Recomendaciones para el abordaje clínico de pacientes con púrpura trombocitopénica trombótica / Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

La púrpura trombocitopénica trombótica (PTT) es una microangiopatía trombótica (MAT) caracterizada por el desarrollo de anemia hemolítica microangiopática, trombocitopenia y disfunción orgánica isquémica asociada a niveles de ADAMTS13 inferiores al 10% en la mayoría de los casos.Recientemente se han producido numerosos avances en el campo de la PTT. Se han desarrollado nuevas técnicas rápidas y accesibles capaces de cuantificar los niveles de ADAMTS13 y los posibles inhibidores. Los sistemas de secuenciación masiva del gen ADAMTS13 facilitan la identificación de polimorfismos en este gen. Además, han aparecido nuevos fármacos como caplacizumab y se plantean estrategias de prevención de recaídas con el uso de rituximab.Los registros de pacientes con PTT permiten ahondar en el conocimiento de esta enfermedad, pero la gran variabilidad en el diagnóstico y tratamiento hace necesaria la elaboración de un documento que homogenice la terminología y la práctica clínica.Las recomendaciones recogidas en el presente documento se han elaborado siguiendo la metodología AGREE. Las preguntas de investigación se formularon de acuerdo con el formato PICO. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de la literatura publicada durante los últimos 10 años. Las recomendaciones se establecieron por consenso entre todo el grupo puntualizando las fortalezas y limitaciones existentes de acuerdo al nivel de evidencia obtenido.En conclusión, en el presente documento se recogen recomendaciones sobre el tratamiento, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la PTT con el objetivo final de elaborar pautas basadas en la evidencia publicada hasta la fecha que permitan a los profesionales sanitarios optimizar el tratamiento de la PTT. (AU)

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by the development of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and ischaemic organ dysfunction associated with ADAMTS13 levels lower than 10% in most cases.Recently there have been numerous advances in the field of PTT, new, rapid and accessible techniques capable of quantifying ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors. The massive sequencing systems facilitate the identification of polymorphisms in the ADAMTS13 gene. In addition, new drugs such as caplacizumab have appeared and relapse prevention strategies are being proposed with the use of rituximab.The existence of TTP patient registries allow a deeper understanding of this disease but the great variability in the diagnosis and treatment makes it necessary to elaborate guidelines that homogenize terminology and clinical practice.The recommendations set out in this document were prepared following the AGREE methodology. The research questions were formulated according to the PICO format. A search of the literature published during the last 10 years was carried out. The recommendations were established by consensus among the entire group, specifying the existing strengths and limitations according to the level of evidence obtained.In conclusion, this document contains recommendations on the management, diagnosis, and treatment of TTP with the ultimate objective of developing guidelines based on the evidence published to date that allow healthcare professionals to optimize TTP treatment. (AU)

Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. / Recomendaciones para el abordaje clínico de pacientes con púrpura trombocitopénica trombótica.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by the development of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and ischaemic organ dysfunction associated with ADAMTS13 levels lower than 10% in most cases. Recently there have been numerous advances in the field of PTT, new, rapid and accessible techniques capable of quantifying ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors. The massive sequencing systems facilitate the identification of polymorphisms in the ADAMTS13 gene. In addition, new drugs such as caplacizumab have appeared and relapse prevention strategies are being proposed with the use of rituximab. The existence of TTP patient registries allow a deeper understanding of this disease but the great variability in the diagnosis and treatment makes it necessary to elaborate guidelines that homogenize terminology and clinical practice. The recommendations set out in this document were prepared following the AGREE methodology. The research questions were formulated according to the PICO format. A search of the literature published during the last 10 years was carried out. The recommendations were established by consensus among the entire group, specifying the existing strengths and limitations according to the level of evidence obtained. In conclusion, this document contains recommendations on the management, diagnosis, and treatment of TTP with the ultimate objective of developing guidelines based on the evidence published to date that allow healthcare professionals to optimize TTP treatment.

Differences in ex-vivo Chemosensitivity to Anthracyclines in First Line Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Induction schedules in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are based on combinations of cytarabine and anthracyclines. The choice of the anthracycline employed has been widely studied in multiple clinical trials showing similar complete remission rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using an ex vivo test we have analyzed if a subset of AML patients may respond differently to cytarabine combined with idarubicin, daunorubicin or mitoxantrone. Bone marrow (BM) samples of 198 AML patients were incubated for 48 hours in 96 well plates, each well containing different drugs or drug combinations at different concentrations. Ex vivo drug sensitivity analysis was made using the PharmaFlow platform maintaining the BM microenvironment. Drug response was evaluated as depletion of AML blast cells in each well after incubation. Annexin V-FITC was used to quantify the ability of the drugs to induce apoptosis, and pharmacological responses were calculated using pharmacokinetic population models. RESULTS: Similar dose-respond graphs were generated for the three anthracyclines, with a slight decrease in EC50 with idarubicin (p=1.462E-06), whereas the interpatient variability of either drug was large. To identify those cases of selective sensitivity to anthracyclines, potency was compared, in terms of area under the curve. Differences in anthracycline monotherapy potency greater than 30% from 3 pairwise comparisons were identified in 28.3% of samples. Furthermore, different sensitivity was detected in 8.2% of patients comparing combinations of cytarabine and anthracyclines. DISCUSSION: A third of the patients could benefit from the use of this test in the first line induction therapy selection, although it should be confirmed in a clinical trial specifically designed.

Consenso español para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna / Spanish consensus statement for diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria

La hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna (HPN) es una enfermedad clonal de las células progenitoras hematopoyéticas originada por la mutación adquirida del gen fosfatidil-inositol-glicano del grupo A, situado en el brazo corto del cromosoma X. Se caracteriza por anemia hemolítica intravascular, tendencia a la trombosis y un componente variable de insuficiencia medular. Otras complicaciones derivadas de la hemólisis son disfagia, disfunción eréctil, dolores abdominales, astenia e insuficiencia renal crónica (un 65% de los pacientes). La enfermedad afecta por igual a ambos sexos y puede aparecer a cualquier edad, con una mayor incidencia en la tercera década de la vida. Actualmente, el diagnóstico se basa en la detección de poblaciones celulares con marcadores asociados al déficit de glucosil-fosfatidil-inositol mediante citometría de flujo. Durante años, el pilar terapéutico de la HPN hemolítica era el soporte transfusional. Un gran avance en el tratamiento ha sido la aprobación del anticuerpo monoclonal humanizado eculizumab, que bloquea la proteína C5 del complemento impidiendo su activación, y por tanto, la hemólisis. Diversos estudios han confirmado que el tratamiento con eculizumab evita o disminuye el requerimiento transfusional, reduce la probabilidad de trombosis, mejora la sintomatología asociada y la calidad de vida de los pacientes con HPN, mostrando un aumento de la supervivencia. Este rápido avance en el conocimiento de la enfermedad y su tratamiento hace necesario adaptar y homogeneizar las directrices de actuación clínica en el manejo de pacientes con HPN (AU)

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal disorder of the haematopoietic progenitor cells due to a somatic mutation in theX-linked phosphatidylinositol glycan class A gene. The disease is characterized by intravascular haemolytic anaemia, propensity to thromboembolic events and bone marrow failure. Other direct complications of haemolysis include dysphagia, erectile dysfunction, abdominal pain, asthenia and chronic renal failure (65% of patients). The disease appears more often in the third decade of life and there is no sex or age preference. Detection of markers associated with glucosyl phosphatidyl inositol deficit by flow cytometry is currently used in the diagnosis of PNH. For years, transfusions have been the mainstay of therapy for PNH. A breakthrough in treatment has been the approval of the humanized monoclonal antibody eculizumab, which works by blocking the C5 complement protein, preventing its activation and therefore haemolysis. Several studies have confirmed that treatment with eculizumab avoids or decreases the need for transfusions, decreases the probability of thrombosis, improves the associated symptomatology and the quality of life in patients with PNH, showing an increase in survival. Because of rapid advances in the knowledge of the disease and its treatment, it may become necessary to adapt and standardize clinical guidelines for the management of patients with PNH (AU)

[Spanish consensus statement for diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria]. / Consenso español para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal disorder of the haematopoietic progenitor cells due to a somatic mutation in theX-linked phosphatidylinositol glycan class A gene. The disease is characterized by intravascular haemolytic anaemia, propensity to thromboembolic events and bone marrow failure. Other direct complications of haemolysis include dysphagia, erectile dysfunction, abdominal pain, asthenia and chronic renal failure (65% of patients). The disease appears more often in the third decade of life and there is no sex or age preference. Detection of markers associated with glucosyl phosphatidyl inositol deficit by flow cytometry is currently used in the diagnosis of PNH. For years, transfusions have been the mainstay of therapy for PNH. A breakthrough in treatment has been the approval of the humanized monoclonal antibody eculizumab, which works by blocking the C5 complement protein, preventing its activation and therefore haemolysis. Several studies have confirmed that treatment with eculizumab avoids or decreases the need for transfusions, decreases the probability of thrombosis, improves the associated symptomatology and the quality of life in patients with PNH, showing an increase in survival. Because of rapid advances in the knowledge of the disease and its treatment, it may become necessary to adapt and standardize clinical guidelines for the management of patients with PNH.

Pharmacological profiles of acute myeloid leukemia treatments in patient samples by automated flow cytometry: a bridge to individualized medicine.

BACKGROUND: We have evaluated the ex vivo pharmacology of single drugs and drug combinations in malignant cells of bone marrow samples from 125 patients with acute myeloid leukemia using a novel automated flow cytometry-based platform (ExviTech). We have improved previous ex vivo drug testing with 4 innovations: identifying individual leukemic cells, using intact whole blood during the incubation, using an automated platform that escalates reliably data, and performing analyses pharmacodynamic population models. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Samples were sent from 24 hospitals to a central laboratory and incubated for 48 hours in whole blood, after which drug activity was measured in terms of depletion of leukemic cells. RESULTS: The sensitivity of single drugs is assessed for standard efficacy (EMAX) and potency (EC50) variables, ranked as percentiles within the population. The sensitivity of drug-combination treatments is assessed for the synergism achieved in each patient sample. We found a large variability among patient samples in the dose-response curves to a single drug or combination treatment. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that the use of the individual patient ex vivo pharmacological profiles may help to guide a personalized treatment selection.