Riociguat in patients with sickle cell disease and hypertension or proteinuria (STERIO-SCD): a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, phase 1-2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Although nitric oxide based therapeutics have been shown in preclinical models to reduce vaso-occlusive events and improve cardiovascular function, a clinical trial of a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor increased rates of admission to hospital for pain. We aimed to examine if riociguat, a direct stimulator of the nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylate cyclase, causes similar increases in vaso-occlusive events. METHODS: This was a phase 1-2, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eligible patients were 18 years or older, had confirmed sickle cell disease documented by haemoglobin electrophoresis or HPLC fractionation (haemoglobin SS, SC, Sß-thalassemia, SD, or SO-Arab), and stage 1 hypertension or proteinuria. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either riociguat or matching placebo via a web-based system to maintain allocation concealment. Both treatments were administered orally starting at 1·0 mg three times a day up to 2·5 mg three times a day (highest tolerated dose) for 12 weeks. Dose escalation by 0·5 mg was considered every 2 weeks if systolic blood pressure was greater than 95 mm Hg and the participant had no signs of hypotension; otherwise, the last dose was maintained. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who had at least one adjudicated treatment-emergent serious adverse event. The analysis was performed by the intention-to-treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02633397) and was completed. FINDINGS: Between April 11, 2017, and Dec 31, 2021, 165 participants were screened and consented to be enrolled into the study. Of these, 130 participants were randomly assigned to either riociguat (n=66) or placebo (n=64). The proportion of participants with at least one treatment-emergent serious adverse event was 22·7% (n=15) in the riociguat group and 31·3% (n=20) in the placebo group (difference -8·5% [90% CI -21·4 to 4·5]; p=0·19). A similar pattern emerged in other key safety outcomes, sickle cell related vaso-occlusive events (16·7 [n=11] vs 21·9% [n=14]; difference -5·2% [-17·2 to 6·5]; p=0·42), mean pain severity (3·18 vs 3·32; adjusted mean difference -0·14 [-0·70 to 0·42]; p=0·69), and pain interference (3·15 vs 3·12; 0·04 [-0·62 to 0·69]; p=0·93) at 12 weeks were similar between groups. Regarding the key clinical efficacy endpoints, participants taking riociguat had a blood pressure of -8·20 mm Hg (-10·48 to -5·91) compared with -1·24 (-3·58 to 1·10) in those taking placebo (-6·96 mm Hg (90% CI -10·22 to -3·69; p<0·001). INTERPRETATION: Riociguat was safe and had a significant haemodynamic effect on systemic blood pressure. The results of this study provide measures of effect and variability that will inform power calculations for future trials. FUNDING: Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Multiple sclerosis in a young woman with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Comorbidities can impose diagnostic and treatment challenges in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Sickle cell disease (SCD) and MS are both inflammatory diseases featuring immune system dysregulation, and the reciprocal interaction of these diseases deserves investigation. METHODS/RESULTS: We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with SCD who developed a sickle cell crisis and acute chest syndrome during corticosteroid treatment for a first MS attack. We then provide a review of the literature on co-management of SCD and MS. In patients with SCD experiencing an acute MS exacerbation, pre-treatment with red blood cell exchange transfusion before corticosteroids may reduce adverse vaso-occlusive events. Plasma exchange may also be considered. Finally, we discuss innovative pre-clinical research that suggests that natalizumab or dimethyl fumarate may ameliorate SCD symptoms while preventing MS relapses; human trials, however, are needed. CONCLUSION: The co-occurrence of inflammatory disorders, in this case MS and SCD, requires providers to appropriately manage each condition with consideration of the other. Future studies may generate shared avenues for treatment.

Case of chronic eosinophilic leukemia with deletion of chromosome 16 and hepatitis C.

Chronic eosinophilic leukemia is a rare entity, characterized by eosinophilia of >1.5 x 10(9)/L, persisting for >6 months after exclusion of other reactive and neoplastic causes of eosinophilia, and occurring in association with a clonal cytogenetic abnormality. Various chromosomal abnormalities have been associated with chronic eosinophilic leukemia. Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 16 is a cytogenetic abnormality first reported 20 years ago in patients with acute myeloid leukemia associated with bone marrow eosinophilia (AML-M4Eo). We report a case of a 45-year-old African-American male with hepatitis C and sustained peripheral blood eosinophilia who presented with gross hematuria, dyspnea on exertion, chills, decreased appetite and weight loss of 40 pounds associated with hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Bone marrow biopsy showed clonal cytogenetic abnormality consisting of deletion of the long arm of chromosome 16 (16q22). Philadelphia chromosome t (9;22) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for C-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) mutations were negative. The patient was treated with imatinib at 400 mg/d with improvement of symptoms, reduction of lymphadenopathy and normalization of the eosinophil count. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of isolated del (16) (q22), a cytogenetic abnormality associated with AML-M4Eo, occurring in chronic eosinophilic leukemia. Whether this cytogenetic abnormality might represent a prodromal phase of AML-M4Eo is not known. In addition, the role of hepatitis C in inducing clonal proliferation of eosinophils is unclear.