Long-term safety and efficacy of ravulizumab in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: 2-year results from two pivotal phase 3 studies.

OBJECTIVES: The complement component 5 (C5) inhibitor ravulizumab demonstrated non-inferiority to eculizumab following 26 weeks of treatment in complement inhibitor-naïve and complement inhibitor-experienced patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH; studies 301 and 302, respectively). This study aims to describe the results of both studies from 27 weeks to 2 years. METHODS: Patients (N = 441) continued to receive ravulizumab throughout the extension period. Efficacy endpoints included lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) normalization, transfusion avoidance and fatigue score (FACIT-F). Safety analyses were also performed. RESULTS: From 27 weeks to 2 years, improvements in LDH levels were maintained in both study populations. Transfusion avoidance was maintained in 81.9% (study 301) and 85.6% (study 302) of patients, and FACIT-F scores remained stable. Ravulizumab was well tolerated, and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) were similar between patients of both studies. Incidence of serious AEs deemed related to ravulizumab treatment was low (<3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports, to date, the longest period of follow-up in over 400 patients with PNH treated with ravulizumab (662 patient-years). Long-term, ravulizumab demonstrated durable efficacy and was well tolerated, highlighting the importance of C5 inhibitors as the mainstay of PNH treatment.

One-year outcomes from a phase 3 randomized trial of ravulizumab in adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria who received prior eculizumab.

Ravulizumab every 8 weeks showed non-inferiority to eculizumab every 2 weeks in a 26-week, phase 3, randomized controlled trial in adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) who were clinically stable on eculizumab (NCT03056040). We report results from the first 26 weeks of the extension period in which patients continued ravulizumab (n = 96) or switched from eculizumab to ravulizumab (n = 95). At week 52, mean (SD) lactate dehydrogenase levels increased 8.8% (29%) with ravulizumab-ravulizumab and 5.8% (27%) with eculizumab-ravulizumab from primary evaluation period baseline. During the extension period, four patients (ravulizumab-ravulizumab, n = 3; eculizumab-ravulizumab, n = 1) experienced breakthrough hemolysis, but none associated with serum free C5 ≥ 0.5 µg/mL. Mean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scores remained stable through week 52. During the extension period, proportions of patients avoiding transfusion remained stable (ravulizumab-ravulizumab, 86.5%; eculizumab-ravulizumab, 83.2%); 81.2% and 81.1%, respectively, had stabilized hemoglobin. All patients maintained serum free C5 levels < 0.5 µg/mL. Adverse events were generally similar between groups, and rates were lower in the extension period. Adults with PNH on stable eculizumab therapy who received ravulizumab over 52 weeks experienced durable efficacy, with consistent efficacy in patients who received eculizumab during the primary evaluation period and then switched to ravulizumab. Ravulizumab was well tolerated.

The long-acting C5 inhibitor, ravulizumab, is efficacious and safe in pediatric patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome previously treated with eculizumab.

BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, complement-mediated disease associated with poor outcomes if untreated. Ravulizumab, a long-acting C5 inhibitor developed through minimal, targeted modifications to eculizumab was recently approved for the treatment of aHUS. Here, we report outcomes from a pediatric patient cohort from the ravulizumab clinical trial (NCT03131219) who were switched from chronic eculizumab to ravulizumab treatment. METHODS: Ten patients received a loading dose of ravulizumab on Day 1, followed by maintenance doses administered initially on Day 15, and then, every 4-8 weeks thereafter, depending on body weight. All patients completed the initial evaluation period of 26 weeks and entered the extension period. RESULTS: No patients required dialysis at any point throughout the study. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate values remained stable during the trial: 99.8 mL/min/1.73m2 at baseline, 93.5 mL/min/1.73m2 at 26 weeks, and 104 mL/min/1.73m2 at 52 weeks. At last available follow-up, all patients were in the same chronic kidney disease stage as recorded at baseline. Hematologic variables (platelets, lactate dehydrogenase, and hemoglobin) also remained stable throughout the initial evaluation period and up to the last available follow-up. All patients experienced adverse events; the most common were upper respiratory tract infection (40%) and oropharyngeal pain (30%). There were no meningococcal infections reported, no deaths occurred, and no patients discontinued during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, treatment with ravulizumab in pediatric patients with aHUS who were previously treated with eculizumab resulted in stable kidney and hematologic parameters, with no unexpected safety concerns when administered every 4-8 weeks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial identifiers: Trial ID: ALXN1210-aHUS-312 Clinical trials.gov : NCT03131219 EudraCT number: 2016-002499-29 Graphical abstract.

Safety and efficacy of eculizumab for the prevention of antibody-mediated rejection after deceased-donor kidney transplantation in patients with preformed donor-specific antibodies.

The presence of preformed donor-specific antibodies in transplant recipients increases the risk of acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Results of an open-label single-arm trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eculizumab in preventing acute AMR in recipients of deceased-donor kidney transplants with preformed donor-specific antibodies are reported. Participants received eculizumab as follows: 1200 mg immediately before reperfusion; 900 mg on posttransplant days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28; and 1200 mg at weeks 5, 7, and 9. All patients received thymoglobulin induction therapy and standard maintenance immunosuppression including steroids. The primary end point was treatment failure rate, a composite of biopsy-proved grade II/III AMR (Banff 2007 criteria), graft loss, death, or loss to follow-up, within 9 weeks posttransplant. Eighty patients received transplants (48 women); the median age was 52 years (range 24-70 years). Observed treatment failure rate (8.8%) was significantly lower than expected for standard care (40%; P < .001). By 9 weeks, 3 of 80 patients had experienced AMR, and 4 of 80 had experienced graft loss. At 36 months, graft and patient survival rates were 83.4% and 91.5%, respectively. Eculizumab was well tolerated and no new safety concerns were identified. Eculizumab has the potential to provide prophylaxis against injury caused by acute AMR in such patients (EudraCT 2010-019631-35).

Automated Volumetry of Medial Temporal Lobe Subregions in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease.

PURPOSE: Hippocampal subfield volumetry should be more useful than whole hippocampal (WH) volumetry for diagnosing Alzheimer disease (AD). This study sought to confirm this. METHODS: We investigated cognitively normal (CN) participants and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD using high-resolution T2-weighted and 3-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Using medial temporal subregion volumetry, we investigated discriminative power for MCI and AD versus CN. PATIENTS: We recruited 30 CN participants, 30 amnestic MCI patients, and 49 AD patients between April 2015 and October 2016. RESULTS: For AD, discriminative power of the combined volumes of the subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and cornu ammonis 1 was highest [area under the curve (AUC)=0.915; 85.7% sensitivity, 86.7% specificity, 86.1% accuracy], and was significantly higher than that of the WH volume (AUC=0.887; 90.0% sensitivity, 75.5% specificity, 84.5% accuracy) (P=0.019). For MCI, discriminative power of the subiculum volume was highest (AUC=0.747; 80.0% sensitivity, 73.3% specificity, 76.7% accuracy), but was only slightly higher than that of the WH volume (AUC=0.730; 56.7% sensitivity, 90.0% specificity, 73.3% accuracy). CONCLUSIONS: Using the combined volumes of the subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and cornu ammonis 1 may enable greater diagnostic accuracy compared with the WH volume or any single subfield in AD patients.

Clinical and genetic predictors of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome phenotype and outcome.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, genetic, life-threatening disease. The Global aHUS Registry collects real-world data on the natural history of the disease. Here we characterize end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-free survival, the rate of thrombotic microangiopathy, organ involvement and the genetic background of 851 patients in the registry, prior to eculizumab treatment. A sex-specific difference was apparent according to age at initial disease onset as the ratio of males to females was 1.3:1 for childhood presentation and 1:2 for adult presentation. Complement Factor I and Membrane Cofactor Protein mutations were more common in patients with initial presentation as adults and children, respectively. Initial presentation in childhood significantly predicted ESRD risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.55 [95% confidence interval 0.41-0.73], whereas sex, race, family history of aHUS, and time from initial presentation to diagnosis, did not. Patients with a Complement Factor H mutation had reduced ESRD-free survival, whereas Membrane Cofactor Protein mutation was associated with longer ESRD-free survival. Additionally extrarenal organ manifestations occur in 19%-38% of patients within six months of initial disease presentation (dependent on organ). Thus, our real-world results provide novel insights regarding phenotypic variables and genotypes on the clinical manifestation and progression of aHUS.

Japanese multicenter database of healthy controls for [123I]FP-CIT SPECT.

PURPOSE: The aim of this multicenter trial was to generate a [123I]FP-CIT SPECT database of healthy controls from the common SPECT systems available in Japan. METHODS: This study included 510 sets of SPECT data from 256 healthy controls (116 men and 140 women; age range, 30-83 years) acquired from eight different centers. Images were reconstructed without attenuation or scatter correction (NOACNOSC), with only attenuation correction using the Chang method (ChangACNOSC) or X-ray CT (CTACNOSC), and with both scatter and attenuation correction using the Chang method (ChangACSC) or X-ray CT (CTACSC). These SPECT images were analyzed using the Southampton method. The outcome measure was the specific binding ratio (SBR) in the striatum. These striatal SBRs were calibrated from prior experiments using a striatal phantom. RESULTS: The original SBRs gradually decreased in the order of ChangACSC, CTACSC, ChangACNOSC, CTACNOSC, and NOACNOSC. The SBRs for NOACNOSC were 46% lower than those for ChangACSC. In contrast, the calibrated SBRs were almost equal under no scatter correction (NOSC) conditions. A significant effect of age was found, with an SBR decline rate of 6.3% per decade. In the 30-39 age group, SBRs were 12.2% higher in women than in men, but this increase declined with age and was absent in the 70-79 age group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a large-scale quantitative database of [123I]FP-CIT SPECT scans from different scanners in healthy controls across a wide age range and with balanced sex representation. The phantom calibration effectively harmonizes SPECT data from different SPECT systems under NOSC conditions. The data collected in this study may serve as a reference database.

Eculizumab reduces complement activation, inflammation, endothelial damage, thrombosis, and renal injury markers in aHUS.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a genetic, life-threatening disease characterized by uncontrolled complement activation, systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and vital organ damage. We evaluated the effect of terminal complement blockade with the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab on biomarkers of cellular processes involved in TMA in patients with aHUS longitudinally, during up to 1 year of treatment, compared with in healthy volunteers. Biomarker levels were elevated at baseline in most patients, regardless of mutational status, plasma exchange/infusion use, platelet count, or lactate dehydrogenase or haptoglobin levels. Eculizumab reduced terminal complement activation (C5a and sC5b-9) and renal injury markers (clusterin, cystatin-C, ß2-microglobulin, and liver fatty acid binding protein-1) to healthy volunteer levels and reduced inflammation (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1), coagulation (prothrombin fragment F1+2 and d-dimer), and endothelial damage (thrombomodulin) markers to near-normal levels. Alternative pathway activation (Ba) and endothelial activation markers (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) decreased but remained elevated, reflecting ongoing complement activation in aHUS despite complete terminal complement blockade. These results highlight links between terminal complement activation and inflammation, endothelial damage, thrombosis, and renal injury and underscore ongoing risk for systemic TMA and progression to organ damage. Further research regarding underlying complement dysregulation is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01194973.

Eculizumab is a safe and effective treatment in pediatric patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is caused by alternative complement pathway dysregulation, leading to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and severe end-organ damage. Based on 2 prospective studies in mostly adults and retrospective data in children, eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, is approved for aHUS treatment. Here we prospectively evaluated efficacy and safety of weight-based dosing of eculizumab in eligible pediatric patients with aHUS in an open-label phase II study. The primary end point was complete TMA response by 26 weeks. Twenty-two patients (aged 5 months-17 years) were treated; 16 were newly diagnosed, 12 had no prior plasma exchange/infusion during current TMA symptomatology, 11 received baseline dialysis and 2 had prior renal transplants. By week 26, 14 achieved a complete TMA response, 18 achieved hematologic normalization, and 16 had 25% or better improvement in serum creatinine. Plasma exchange/infusion was discontinued in all, and 9 of the 11 patients who required dialysis at baseline discontinued, whereas none initiated new dialysis. Eculizumab was well tolerated; no deaths or meningococcal infections occurred. Bone marrow failure, wrist fracture, and acute respiratory failure were reported as unrelated severe adverse events. Thus, our findings establish the efficacy and safety of eculizumab for pediatric patients with aHUS and are consistent with proposed immediate eculizumab initiation following diagnosis in children.

Terminal Complement Inhibitor Eculizumab in Adult Patients With Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Single-Arm, Open-Label Trial.

BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare genetic life-threatening disease of chronic uncontrolled complement activation leading to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and severe end-organ damage. Eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor approved for aHUS treatment, was reported to improve hematologic and renal parameters in 2 prior prospective phase 2 studies. This is the largest prospective study of eculizumab in aHUS to date, conducted in an adult population. STUDY DESIGN: Open-label single-arm phase 2 trial. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years or older with aHUS (platelet count <150 × 10(3)/µL, hemoglobin ≤ lower limit of normal, lactate dehydrogenase ≥1.5 × upper limit of normal [ULN], and serum creatinine ≥ ULN) were included in this multicenter multinational study. INTERVENTION: Intravenous eculizumab (900mg/wk for 4 weeks, 1,200mg at week 5 and then every 2 weeks) for 26 weeks. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: Primary end point was complete TMA response within 26 weeks, defined as hematologic normalization (platelet count ≥150 × 10(3)/µL, LDH ≤ ULN), and preservation of kidney function (<25% serum creatinine increase from baseline), confirmed by 2 or more consecutive measurements obtained 4 or more weeks apart. RESULTS: 41 patients were treated; 38 (93%) completed 26 weeks of treatment. 30 (73%) were included during their first TMA manifestation. 30 (73%) had complete TMA response. Platelet counts and estimated glomerular filtration rates increased from baseline (P<0.001). All 35 patients on baseline plasma exchange/plasma infusion discontinued by week 26. Of 24 patients requiring baseline dialysis, 5 recovered kidney function before eculizumab initiation and 15 of the remaining 19 (79%) discontinued dialysis during eculizumab treatment. No patients lost existing transplants. Quality-of-life measures were significantly improved. Two patients developed meningococcal infections; both recovered, and 1 remained on eculizumab treatment. LIMITATIONS: Single-arm open-label design. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the benefits of eculizumab in adult patients with aHUS: improvement in hematologic, renal, and quality-of-life parameters; dialysis discontinuation; and transplant protection.

The global aHUS registry: methodology and initial patient characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, genetically-mediated systemic disease most often caused by chronic, uncontrolled complement activation that leads to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and renal and other end-organ damage. METHODS: The global aHUS Registry, initiated in April 2012, is an observational, noninterventional, multicenter registry designed to collect demographic characteristics, medical and disease history, treatment effectiveness and safety outcomes data for aHUS patients. The global aHUS Registry will operate for a minimum of 5 years of follow-up. Enrollment is open to all patients with a clinical diagnosis of aHUS, with no requirement for identified complement gene mutations, polymorphisms or autoantibodies or particular type of therapy/management. RESULTS: As of September 30, 2014, 516 patients from 16 countries were enrolled. At enrollment, 315 (61.0 %) were adults (≥18 years) and 201 (39.0 %) were <18 years of age. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age at diagnosis was 22.7 (20.5) years. Nineteen percent of patients had a family history of aHUS, 60.3 % had received plasma exchange/plasma infusion, 59.5 % had a history of dialysis, and 19.6 % had received ≥1 kidney transplant. Overall, 305 patients (59.1 %) have received eculizumab. CONCLUSIONS: As enrollment and follow-up proceed, the global aHUS Registry is expected to yield valuable baseline, natural history, medical outcomes, treatment effectiveness and safety data from a diverse population of patients with aHUS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: US National Institutes of Health www.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01522183 . Registered January 18, 2012.

Efficacy and safety of eculizumab in children and adolescents with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is rare in children, but represents a similarly serious and chronic condition as in adults. Children with PNH frequently experience complications of chronic hemolysis, recurrent thrombosis, marrow failure, serious infections, abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, and decreased quality of life with reduced survival. The terminal complement inhibitor eculizumab is proven to be effective and safe in adults and approved by the FDA for treatment of PNH. PROCEDURE: This 12-week, open-label, multi-center phase I/II study evaluated pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety in seven children with PNH 11-17 years of age. Eculizumab was intravenously administered at 600 mg weekly for 4 weeks, 900 mg in week 5, and 900 mg every 2 weeks thereafter (http://clinicaltrials.gov NCT00867932). RESULTS: Eculizumab therapy resulted in complete and sustained inhibition of hemolysis in all participants with a reduction of lactate dehydrogenase to normal levels. All hematological parameters stabilized. No definitive, study drug-related adverse events were observed. Only one severe SAE of hospitalization due to aplastic anemia occurred, which was not study drug-related. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab appears to be a safe and effective therapy for children with PNH.

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety of ravulizumab in pediatric paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

ABSTRACT: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare hematologic disease of uncontrolled terminal complement activation leading to intravascular hemolysis, thrombotic events and increased morbidity and mortality. This phase 3, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study evaluated ravulizumab treatment in eculizumab-naive or -experienced pediatric patients (aged <18 years) with PNH over a 26-week primary evaluation period (PEP) and 4-year extension period (EP). Patients included in the study received weight-based intravenous ravulizumab dosing. Primary end points were pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters to confirm complement component 5 (C5) inhibition by ravulizumab; secondary end points assessed the efficacy (including percentage change in lactate dehydrogenase levels over time) and safety of ravulizumab. Thirteen patients, 5 (38.5%) eculizumab-naive and 8 (61.5%) eculizumab-experienced, were enrolled. Ravulizumab Ctrough levels were above the pharmacokinetic threshold of 175 µg/mL in the PEP and EP except in 1 patient. At the end of the study, pre- and post-infusion mean ± standard deviation serum ravulizumab concentrations were 610.50 ± 201.53 µg/mL and 518.29 ± 109.67 µg/mL for eculizumab-naive and eculizumab-experienced patients, respectively. After the first ravulizumab infusion, serum-free C5 concentrations were <0.5 µg/mL in both cohorts until the end of the study (0.061 ± 0.021 µg/mL and 0.061 ± 0.018 µg/mL for eculizumab-naive and eculizumab-experienced patients, respectively). Compared with baseline, ravulizumab improved and maintained efficacy outcomes in both groups. Ravulizumab had an acceptable safety profile with no new safety signals identified, and provided immediate, complete, and sustained terminal complement inhibition, translating to clinical benefit for pediatric patients with PNH. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT03406507.

Phase 3 Study of Subcutaneous Versus Intravenous Ravulizumab in Eculizumab-Experienced Adult Patients with PNH: Primary Analysis and 1-Year Follow-Up.

INTRODUCTION: This study compared the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the ravulizumab on-body delivery system for subcutaneous (SUBQ) administration with intravenous (IV) ravulizumab in eculizumab-experienced patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). METHODS: Patients with PNH received SUBQ ravulizumab (n = 90) or IV ravulizumab (n = 46) during the 10-week randomized treatment period; all patients then received SUBQ ravulizumab during an extension period (< 172 weeks; data cutoff 1 year). Primary endpoint was day 71 serum ravulizumab trough concentration (Ctrough). Secondary endpoints were ravulizumab Ctrough and free C5 over time. Efficacy endpoints included change in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), breakthrough hemolysis (BTH), transfusion avoidance, stabilized hemoglobin, and Treatment Administration Satisfaction Questionnaire (TASQ) score. Safety, including adverse events (AEs) and adverse device effects (ADEs), was assessed until data cutoff. RESULTS: SUBQ ravulizumab demonstrated PK non-inferiority with IV ravulizumab (day 71 SUBQ/IV geometric least-squares means ratio 1.257 [90% confidence interval 1.160-1.361; p < 0.0001]). Through 1 year of SUBQ administration, ravulizumab Ctrough values were > 175 µg/mL (PK threshold) and free C5 < 0.5 µg/mL (PD threshold). Efficacy endpoints remained stable: mean (standard deviation, SD) LDH percentage change was 0.9% (20.5%); BTH events, 5/128 patients (3.9%); 83.6% achieved transfusion avoidance; 79.7% achieved stabilized hemoglobin. Total TASQ score showed improved satisfaction with SUBQ ravulizumab compared with IV eculizumab (mean [SD] change at SUBQ day 351, - 69.3 [80.1]). The most common AEs during SUBQ treatment (excluding ADEs) were headache (14.1%), COVID-19 (14.1%), and pyrexia (10.9%); the most common ADE unrelated to a device product issue was injection site reaction (4.7%). Although many patients had ≥ 1 device issue-related ADE, full SUBQ dose administration was achieved in 99.9% of attempts. CONCLUSIONS: SUBQ ravulizumab provides an additional treatment choice for patients with PNH. Patients may switch to SUBQ ravulizumab from IV eculizumab or ravulizumab without loss of efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03748823.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare blood disorder characterized by the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) within blood vessels. In addition to hemolysis, patients with PNH are susceptible to life-threatening blood clots (thromboses). Eculizumab and ravulizumab are types of treatments for PNH, called C5 inhibitors. In the blood, these treatments bind to C5 protein and prevent the destruction of red blood cells, reducing the symptoms and complications of PNH. Both treatments are approved for use via intravenous (through the vein) administration. Ravulizumab is also approved in the USA for use via subcutaneous (under the skin) administration. This study compared subcutaneous ravulizumab with intravenous ravulizumab in patients with PNH who had previously been treated with eculizumab. During the initial treatment period of 71 days, 90 patients received subcutaneous ravulizumab and 46 received intravenous ravulizumab. Following this period, all patients received subcutaneous ravulizumab. At day 71, the amount of ravulizumab in the blood of patients taking subcutaneous ravulizumab was no less than in patients taking intravenous ravulizumab and was maintained over 1 year of treatment. Efficacy measures (how well it works) remained stable in patients taking subcutaneous ravulizumab for 1 year and side effects were comparable with those of intravenous ravulizumab. Patients reported more satisfaction with subcutaneous ravulizumab than intravenous eculizumab, as assessed by the Treatment Administration Satisfaction Questionnaire. This study showed that patients with PNH can switch from intravenous eculizumab or ravulizumab to subcutaneous ravulizumab without loss of efficacy. Subcutaneous ravulizumab provides an additional treatment choice for patients with PNH.

Family support in assertive community treatment: an analysis of client outcomes.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an outreach-based case management model that assists people with severe mental illness through an intensive and integrated approach. In this program, a multidisciplinary team provides medical and psychosocial services. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the following two ACT intervention strategies: "replacement" (supporting the clients) versus "backup" (supporting family members who provide care to clients). Admission days, psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, self-efficacy, and service satisfaction ware evaluated as outcome variables. To identify effective methods of supporting family members, clients living with family were divided into two groups based on the amount and types of services received-the backup group and the replacement group. ANCOVA was used to compare the outcomes between the two groups. The replacement group displayed significantly better psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, self-efficacy, and service satisfaction scores. No differences in admission days or quality of life were found. Clients provided more support directly to clients themselves than to family members was found to have better client outcomes in improving psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and self-efficacy, resulting in higher levels of service satisfaction. This indicates that society should reduce the responsibility of the family and share responsibility for the care of people with mental illness to effectively improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses.

Free water derived by multi-shell diffusion MRI reflects tau/neuroinflammatory pathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Free-water (FW) imaging, a new analysis method for diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can indicate neuroinflammation and degeneration. We evaluated FW in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using tau/inflammatory and amyloid positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: Seventy-one participants underwent multi-shell diffusion MRI, 18F-THK5351 PET, 11C-Pittsburgh compound B PET, and neuropsychological assessments. They were categorized into two groups: healthy controls (HCs) (n = 40) and AD-spectrum group (AD-S) (n = 31) using the Centiloid scale with amyloid PET and cognitive function. We analyzed group comparisons in FW and PET, correlations between FW and PET, and correlation analysis with neuropsychological scores. Results: In AD-S group, there was a significant positive correlation between FW and 18F-THK5351 in the temporal lobes. In addition, there were negative correlations between FW and cognitive function in the temporal lobe and cingulate gyrus, and negative correlations between 18F-THK5351 and cognitive function in the same regions. Discussion: FW imaging could be a biomarker for tau in AD alongside clinical correlations.

Voxel-based analysis of age and gender effects on striatal [123I] FP-CIT binding in healthy Japanese adults.

OBJECTIVE: Although previous studies have investigated age and gender effects on striatal subregional dopamine transporter (DaT) binding, these studies were mostly based on a conventional regions of interest-based analysis. Here, we investigated age and gender effects on striatal DaT binding at the voxel level, using a multicenter database of [(123)I] N-omega-fluoropropyl-2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-{4-iodophenyl}nortropane ([(123)I] FP-CIT)-single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans in 256 healthy Japanese adults. METHODS: We used the Southampton method to calculate the specific binding ratios (SBRs) of each subject's striatum and then converted the [123I] FP-CIT SPECT images to quantitative SBRs images. To investigate the effects of age and gender effects on striatal DaT binding, we performed a voxel-based analysis using statistical parametric mapping. Gender differences were also compared between young to middle-aged subjects and elderly subjects (age threshold: 60 years). RESULTS: When all subjects were explored as a group, DaT binding throughout the striatum decreased with advancing age. Among all subjects, the females showed higher DaT binding in the bilateral caudate compared to the males. In the young to middle-aged subjects, the females showed higher DaT binding throughout the striatum (with a slight caudate predominance) versus the males. In the elderly, there were no gender differences in striatal DaT binding. CONCLUSION: Our findings of striatal subregional age- and gender-related differences may provide useful information to construct a more detailed DaT database in healthy Japanese subjects.

Factors associated with glycemic control and diabetes self-care among outpatients with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes.

We investigated the influence of the severity of schizophrenia on diabetes self-care and glycemic control among outpatients with schizophrenia and diabetes. We conducted interviews with 38 participants and reviewed their clinical charts. The mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level in the full study population was 7.65%. There was no difference in the HbA1c level between two groups of subjects classified by the severity of schizophrenia. Some diabetes self-care indicators were significantly lower in patients with high Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores (P < .05). Although psychotic symptoms do not appear to affect glycemic control, psychotic symptoms might affect diabetes self-care behaviors in people with schizophrenia.

The efficacy and safety of the novel aldosterone antagonist eplerenone in children with hypertension: a randomized, double-blind, dose-response study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of eplerenone therapy in children with hypertension. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 304 children age 4-16 years with systolic blood pressure (SBP) >or=95th percentile were randomized to low-dose (25 mg daily), middle-dose (25 mg twice daily), or high-dose (50 mg twice daily) eplerenone (phase A), then rerandomized to active therapy or placebo for another 4 weeks (phase B). The primary endpoint was change in SBP in phase B. RESULTS: During phase A, mean SBP decreased from baseline by 8 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by up to 3.8 mm Hg; no dose-response relationship was demonstrated. Mean differences in SBP from placebo during phase B were -2.61 for the low-dose group, +2.32 for the middle-dose group, and -2.76 mm Hg for the high-dose group; only the reduction in the high-dose group was statistically significant (P = .048). No significant effects on DBP of eplerenone therapy relative to placebo were detected. Eplerenone was well tolerated, with a rate of adverse events comparable to that of placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term treatment with eplerenone reduced blood pressure in children with hypertension and had acceptable tolerability.