Delayed normalization of ADAMTS13 activity in acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the caplacizumab era.

The benefits of caplacizumab in acute immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) are well established. We identified a delayed normalization of a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) activity (>30%) in a subgroup treated with caplacizumab, not evident in the precaplacizumab era. Patients treated with caplacizumab (n = 64) achieved ADAMTS13 activity >30% at median 31 days after plasma exchange (PEX), compared with 11.5 days in the noncaplacizumab group (n = 50, P = .0004). Eighteen of 64 (28%) patients treated with caplacizumab had ADAMTS13 activity <10% at stopping caplacizumab with a longer time to ADAMTS13 activity >30% (median, 139 days after completing PEX). Eighteen of 64 (28%) patients receiving extended caplacizumab (31-58 days) failed to achieve ADAMTS13 activity >30% at the time of caplacizumab cessation, compared with 4 of 47 (8.5%) historical controls at a similar timepoint (30 + 28 days, P < .0001). Failure to achieve ADAMTS13 activity >30% within 30 + 28 days was 6 times more likely with caplacizumab (odds ratio, 6.3; P = .0006). ADAMTS13 antigen <30% at caplacizumab cessation was associated with increased iTTP recurrence (4/10 vs 0/9 in patients with ADAMTS13 antigen ≥30%). Admission anti-ADAMTS13 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody level did not predict recurrence. Anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody levels, immunosuppression, and ethnicity did not account for differences in ADAMTS13 activity response. ADAMTS13 antigen levels ≥30% may be useful to guide stopping caplacizumab therapy after extended use with ADAMTS13 activity <10%. The reason for delayed ADAMTS13 normalization is unclear and requires further investigation.

Long-term risk of relapse in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the role of anti-CD20 therapy.

Disease relapse is recognized as a risk in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) after treatment of the acute presenting episode. Identification of patients at risk of relapse and its patterns are yet to be clearly established. We reviewed patients with iTTP having had >3 years of follow-up over 10 years in the United Kingdom to identify patient characteristics for relapse, assess relapse rates and patterns, and response to anti-CD20 therapy in those with a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) relapses (ADAMTS13 activity of <20% without thrombocytopenia). We identified 443 patients demonstrating relapse rates of 40% at 5-year follow-up. At 10-year follow-up, no difference in relapse was observed irrespective of whether rituximab was used at acute presentation (P = .39). Black Caribbean ethnicity increased the risk of disease relapse in the British population. There was a distinct population of patients (6%) that relapsed early with subsequent frequent relapses occurring on average within 2 years (average time to relapse in subgroup, 1.7 years). Overall, nearly 60% of relapses described were ADAMTS13 relapses, with subsequent treatment reducing the risk of progression to clinical relapses. We demonstrate that iTTP diagnosed in the latter part of the study period had lower rates of clinical relapses (22.6% vs 11.1%, P = .0004) with the advent of regular monitoring and preemptive rituximab. In ADAMTS13 relapses, 96% responded to anti-CD20 therapy, achieving ADAMTS13 activity of >20%. Anti-CD20 therapy was demonstrated to be an effective long-term treatment regardless of relapse pattern and there was no loss of this treatment response after subsequent treatment episodes.

Management of acquired, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP): beyond the acute phase.

Modern therapy for acute TTP has resulted in a dramatic improvement in outcomes, with the combination of plasma exchange, immunosuppression, and caplacizumab being associated with >90% survival rates following an acute episode. TTP is no longer associated with just the acute episode, but requires long-term follow-up. There remains significant morbidity associated with acute TTP, and many patients suffer marked neuropsychological sequelae, including impairment in cognitive functioning, affective disorders, and reduction in health-related quality of life measures. The focus of management beyond the acute phase centres on relapse prevention, via careful monitoring of patients and the use of either ad hoc or regular immunosuppressive therapies. The main therapy used is rituximab, but despite more limited evidence, other immunosuppressive therapies may be required to aim for normalisation of ADAMTS 13 activity. Follow-up with a reduction in ADAMTS 13 activity levels (ADAMTS 13 relapse), rituximab is central to normalisation of activity levels and prevention of a clinical relapse. Fundamental to elective therapy is the role of ADAMTS 13 activity monitoring, and impact of reduced ADAMTS13 activity on end organ damage. This review discusses monitoring and treatment strategy for long-term management of TTP, including the variety of therapies available to maintain remission, prevent relapse and a summary of a long-term treatment pathway.

IVIg-exposure and thromboembolic event risk: findings from the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: Arterial and venous thromboembolic events (TEEs) have been associated with intravenous Ig use, but the risk has been poorly quantified. We aimed to calculate the risk of TEEs associated with exposure to intravenous Ig. METHODS: We included participants from UK Biobank recruited over 3 years, data extracted September 2020.The study endpoints were incidence of myocardial infarction, other acute ischaemic heart disease, stroke, pulmonary embolism and other venous embolism and thrombosis.Predictors included known TEE risk factors: age, sex, hypertension, smoking status, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, cancer and past history of TEE. Intravenous Ig and six other predictors were added in the sensitivity analysis.Information from participants was collected prospectively, while data from linked resources, including death, cancer, hospital admissions and primary care records were collected retrospectively and prospectively.  FINDINGS: 14 794 of 502 492 individuals had an incident TEE during the study period. The rate of incident events was threefold higher in those with prior history of TEE (8 .7%) than those without previous history of TEE (3.0%).In the prior TEE category, intravenous Ig exposure was independently associated with increased risk of incident TEE (OR=3.69 (95% CI 1.15 to 11.92), p=0.03) on multivariate analysis. The number needed to harm by exposure to intravenous Ig in those with a history of TEE was 5.8 (95% CI 2.3 to 88.3).Intravenous Ig exposure did not increase risk of TEE in those with no previous history of TEE. INTERPRETATION: Intravenous Ig is associated with increased risk of further TEE in individuals with prior history of an event with one further TEE for every six people exposed. In practice, this will influence how clinicians consent for and manage overall TEE risk on intravenous Ig exposure.

Pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in elective cranial surgery: a systematic review of time of initiation, regimen and duration.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacological prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) requires nuanced decision-making to balance the risk of VTE against haemorrhage. This problem is compounded in neurosurgical patients, in whom postoperative intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) may be catastrophic, compared to non-neuraxial bleeding in other types of surgery. Current major guidelines recommend caution when using pharmacological prophylaxis in elective cranial surgery, but incorporate low-quality evidence and lack precise guidance on timing and duration of anticoagulation. METHODS: We aimed to answer the following questions for patients undergoing elective cranial surgery: (1) when is the optimal time to initiate postoperative anticoagulation, and (2) how long should postoperative anticoagulation be continued for? In this systematic review, we screened randomised and non-randomised studies reporting original data on pharmacological VTE prophylaxis in elective cranial surgery. Outcomes of interest were VTE and ICH. RESULTS: Three retrospective, single-centre observational studies met eligibility criteria, with a total of 923 participants. Meta-analysis was not performed due to a high risk of bias across all studies. Through narrative synthesis, we found that patients who developed VTE were significantly more likely to receive their first postoperative dose at a later time (mean: 144 vs. 29 h, p = .04). Shorter courses of anticoagulation (<7 days) were associated with significantly lower ICH rates (p = .03) compared to longer courses (>21 days). CONCLUSION: The limited evidence favours earlier initiation and shorter courses of thromboprophylactic anticoagulation. These findings are specific to patients undergoing surgery for meningioma or glioma and may not apply to other populations. Randomised controlled trials or robustly designed observational studies are necessary to establish a clearer evidence base.

The use of obinutuzumab and ofatumumab in the treatment of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, can be used to treat immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) during acute presentation or disease relapse. Undesirable side-effects include severe hypersensitivity reactions, particularly anaphylaxis and rituximab-induced serum sickness, with a minority not maintaining a response to treatment. Alternative humanised anti-CD20 treatments, obinutuzumab and ofatumumab, have been used. A review of the UK TTP Registry showed 15 patients received these drugs over 26 treatment episodes (eight obinutuzumab and 18 ofatumumab). Indications for alternative anti-CD20 treatment were severe infusion-related reactions, acute rituximab-induced serum sickness and a short duration of disease remission. All patients achieved disease remission (ADAMTS13 [A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13] activity ≥30 iu/dl) after a median 15 days and 92% of episodes achieved complete remission (≥60 iu/dl). Seven patients required further treatment for disease relapse with a median relapse-free survival of 17.4 months. All patients continued to respond to re-treatment with the preceding drug when relapse occurred. There were four adverse events in 26 treatment episodes (15%) - two infections and two infusion reactions. These results suggest that obinutuzumab and ofatumumab may be considered as an alternative option to rituximab in the treatment of iTTP with a comparable safety profile, absence of significant hypersensitivity reactions and sustained normalisation of ADAMTS13.

Real-world, single-center experience of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) relapse following vaccination remains poorly reported in the adult population. OBJECTIVES: This report details real world data from the largest single-center cohort of ITP relapse following severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. METHODS: The vaccination status of 294 patients under active follow-up was reviewed. A total of 17 patients were identified resulting in an incidence of ITP relapse following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in this cohort of 6.6% and an incidence of newly diagnosed ITP following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of 1.4%. RESULTS: Patients were noted to develop marked deviation of platelet count from baseline following vaccination (P =< .0001). Fourteen patients had a prior diagnosis of ITP and median follow-up following diagnosis was 4 years (range 0-45 years). Days from vaccination to presentation ranged from 2-42 (median 14) and the follow-up period was 34 weeks. Fifteen patients (88%) presented with symptoms and all 17 patients developed symptoms during the follow-up period. Nine patients (53%) received a second dose of vaccine during the follow-up period with seven patients (78%) requiring therapeutic support to facilitate second vaccination. Decision to treat patients was multi-factorial and aimed at decreasing bleeding symptoms and obtaining a platelet count >30 × 109 /L. Sixteen patients (94%) required therapeutic intervention and at the end of the follow-up period, four patients (24%) remained unresponsive to treatment with a platelet count <30 × 109 /L. CONCLUSION: Vaccination of ITP patients continues to have important clinical benefit; however, recommendations for patients who relapse remain lacking. This report outlines the real-world patient outcomes in the era of widespread SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Tapering and Discontinuation of Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonist Therapy in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia: Results from a Modified Delphi Panel.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) with a stable response on thrombopoietin receptor agonists, treatment may be tapered and/or discontinued. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to provide a guide for tapering and discontinuation of TPO-RA therapy in patients with ITP, based on hematologist survey results, existing evidence, and expert consensus. PATIENTS/METHODS: UK hematologists completed a survey to characterize self-reported practice patterns related to TPO-RA tapering and discontinuation in patients with ITP. Using a modified Delphi panel approach, ITP experts developed consensus statements regarding the use of TPO-RA tapering and discontinuation. RESULTS: Survey respondents estimated that 30-34% of their patients were suitable for tapering or discontinuation and that 29-35% of these patients required treatment re-initiation after an average treatment-free interval of 86-106 days. No clear predictors of patient suitability or response to tapering or discontinuation were identified. The ITP expert consensus was that approximately 30% of patients are eligible for tapering and discontinuation, which may be considered after 6-12 months for patients demonstrating an adequate treatment response (platelet count >50,000/µL at ≥75% of assessments in the preceding 6 months). Treatment re-initiation may be considered if the platelet count decreases or if the patient becomes symptomatic. Individual differences need to be taken into account when considering TPO-RA tapering or discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Tapering and discontinuation of TPO-RA therapy may be considered for certain patients with ITP. Further study is needed to better predict patients likely to achieve sustained off-treatment responses after tapering and discontinuation.

Redefining outcomes in immune TTP: an international working group consensus report.

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a potentially fatal thrombotic microangiopathy caused by autoantibody-mediated severe deficiency of ADAMTS13. Standardized definitions of response, exacerbation, remission, and relapse were initially proposed in 2003 and modified by the International Working Group for TTP in 2017. These definitions, which have been widely used in clinical practice and research, are based primarily on the platelet count and are benchmarked against the timing of discontinuation of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). They do not incorporate ADAMTS13 activity or the temporizing effects on the platelet count of caplacizumab, a novel anti-von Willebrand factor (VWF) nanobody. In light of these limitations, the IWG aimed to develop revised consensus outcome definitions that incorporate ADAMTS13 activity and the effects of anti-VWF therapy, by using an estimate-talk-estimate approach. The updated definitions distinguish clinical remission and clinical relapse (defined primarily by platelet count) from ADAMTS13 remission and ADAMTS13 relapse (defined by ADAMTS13 activity). The revised definitions of exacerbation and remission are benchmarked against not only the timing of discontinuation of TPE but also that of anti-VWF therapy. Retrospective validation of the revised definitions is described, although they have yet to be prospectively validated. Clinical implications of the updated outcome definitions are also discussed and an example of their application to clinical practice is provided to highlight their clinical relevance.

Immune thrombocytopenia in adults: A single-centre review of demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder characterised by an isolated thrombocytopenia in the absence of an alternative diagnosis. The condition is highly heterogeneous with some patients requiring multiple of therapy before achieving response. In this study, we collected data on a large cohort of primary ITP patients with the objective of identifying variables which may predict treatment requirements. METHODS: We collected data on 379 patients, 275 with a confirmed diagnosis of primary ITP included demographics, baseline laboratory results and treatments. These were compared against treatment responses and lines of therapy. RESULTS: Patients who presented with a platelet count of <30 × 109 /L or bleeding symptoms were observed to require more subsequent lines of therapy (P-value <0.001). 32% of patients (n = 87) received no treatment, and these patients had a significantly higher median count compared to those with required >2 lines of therapy (P-value <0.001). Superior response rates were demonstrated with thrombopoietin receptor agonists when compared with other agents irrespective of baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet counts at diagnosis are a potentially strong predictive indicator of subsequent lines of therapy. Patients with bleeding symptoms at diagnosis were more likely to have lower median platelets counts.

Characterization and treatment of congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP) is an ultra-rare thrombomicroangiopathy caused by an inherited deficiency of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13). There are limited data on genotype-phenotype correlation; there is no consensus on treatment. We reviewed the largest cohort of cTTP cases, diagnosed in the United Kingdom, over the past 15 years. Seventy-three cases of cTTP were diagnosed, confirmed by genetic analysis. Ninety-three percent were alive at the time of review. Thirty-six percent had homozygous mutations; 64% had compound heterozygous mutations. Two presentation peaks were seen: childhood (median diagnosis age, 3.5 years) and adulthood, typically related to pregnancy (median diagnosis age, 31 years). Genetic mutations differed by age of onset with prespacer mutations more likely to be associated with childhood onset (P = .0011). Sixty-nine percent of adult presentations were associated with pregnancy. Fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) and intermediate purity factor VIII concentrate were used as treatment. Eighty-eight percent of patients with normal blood counts, but with headaches, lethargy, or abdominal pain, reported symptom resolution with prophylactic therapy. The most common currently used regimen of 3-weekly FFP proved insufficient for 70% of patients and weekly or fortnightly infusions were required. Stroke incidence was significantly reduced in patients receiving prophylactic therapy (2% vs 17%; P = .04). Long-term, there is a risk of end-organ damage, seen in 75% of patients with late diagnosis of cTTP. In conclusion, prespacer mutations are associated with earlier development of cTTP symptoms. Prophylactic ADAMTS13 replacement decreases the risk of end-organ damage such as ischemic stroke and resolved previously unrecognized symptoms in patients with nonovert disease.

Bethesda Assay for Detecting Inhibitory Anti-ADAMTS13 Antibodies in Immune-Mediated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

A diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is confirmed by a severe deficiency (<10%) of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) activity. Autoantibodies to ADAMTS13 can be detected with a simplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An alternative methodology is a Bethesda assay, which has never been formally assessed in TTP. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory anti-ADAMTS13 antibody assay and determine if the Bethesda assay is advantageous compared with the ELISA, measuring total immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to ADAMTS 13. The Bethesda method determines the neutralizing activity of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies in pooled normal plasma. We selected six immune-mediated TTP (iTTP) patients with ADAMTS13 activity levels <10% and strong ADAMTS13 inhibitors by 50:50 mixing studies and analyzed anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies using the Bethesda and ELISA assays. ADAMTS13 activity was stable at room temperature, while a time-dependent decrease in activity was detected in assay conditions of 37°C. Adding 5 mM Ca 2+ to citrated plasma prevented loss of ADAMTS13 activity with time. There was time dependence to the antibody-mediated inactivation, after 2-hour incubation. Two of the iTTP patients had no detectable ADAMTS13 antibodies by the Bethesda assay, but had high titer of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies and low ADAMTS13 antigen levels. The Bethesda assay can only detect anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies that functionally inhibit ADAMTS13. The anti-ADAMTS13 IgG ELISA instead allows the rapid identification of total IgG autoantibodies, detecting both inhibitory and noninhibitory antibodies.

Presenting ADAMTS13 antibody and antigen levels predict prognosis in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disorder caused by antibodies against ADAMTS13. From the United Kingdom TTP registry, we undertook a prospective study investigating the impact of the presenting anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody and ADAMTS13 antigen on mortality. A total of 312 episodes involving 292 patients over 87 months were included; 68% were female, median age 46 (range, 11-88 years), and median presenting ADAMTS13 of <5% (range, <5%-18%). The mortality rate was 10.3% (n = 32); 68% of patients had a raised troponin at presentation conferring a sixfold increase in mortality compared with those with normal troponin levels (12.1% vs 2.0%, P = .04). Twenty-four percent had a reduced Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at presentation with a ninefold increase in mortality (20% vs 2.2% for normal GCS at presentation, P < .0001). Mortality increased with higher anti-ADAMTS13 antibody levels and lower ADAMTS13 antigen levels. Those with antibody levels in the upper quartile (antibody >77%) had a mortality of 16.9% compared with 5.0% for the lowest quartile (antibody <20%) (P = .004). Those with an antigen level in the lowest quartile (antigen <1.5%) had a mortality of 18% compared with 3.8% for the highest quartile (antigen >11%) (P = .005). The synergistic effect of anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody in the upper quartile and ADAMTS13 antigen in the lowest quartile had the highest mortality of 27.3%. We conclude that both anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibody and ADAMTS13 antigen levels correlate with outcome in TTP with increased cardiac and neurological involvement and increased mortality.

Thrombopoetin receptor agonist therapy in thrombocytopenia: ITP and beyond.

Eltrombopag is well established in treatment of severe immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and is increasingly commonplace in second-line management. A role is also suggested for both bridging therapy for surgery, as well as treating thrombocytopenia due to non-immune aetiologies. We present the largest single-centre experience with eltrombopag, with our cohort of 62 patients. Patients with severe ITP (n = 34) had 91·2% response, which was sustained over a median of 18·5 months. In 41·4% of ITP cases (n = 14), complete response (CR- platelet count >100 × 109 /l) was achieved and in 2 cases, therapy was stopped and CR maintained. In our bridging group (n = 15) with a higher baseline platelet count, 93·3% achieved a CR. In the non-ITP group (n = 13), a response was achieved in 76·9%. In all groups, side effects were transient, with the drug discontinued in 2 patients due to minor complications (rash, nausea, diarrhoea). We conclude that eltrombopag is both effective and well tolerated as therapy in severe ITP. It is also advantageous in ITP patients who do not normally require therapy, but need a temporary platelet count boost pre-procedure. Furthermore, there are potentially far wider implications for the use of eltrombopag in counteracting thrombocytopenia beyond ITP, which merit further investigation.

A single-center prospective study on the safety of plasma exchange procedures using a double-viral-inactivated and prion-reduced solvent/detergent fresh-frozen plasma as the replacement fluid in the treatment of thrombotic microangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with acute episodes of thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) require urgent access to plasma exchange (PEX). OctaplasLG, a solvent/detergent fresh-frozen plasma product that has undergone viral inactivation and prion reduction step, has been used in our institution since 2013, replacing Octaplas. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We prospectively reviewed 981 PEX procedures where OctaplasLG was the replacement fluid in 90 patients admitted acutely with a TMA presentation within our institution from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2015. We recorded citrate toxicities, plasma reactions, viral transfer, complications related to central venous catheter, and venous thrombotic events (VTEs). RESULTS: Citrate toxicities were 5.4%, plasma reactions were 2%, and all were classified as Grade 1 or 2. VTE had an incidence of 12.2%, although 50% of the episodes occurred in early remission when patients were not receiving PEX. No line insertions complications were recorded. Line-associated infections were 2.2%. Hepatitis B and C serology and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were checked on admission. There were four patients who may have had passive transient transfer of hepatitis B antibodies from pooled plasma. No hepatitis C or HIV viral transfer was documented after treatment and no seroconversion was detected after treatment. CONCLUSION: Our data have demonstrated that the incidence of complications during PEX is low and using OctaplasLG is comparable to the low incidence of reactions. No cases of anaphylaxis, transfusion-related acute lung injury, or fatal plasma reactions were seen. There was no evidence of viral transmission or seroconversion after treatment.

Rituximab prophylaxis to prevent thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura relapse: outcome and evaluation of dosing regimens.

Acute antibody-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy with high morbidity and mortality. Rituximab is highly effective as prophylaxis in patients at risk of acute TTP relapse, but the ideal dosing regimen is unknown. A multicenter retrospective cohort study evaluated outcomes of patients given rituximab prophylaxis to prevent TTP relapse. Rituximab was given in 76 episodes to 45 patients (34 women and 11 men). Four once-per-week infusions of standard- (375 mg/m2 [24 episodes]), reduced- (200 mg [19 episodes]), and intermediate- (500 mg [17 episodes]) dose rituximab were given; in the remaining 16 episodes, patients received 100 to 1000 mg rituximab in 1 to 5 doses. Patients were deemed at high risk of TTP relapse on the basis of ADAMTS13 activity dropping to ≤15% from the normal range. Preprophylaxis median ADAMTS13 level was 5% (range, <5% to 17%). Normalization of ADAMTS13 occurred in 78.9% of patients, with 92.1% having at least a partial response (ADAMTS13 ≥30%); 3 patients had no response. Over a median of 15 months (range, 1-141 months), there were only 3 TTP relapses (2 of these subacute) in the reduced dose group. Re-treatment with rituximab occurred in 50% of patient episodes at a median of 17.5 months (range, 9-112 months) after initial prophylaxis. There was a statistically higher rate of re-treatment in the reduced- vs standard-dose group: 0.38 vs 0.17 episodes per year, respectively. Treatment was generally well tolerated, infusional effects being the most commonly reported. Rituximab therapy is effective as prophylaxis for normalizing ADAMTS13 and is an additional measure for preventing acute TTP relapses in patients with immune TTP.

Caplacizumab for Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

BACKGROUND: Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is caused by aggregation of platelets on ultralarge von Willebrand factor multimers. This microvascular thrombosis causes multiorgan ischemia with potentially life-threatening complications. Daily plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapies induce remission, but mortality and morbidity due to microthrombosis remain high. METHODS: Caplacizumab, an anti-von Willebrand factor humanized single-variable-domain immunoglobulin (Nanobody), inhibits the interaction between ultralarge von Willebrand factor multimers and platelets. In this phase 2, controlled study, we randomly assigned patients with acquired TTP to subcutaneous caplacizumab (10 mg daily) or placebo during plasma exchange and for 30 days afterward. The primary end point was the time to a response, defined as confirmed normalization of the platelet count. Major secondary end points included exacerbations and relapses. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients underwent randomization (36 were assigned to receive caplacizumab, and 39 to receive placebo). The time to a response was significantly reduced with caplacizumab as compared with placebo (39% reduction in median time, P=0.005). Three patients in the caplacizumab group had an exacerbation, as compared with 11 patients in the placebo group. Eight patients in the caplacizumab group had a relapse in the first month after stopping the study drug, of whom 7 had ADAMTS13 activity that remained below 10%, suggesting unresolved autoimmune activity. Bleeding-related adverse events, most of which were mild to moderate in severity, were more common with caplacizumab than with placebo (54% of patients vs. 38%). The frequencies of other adverse events were similar in the two groups. Two patients in the placebo group died, as compared with none in the caplacizumab group. CONCLUSIONS: Caplacizumab induced a faster resolution of the acute TTP episode than did placebo. The platelet-protective effect of caplacizumab was maintained during the treatment period. Caplacizumab was associated with an increased tendency toward bleeding, as compared with placebo. (Funded by Ablynx; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01151423.).

The role of complement activation in COPD exacerbation recovery.

Rise in sputum complement (C3a, C5a) levels during COPD exacerbation is associated with recovery time http://ow.ly/ZaPj303xxPf.