Aldo Filosa
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Ricchi
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Adriana Ceci
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Shahina Daar
- Department of Haematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.,Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Thalassaemia Unit, Ippokratio University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sylvia T Singer
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | - Alessia Pepe
- MRI Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Mehran Karimi
- Haematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amal El-Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Hajipour
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fedele Bonifazi
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Elliott Vichinsky
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo, Italy
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Taher AT, Bou-Fakhredin R, Kattamis A, Viprakasit V, Cappellini MD. Improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia: recommendations for best clinical practice and the use of novel treatment strategies. Expert Rev Hematol 2021; 14:897-909. [PMID: 34493145 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2021.1977116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION β-thalassemia is one of the most common inherited monogenic diseases. Many patients are dependent on a lifetime of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and iron chelation therapy. Although treatments have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL), life expectancy, and long-term health outcomes have improved in recent decades through safer RBC transfusion practices and better iron chelation strategies. Advances in the understanding of the pathology of β-thalassemia have led to the development of new treatment options that have the potential to reduce the RBC transfusion burden in patients with transfusion-dependent (TD) β-thalassemia and improve QoL. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of currently available treatments for patients with TD β-thalassemia, highlighting QoL issues, and providing an update on current clinical experience plus important practical points for two new treatments available for TD β-thalassemia: betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel) gene therapy and the erythroid maturation agent luspatercept, an activin ligand trap. EXPERT OPINION Approved therapies, including curative gene therapies and supportive treatments such as luspatercept, have the potential to reduce RBC transfusion burden, and improve clinical outcomes and QoL in patients with TD β-thalassemia. Cost of treatment is, however, likely to be a significant barrier for payors and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Antonis Kattamis
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vip Viprakasit
- Siriraj Center of Excellence on Advanced Gene and Cellular Therapy (Si-COE-AGCT) & Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Musallam KM, Vitrano A, Meloni A, Pollina SA, Karimi M, El-Beshlawy A, Hajipour M, Di Marco V, Ansari SH, Filosa A, Ricchi P, Ceci A, Daar S, Vlachaki E, Singer ST, Naserullah ZA, Pepe A, Scondotto S, Dardanoni G, Bonifazi F, Sankaran VG, Vichinsky E, Taher AT, Maggio A. Survival and causes of death in 2,033 patients with non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. Haematologica 2021. [PMID: 33882642 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2021.278684.pmid:33882642;pmcid:pmc8409024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Vitrano
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo
| | | | | | - Mehran Karimi
- Haematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz
| | - Amal El-Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo
| | - Mahmoud Hajipour
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
| | - Vito Di Marco
- Department of Promozione della Salute, Materno Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Saqib Hussain Ansari
- Department of Pediatric Haematology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi
| | - Aldo Filosa
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples
| | - Paolo Ricchi
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples
| | - Adriana Ceci
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA)
| | - Shahina Daar
- Department of Haematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman; Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch
| | | | - Sylvia Titi Singer
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA
| | | | - Alessia Pepe
- MRI Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa
| | | | | | - Fedele Bonifazi
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA)
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Elliott Vichinsky
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo
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Abstract
Whether affecting children or adults, SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) can have multi-organ involvement mediated by an inflammatory cascade. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is one of the key components of the inflammatory cascade that can lead to endothelial injury and inflammation. IgA vasculitis or Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) has been rarely reported in the context of COVID-19. In this report, we highlight a case of HSP occurring 2 days after diagnosis of COVID-19 in a 16-year-old boy, who presented with palpable purpura of the lower extremities and buttocks, diffuse abdominal pain, hemoptysis, and hematochezia. He was treated with oral prednisolone with rapid clinical improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges El Hasbani
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali S M Jawad
- Department of Rheumatology, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Imad Uthman
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Musallam KM, Vitrano A, Meloni A, Pollina WA, Karimi M, El-Beshlawy A, Hajipour M, Di Marco V, Ansari SH, Filosa A, Ricchi P, Ceci A, Daar S, Vlachaki E, Singer ST, Naserullah ZA, Pepe A, Scondotto S, Dardanoni G, Bonifazi F, Sankaran VG, Vichinsky E, Taher AT, Maggio A. Survival and causes of death in 2,033 patients with non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. Haematologica 2021; 106:2489-2492. [PMID: 33882642 PMCID: PMC8409024 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2021.278684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Vitrano
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo
| | | | | | - Mehran Karimi
- Haematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz
| | - Amal El-Beshlawy
- Department of Pediatric Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo
| | - Mahmoud Hajipour
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
| | - Vito Di Marco
- Sezione di Gastroenterologia e Epatologia, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Palermo
| | - Saqib Hussain Ansari
- Department of Pediatric Haematology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi
| | - Aldo Filosa
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples
| | - Paolo Ricchi
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples
| | - Adriana Ceci
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA)
| | - Shahina Daar
- Department of Haematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman; Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch
| | | | - Sylvia Titi Singer
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA
| | | | - Alessia Pepe
- MRI Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa
| | | | | | - Fedele Bonifazi
- Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Valenzano (BA)
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Elliott Vichinsky
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino, AOOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo.
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39
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Red blood cell transfusions and iron chelation therapy are the cornerstone of treatment for β-thalassemia, with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy offering further disease-management options for eligible patients. With up to 90% of severe cases of β-thalassemia occurring in resource-constrained countries, and estimates indicating that 22,500 deaths occur annually as a direct consequence of undertransfusion, provision of adequate treatment remains a major issue. AREAS COVERED In this review, we provide an overview of luspatercept, a first-in-class erythroid maturation agent, and present the available clinical data related to the treatment of β-thalassemia. EXPERT OPINION The recent approval of luspatercept offers a new, long-term therapeutic option for adult patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia to reduce red blood cell transfusion burden, anemia, and iron overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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40
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Bou‐Fakhredin R, Daadaa H, Koussa S, Abou Nasr T, Noun P, Taher AT. SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with β-thalassemia: Experience from Lebanon. Am J Hematol 2021; 96:E285-E288. [PMID: 33914955 PMCID: PMC8212121 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Bou‐Fakhredin
- Division of Hematology‐Oncology, Department of Internal MedicineAmerican University of Beirut Medical CenterBeirutLebanon
| | - Hisham Daadaa
- Division of Hematology‐Oncology, Department of Internal MedicineAmerican University of Beirut Medical CenterBeirutLebanon
| | | | | | - Peter Noun
- Division of Pediatric Hematology‐OncologySaint George Hospital University Medical CenterBeirutLebanon
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Division of Hematology‐Oncology, Department of Internal MedicineAmerican University of Beirut Medical CenterBeirutLebanon
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41
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El Hasbani G, Taher AT. Should we screen Eastern Mediterranean COVID-19 patients for inherited thrombophilia? Med Hypotheses 2021; 152:110621. [PMID: 34116360 PMCID: PMC8176888 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2021.110621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The inflammatory component of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) creates a pro-thrombotic state that necessitates a thrombophylactic strategy for hospitalized patients. Such strategies are difficult to be standardized because certain individuals can have pro-thrombotic conditions, such as inherited thrombophilia, which pre-dispose them to an additional coagulative risk. Whether outside the hospital or when admitted, patients with inherited thrombophilia need special anticoagulant and antiplatelet attention. Identifying such patients, especially in susceptible populations like the eastern Mediterranean (EM) region, will aid primary providers in risk stratification for choosing the optimal anticoagulation or antiplatelet plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges El Hasbani
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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42
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Hasbani GE, Taher AT, Sunji N, Sciascia S, Uthman I. Antiphospholipid antibodies and cerebrovascular thrombosis in the pediatric population: Few answers to many questions. Lupus 2021; 30:1365-1377. [PMID: 34082580 DOI: 10.1177/09612033211021488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Most of the knowledge in pediatric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is derived from studies performed on the adult population. As in adults, antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) can contribute to thrombosis, especially cerebrovascular thrombosis, in neonates and children. Since aPL have the potential to cross the placental barrier, and since the pediatric population is prone to infections, re-testing for their positivity is essential to specify their role in cerebrovascular thrombosis.In this review, we aimed at assessing the prevalence of aPL, criteria or non-criteria, in neonatal and childhood ischemic stroke and sinovenous thrombosis trying to find an association between aPL and cerebrovascular thrombosis in the neonatal and pediatric population. Also, we looked into the effect of aPL and anticoagulants/antiplatelets on the long term neurological outcomes of affected neonates or children. The questions regarding the prevalence of aPL among pediatric patients with cerebrovascular thrombosis, the relationship between the titers of aPL and incidence and recurrence of cerebrovascular events, the predictability of the long term neurological outcomes, and the most optimal anticoagulation plan are still to be answered. However, it is crucial for clinicians to screen neonates and children with cerebrovascular thrombosis for aPL and confirm their presence if positive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges El Hasbani
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nadine Sunji
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Savino Sciascia
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of Piemonte and Aosta Valley Network for Rare Diseases, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, School of Specialization of Clinical Pathology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital and University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Imad Uthman
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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43
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El Hasbani G, Taher AT, Abi-Ghanem AS, Nassif S, Bizri AR, Uthman I. Polymyalgia rheumatica-like presentation in a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a diagnostic pitfall. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:3000605211018595. [PMID: 34044637 PMCID: PMC8168051 DOI: 10.1177/03000605211018595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) commonly presents with systemic manifestations including fever, weight loss, and night sweats. Uncommonly, patients with DLBCL can present with musculoskeletal manifestations mimicking polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Herein, the case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with pain in the bilateral shoulders, arms, hands, knees, pelvic girdle, and neck with bouts of fever, is presented. Laboratory workup for infectious and connective tissue diseases was non-revealing, except for elevated inflammatory markers. A positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan was suggestive of PMR, but also revealed enlarged lymph nodes initially thought to be reactive in nature. However, a lymph node biopsy showed findings consistent with DLBCL. This case highlights the importance of a thorough investigational workup when cases with features of PMR do not meet the proper criteria for this diagnosis to be made, in order not to miss a hematopoietic neoplasm with a PMR-like presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges El Hasbani
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Alain S Abi-Ghanem
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Samer Nassif
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Abdul Rahman Bizri
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Imad Uthman
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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44
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Abstract
Hemoglobinopathies are among the most common monogenic diseases worldwide. Approximately 1–5% of the global population are carriers for a genetic thalassemia mutation. The thalassemias are characterized by autosomal recessive inherited defects in the production of hemoglobin. They are highly prevalent in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and East and Southeast Asia. Due to recent migrations, however, the thalassemias are now becoming more common in Europe and North America, making this disease a global health concern. Currently available conventional therapies in thalassemia have many challenges and limitations. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of β-thalassemia in addition to key developments in optimizing transfusion programs and iron-chelation therapy has led to an increase in the life span of thalassemia patients and paved the way for new therapeutic strategies. These can be classified into three categories based on their efforts to address different features of the underlying pathophysiology of β-thalassemia: correction of the globin chain imbalance, addressing ineffective erythropoiesis, and improving iron overload. In this review, we provide an overview of the novel therapeutic approaches that are currently in development for β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Motta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. .,Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
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45
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Taher AT, Viprakasit V, Cappellini MD, Kraus D, Cech P, Volz D, Winter E, Nave S, Dukart J, Khwaja O, Koerner A, Hermosilla R, Brugnara C. Haematological effects of oral administration of bitopertin, a glycine transport inhibitor, in patients with non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia. Br J Haematol 2021; 194:474-477. [PMID: 33931857 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Vip Viprakasit
- Department of Pediatrics and Siriraj Thalassemia Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Dominik Kraus
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Cech
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dietmar Volz
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Erica Winter
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephane Nave
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juergen Dukart
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Omar Khwaja
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Annette Koerner
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ricardo Hermosilla
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carlo Brugnara
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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46
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Abstract
Introduction: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare congenital disease that belongs to the family of congenital trilinear bone marrow failure. Most FA patients will suffer bone marrow failure and the main treatment relies on supportive measures or more recently on the use of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The improvements seen in the management of FA has led women to reach childbearing age and have successful pregnancies. However, these pregnancies are associated with increased complications such as preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, eclampsia and others.Areas covered: This review highlights on the outcome of pregnancies in FA patients reported in the literature along with practical recommendations.Expert opinion: Multidisciplinary efforts are required to optimize the management of pregnancy in FA patients. Moreover, the development of a set of recommendations to optimize the treatment is highly necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charbel F Matar
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rayan Bou-Fakhredin
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Roberta Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Immacolata Andolfo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Achille Iolascon
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Ali T Taher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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47
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Abstract
Introduction: As soon as the association of lupus anticoagulant (LAC) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) with thrombosis and miscarriages was described in the 1980s, the definition of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) became a need. Early descriptions of the disease by members of the Graham Hughes team included broad categories and unexplained laboratory inclusions. Over time, new clinical and experimental data refined the criteria, especially the obstetric manifestations, as well as the laboratory criteria.Areas covered: The authors performed a review of the literature using the PubMed database, and the following keywords were used: 'antiphospholipid antibody', 'antiphospholipid syndrome', and 'criteria of antiphospholipid'. The history of antiphospholipid criteria, clinical and experimental advancements, and other expert opinions were included in this paper.Expert opinion: It has been 14 years since an international congress on antiphospholipid antibodies has generated new classification based on the recent extensive research performed in the field. Currently, there is a need to update the international APS classification taking into consideration the inclusion of new clinical criteria such as aPL-related nephropathy as well as new standardized antibody specificities (e.g., anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies) with the adoption of a standardized scoring system that can stratify APS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges El Hasbani
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Savino Sciascia
- Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases and SCDU Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Imad Uthman
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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48
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Musallam KM, Rivella S, Taher AT. Management of non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (NTDT): The next 5 years. Am J Hematol 2021; 96:E57-E59. [PMID: 33219704 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefano Rivella
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology; Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics; Abramson Research Center at The Childrenʼs Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP); Cell and Molecular Biology Affinity Group (CAMB), Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Ali T. Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
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49
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali T Taher
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon (A.T.T.); the International Network of Hematology, London (K.M.M.); and the Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan (M.D.C.)
| | - Khaled M Musallam
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon (A.T.T.); the International Network of Hematology, London (K.M.M.); and the Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan (M.D.C.)
| | - M Domenica Cappellini
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon (A.T.T.); the International Network of Hematology, London (K.M.M.); and the Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan (M.D.C.)
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50
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Musallam KM, Cappellini MD, Taher AT. Variations in hemoglobin level and morbidity burden in non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. Ann Hematol 2021; 100:1903-1905. [PMID: 33575946 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04456-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ali T Taher
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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