Global hemostasis assays in acute myeloid leukemia: results of an observational prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by a complex spectrum of coagulopathy ranging from hemorrhagic to thrombotic symptoms. To date, platelet count (PLT) and conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) cannot predict hemorrhagic events and thrombotic risk. Thromboelastography (TEG) measures the viscoelastic properties of the clot, thus providing information on the entire process of blood coagulation. The primary aim of the study was to assess the hemostatic balance from AML diagnosis to the end of chemotherapy (CHT) by TEG. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here we present the results of a prospective study enrolling newly diagnosed AML patients treated with chemotherapy. Patients had complete blood counts (CBCs), TEG and CCTs performed at three time points: 1) diagnosis (T0); 2) during the first cycle of CHT (T1); and 3) at the end of CHT (T2). An algorithm of TEG indirectly calculated thrombin generation (TG). Patients underwent daily follow-up for bleeding and thrombotic episodes up to the time of hospital discharge or death. RESULTS: Eighty consecutive patients were evaluated; forty were eligible for the study, and 21 completed the entire study. At T1, maximum amplitude (MA), TG and K-time were significantly shifted toward a hypocoagulability state compared to T0 (p<0.05), while a hypercoagulable state at T2 was shown by changes in α-angle, MA and TG values. Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in CCTs between the evaluated time points. DISCUSSION: Overall, TEG revealed complex and dynamic coagulation abnormalities in patients with AML according to both the course of disease and therapy. Further studies are needed to investigate more fully the role of TEG in defining the hemostatic profile in patients with AML.

Treatment preferences towards thrombopoietin-receptor agonists for immune thrombocytopenia and experience of disease (TRAPeze): Italy cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Identify patient preference towards thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) and determine the clinical and social impact of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Italy. METHODS: The Thrombopoietin-Receptor Agonist Patient experience (TRAPeze) survey collected responses from Italian residents from 17th January to 28th February 2022. TRAPeze utilized a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to elicit patient preferences towards TPO-RA attributes and a patient burden survey (PBS) to determine ITP disease characteristics and social impact. RESULTS: Seventy-six respondents completed the DCE, of which 69 completed both the DCE and PBS (mean [range] age 45 [18.0-73.0] years, 80% female). TPO-RA attributes with the greatest influence over respondent choice were method of administration (odds ratio [OR] 2.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.16-4.06), drug-food interactions (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.17-1.86) and frequency of dosing (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.15-1.52). Respondents were more likely to prefer therapies administered orally over subcutaneous injection (OR 3.76; 95% CI 2.51-5.63), once weekly over once daily (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.26-2.65), and therapies without food restrictions over with restrictions (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.17-2.14).The most frequently reported symptoms were bruising (82%), petechiae (65%) and fatigue (64%). Most respondents (84%) felt ITP impacted familial relationships and 71% of employed respondents reported fatigue influencing their ability to work, with 31% reducing working hours. CONCLUSION: Although responses indicated a moderate perception of general health, ITP clearly impacted respondent work and social life. Our findings demonstrate respondents preferred TPO-RAs delivered orally, with less frequent dosing and without food restrictions.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia during pregnancy and puerperium: an international multicenter experience.

Relapsing or occurring de novo autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) during pregnancy or puerperium is a poorly described condition. Here, we report 45 pregnancies in 33 women evaluated at 12 centers from 1997 to 2022. Among the 20 women diagnosed with AIHA before pregnancy, 10 had a relapse. An additional 13 patients developed de novo AIHA during gestation/puerperium (2 patients had AIHA relapse during a second pregnancy). Among 24 hemolytic events, anemia was uniformly severe (median Hb, 6.4 g/dL; range, 3.1-8.7) and required treatment in all cases (96% steroids ± intravenous immunoglobulin, IVIG, 58% transfusions). Response was achieved in all patients and was complete in 65% of the cases. Antithrombotic prophylaxis was administered to 8 patients (33%). After delivery, rituximab was administered to 4 patients, and cyclosporine was added to 1 patient. The rate of maternal complications, including premature rupture of membranes, placental detachment, and preeclampsia, was 15%. Early miscarriages occurred in 13% of the pregnancies. Fetal adverse events (22% of cases) included respiratory distress, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, AIHA of the newborn, and 2 perinatal deaths. In conclusion, the occurrence of AIHA does not preclude the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, provided close monitoring, prompt therapy, and awareness of potential maternal and fetal complications.

Genetic regulation of iron homeostasis in sideropenic patients with mild COVID-19 disease under a new oral iron formulation: Lessons from a different perspective.

BACKGROUND: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) needs iron to replicate itself. Coronaviruses are able to upregulate Chop/Gadd153 and Arg1 genes, consequently leading to CD8 lymphocytes decrease, degradation of asparagine and decreased nitric oxide (NO), thus impairing immune response and antithrombotic functions. Little is known about regulation of genes involved in iron metabolism in paucisymptomatic patients with COVID-19 disease or in patients with iron deficiency treated with sucrosomial iron. METHODS: Whole blood was taken from the COVID-19 patients and from patients with sideropenic anemia, treated or not (control group) with iron supplementations. Enrolled patients were: affected by COVID19 under sucrosomal iron support (group A), affected by COVID-19 not under oral iron support (group B), iron deficiency not under treatment, not affected by COVID19 (control group). After RNA extraction and complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis of Arg1, Hepcidin and Chop/Gadd153, gene expression from the 3 groups was measured by qRT-PCR. M2 macrophages were detected by cytofluorimetry using CD163 and CD14 markers. RESULTS: Forty patients with COVID-19 (group A), 20 patients with iron deficiency treated with sucrosomial iron (group B) and 20 patients with iron deficiency not under treatment (control group) were enrolled. In all the patients supported with oral sucrosomial iron, the gene expression of Chop, Arg1 and Hepcidin genes was lower than in sideropenic patients not supported with iron, M1 macrophages polarization and functional iron deficiency was also lower in group A and B, than observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: New oral iron formulations, as sucrosomial iron, are able to influence the expression of genes like Chop and Arg1 and to influence M2 macrophage polarization mainly in the early phase of COVID-19 disease.

Clostridium difficile Induced Inflammasome Activation and Coagulation Derangements.

C. difficile enterocolitis (CDAC) is the most common hospital infection, burdened by an increased incidence of coagulation-related complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) as well as a significant sepsis-related mortality. In this review, we analyzed the available data concerning the correlation between coagulation complications related to C. difficile infection (CDI) and inflammasome activation, in particular the pyrin-dependent one. The little but solid available preclinical and clinical evidence shows that inflammasome activation increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). As proof of this, it has been observed that in vitro inhibition of the molecules (e.g., tissue factor) mainly involved in coagulation activation could block the process. In vivo studies show that it could be possible to reduce the incidence of complications associated with C. difficile infection (CDI) and mortality due to a state of hypercoagulability. A personalized therapeutic approach to reduce the inflammatory activity and prevent thromboembolic complications could be preliminarily defined to reduce mortality.

Circulating Endothelial Cell Levels Correlate with Treatment Outcomes of Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are viable, apoptotic or necrotic cells, identified by CD 146 surface antigen expression, considered a biomarker of thrombotic risk, given their active role in inflammatory, procoagulant and immune processes of the vascular compartment. Growing evidence establishes that CECs are also involved in the pathogenesis of several hematological and solid malignancies. The primary aim of this study was to verify if CEC levels could predict both the course and treatment responses of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), either in patients affected by myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) or liver disease. Thus, a retrospective multicenter study was performed; fifteen patients receiving anticoagulant oral treatment with vitamin k antagonists (VKA) for SVT were evaluated. Nine patients were affected by MPN, and all of them received cytoreduction in addition to anticoagulant therapy; four of these patients had primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and were treated with ruxolitinib (RUX), and one patient with primary myelofibrosis, two patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), and two patients with polycythemia vera (PV) were treated with hydroxyurea (HU). Six patients affected by liver diseases (three with liver cirrhosis and three with hepatocellular carcinoma) were included as the control group. CECs were assayed by flow cytometry on peripheral blood at specific time points, for up to six months after enrollment. The CEC levels were related to C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, splenic volume reduction, and thrombus recanalization, mainly in MPN patients. In patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), for which the mechanism of SVT development is quite different, the relationship between CEC and SV reduction was absent. In conclusion, the CEC levels showed a significant correlation with the extent of venous thrombosis and endothelial cell damage in myeloproliferative neoplasm patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis. Although preliminary, these results show how monitoring CEC levels during cytoreductive and anticoagulant treatments may be useful to improve SVT outcome in MPN patients.

Focus on Key Issues in Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Italian Experience of Six Centers.

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare and challenging hematological disease caused by the antibody anti-ADAMTS13. Though the mortality rate has decreased considerably in recent years, fatalities still remain unacceptable. This study aimed at further adding to the existing knowledge of this medical challenge. We enrolled 89 consecutive patients observed in six Italian centers (from 8 August 2013 to 28 May 2021) with a diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Clinical information and blood parameters were collected for all patients. We describe clinical manifestations and laboratory data, possible risk factors and the therapeutic management of first episodes or relapses. A total of 74 first episodes and 19 relapses (median 3 years (interquartile range (IQR): 2-7)) were recorded. Seventy percent of patients enrolled at the first episode showed neurological signs and/or symptoms. All the patients enrolled at the first episode were treated with plasma exchange (median = 12; IQR: 8-19.5) and methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg/day). Rituximab (375 mg/m2 weekly for four weeks) and caplacizumab were given to 15 (20.2%) and 2 patients (2.6%), respectively. We observed an overall mortality of 5.4% in the follow-up (median 60 months; IQR: 36.0-103.5). All fatalities occurred after a diagnostic delay. Present data point to the importance of the early detection of factors mostly associated with poor outcomes. It is likely that use of caplacizumab could improve the prognosis in those patients.

Observational study on the benefit of a nutritional supplement, supporting immune function and energy metabolism, on chronic fatigue associated with the SARS-CoV-2 post-infection progress.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent studies have verified that the SARS-CoV-2 infection (from December 2019 has affected 123 million people throughout the world and more than 3 million people in Italy), can have medium-term and long-term effects, collectively referred to as "post-Covid syndrome" or "long-Covid" characterized by chronic fatigue, followed by muscle weakness, dyspnea and headache. Chronic fatigue or chronic tiredness is a persistent symptom both in patients who have experienced a severe infection and in those who have experienced a mild form of infection. Studies conducted on both patients discharged from hospital and patients managed at home showed that there was no association between the severity of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the subsequent chronic fatigue symptom. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a nutritional supplement based on vitamins, minerals, amino acids and plant extracts (Apportal®) intake, to ameliorate the general health status in particular the chronic fatigue symptom in subjects after SARS-CoV-2 negativity. METHODS: Participants were advised to take one sachet daily of Apportal® for 28 consecutive days. At the beginning (T0), after 14 days (T1) and after 28 days (T2) of supplementation, general fatigue, mental fatigue and Quality of Life indexes were evaluated through specific questionnaires. The assessment of quality of life and health status were measured through the EuroQoL-5D questionnaire, chronic fatigue using the FACIT-Fatigue questionnaire and mental fatigue using the modified Chalder questionnaire. RESULTS: 201 subjects were enrolled for the study; results showed a significant improvement in all indexes analyzed after 14 and 28 days of supplementation. The main significant improvement was observed after the first 14 days and it was further confirmed at 28 days as well. The RTE (Relative Treatment Effect) trend about quality of life, health status, FACIT-Fatigue and mental fatigue in the three questionnaires was statistically significant (Wald Statistic, p < 0.0001). The data of FACIT-questionnaire showed an improvement of at least 1 unit in 76.62% of subjects after 14 days and in 90.05% of subjects after 28 days. An improvement of 10-unit was found in about one third of subjects after 14 days and in half of the subjects after 28 days. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that Apportal® can reduce chronic fatigue and improve quality of life and health status in subjects after SARS-CoV-2 negativity due to the synergistic effect of its components.

Platelets Contribution to Thrombin Generation in Philadelphia-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: The "Circulating Wound" Model.

Current cytoreductive and antithrombotic strategies in MPNs are mostly based on cell counts and on patient's demographic and clinical history. Despite the numerous studies conducted on platelet function and on the role of plasma factors, an accurate and reliable method to dynamically quantify the hypercoagulability states of these conditions is not yet part of clinical practice. Starting from our experience, and after having sifted through the literature, we propose an in-depth narrative report on the contribution of the clonal platelets of MPNs-rich in tissue factor (TF)-in promoting a perpetual procoagulant mechanism. The whole process results in an unbalanced generation of thrombin and is self-maintained by Protease Activated Receptors (PARs). We chose to define this model as a "circulating wound", as it indisputably links the coagulation, inflammation, and fibrotic progression of the disease, in analogy with what happens in some solid tumours. The platelet contribution to thrombin generation results in triggering a vicious circle supported by the PARs/TGF-beta axis. PAR antagonists could therefore be a good option for target therapy, both to contain the risk of vascular events and to slow the progression of the disease towards end-stage forms. Both the new and old strategies, however, will require tools capable of measuring procoagulant or prohaemorrhagic states in a more extensive and dynamic way to favour a less empirical management of MPNs and their potential clinical complications.

Immune Thrombocytopenia in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Is It Primary or Secondary?

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is frequently associated with thrombocytopenia, in most cases mild and in the absence of major bleedings. In some patients with a confirmed APS diagnosis, secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may lead to severe thrombocytopenia with consequent major bleeding. At the same time, the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with a diagnosis of primary ITP has been reported in several studies, although with some specific characteristics especially related to the variety of antigenic targets. Even though it does not enter the APS defining criteria, thrombocytopenia should be regarded as a warning sign of a "high risk" APS and thus thoroughly evaluated. The presence of aPL in patients with ITP should be assessed as well to stratify the risk of paradoxical thrombosis. In detail, besides the high hemorrhagic risk in secondary thrombocytopenia, patients with a co-diagnosis of APS or only antibodies are also at risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. In this narrative review, we discuss the correlation between APS and ITP, the mechanisms behind the above-reported entities, in order to support clinicians to define the most appropriate treatment strategy in these patients, especially when anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents may be needed.

Genetics and Pathogenetic Role of Inflammasomes in Philadelphia Negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Narrative Review.

The last decade has been very important for the quantity of preclinical information obtained regarding chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and the following will be dedicated to the translational implications of the new biological acquisitions. The overcoming of the mechanistic model of clonal evolution and the entry of chronic inflammation and dysimmunity into the new model are the elements on which to base a part of future therapeutic strategies. The innate immune system plays a major role in this context. Protagonists of the initiation and regulation of many pathological aspects, from cytokine storms to fibrosis, the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes guide and condition the natural history of the disease. For this reason, MPNs share many biological and clinical aspects with non-neoplastic diseases, such as autoimmune disorders. Finally, cardiovascular risk and disturbances in iron metabolism and myelopoiesis are also closely linked to the role of inflammasomes. Although targeted therapies are already being tested, an increase in knowledge on the subject is desirable and potentially translates into better care for patients with MPNs.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients with immune thrombocytopenia treated with rituximab: a retrospective multicenter analysis.

The primary aim of this study was to describe the use of primary anti-infective prophylaxis (AP) in common clinical practice in patients affected by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and treated with RTX. Population studied consisted of patients affected by ITP (age ≥ 18 years) who had received at least one dose of RTX from January 2008 to June 2018. Five Italian haematology centres participated in the current study. Data were retrospectively collected: demographic data (age, gender), concomitant comorbidities and previous therapies for ITP, characteristics of AP, the occurrence of infections and their management. The ITP cohort consisted of 67 patients sub-grouped into two categories according to the administration of AP: (1) treated with AP (N= 34; 51%) and (2) not treated with AP (N=33, 49%). AP consisted of combined trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and acyclovir (AC) in half of patients. TPM/SMX as a single agent was adopted in 32% patients and one patient received only AC. Overall, infections were experienced in 15% of patients during follow-up with a similar proportion in the 2 groups (treated and not treated) of patients (14.7% vs 15%). Clinical course of infections was however, less severe in patients treated with AP, where all infections were grade 2 and did not require hospitalization. In neither group of patients was reported Pneumocystis pneumonia. In conclusion, despite the absence of clear evidence, our analysis shows that AP in patients with ITP receiving RTX is frequently adopted, even if in the absence of well-defined criteria. Prophylaxis administration is quite consistent within the same haematological Center; thus, it seems related to clinicians' experience.

Oral high-dose sucrosomial iron vs intravenous iron in sideropenic anemia patients intolerant/refractory to iron sulfate: a multicentric randomized study.

Iron deficiency anemia is among the most frequent causes of disability. Intravenous iron is the quickest way to correct iron deficiency, bypassing the bottleneck of iron intestinal absorption, the only true mechanism of iron balance regulation in human body. Intravenous iron administration is suggested in patients who are refractory/intolerant to oral iron sulfate. However, the intravenous way of iron administration requires several precautions; as the in-hospital administration requires a resuscitation service, as imposed in Europe by the European Medicine Agency, it is very expensive and negatively affects patient's perceived quality of life. A new oral iron formulation, Sucrosomial iron, bypassing the normal way of absorption, seems to be cost-effective in correcting iron deficiency anemia at doses higher than those usually effective with other oral iron formulations. In this multicentric randomized study, we analyze the cost-effectiveness of intravenous sodium ferrigluconate vs oral Sucrosomial iron in patients with iron deficiency anemia refractory/intolerant to oral iron sulfate without other interfering factors on iron absorption.

The curious incident of a cavum velum interpositum cyst in twins of a mother carrying May-Hegglin anomaly: a case report and short literature review.

BACKGROUND: May-Hegglin anomaly is an autosomal dominant inherited condition, characterized by thrombocytopenia, giant platelets and Dohle-like bodies. Incidence is unknown and affected individuals can show from mild to moderate-severe haemorrhagic symptoms. The cyst of cavum veli interpositi (a virtual space filled with fluid within the third ventricle) is rarely reported in the foetal period. Furthermore, it is unclear whether isolated cavum veli interpositi cysts are a normal variant or developmental malformations. The simultaneous presence of these two anomalies was never described. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a very rare case of a twin monochorionic pregnancy in a woman with the May-Hegglin anomaly, whose foetuses carried cavum veli interpositi cysts. Since childhood, our patient had shown macro-thrombocytopenia, deafness and bleeding (epistaxis and menorrhagia), but she was misdiagnosed until the age of 30 years when our Centre identified a de novo allelic variant in the gene MYH9 coding for the non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIa. Our patient bled neither during the pregnancy, nor in the peripartum period. Children are now eight-months-old and have never bled, although both inherited the MYH9 variant and have thrombocytopenia with giant platelets. Furthermore, none of them developed psychomotor disorders. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the sixth case of twin pregnancy in a woman carrying May-Hegglin anomaly and the first one with cavum veli interpositi cysts in the neonates. We speculate that MYH9 could have, at least in part, played a role in the development of both conditions, as this gene has a pleiotropic effect.

Unexpected low expression of platelet fibrinogen receptor in patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms: how does it change with aspirin?

This study was conducted to evaluate the expression of fibrinogen receptors on platelets of Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients. We collected blood samples from 40 consecutive MPN patients and healthy volunteers. We performed flow cytometry analysis of P-selectin expression and integrin beta-3, activation of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa and fibrinogen receptor exposure (PAC-1 binding). Surprisingly, we found a very low PAC-1 binding capacity in MPN patients; however, the expression of PAC-1 was almost completely recovered with aspirin intake. We hypothesize that the hypercoagulable states observed in MPN patients could depend on a primarily plasma-driven impairment of fibrin turnover and thrombin generation.

Iron Support in Erythropoietin Treatment in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients Affected by Low-Risk Refractory Anaemia: Real-Life Evidence from an Italian Setting.

Refractory anaemia (RA) among myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a partial functional iron deficit and may require transfusions. In low-risk lymphoma and solid tumour patients, iron support improves erythropoietin (EPO) cost-effectiveness in treating anaemia. The aim of this study is to see if oral sucrosomial iron support improves the cost-effectiveness of EPO treatment in MDS patients affected by low-risk RA. We treated patients with EPO only or with EPO plus oral sucrosomial iron or intravenous (i.v.) iron. The need for transfusions was lowest in the group taking oral iron (p = 0.016) or not receiving supplementation at all (p = 0.022). We compared costs of EPO with i.v. ferric gluconate or oral sucrosomial iron supplementation or no iron supplementation. The oral iron group had fewer side effects, fewer patient medical visits in the out-patient setting, and fewer transfusions; this led to higher savings on direct hospital costs and indirect patient costs (lost days at work) and translated into a 50% abatement of overall expenditures. EPO treatment-related expenditures in MDS-RA patients were lowest with oral sucrosomial iron supplementation (Sideral®), with a longer interval between EPO administration in maintenance treatment, quicker hemoglobin recovery, lower ferritin increase and fewer blood transfusions.

Lipid Peroxidation-Derived Aldehydes, 4-Hydroxynonenal and Malondialdehyde in Aging-Related Disorders.

Among the various mechanisms involved in aging, it was proposed long ago that a prominent role is played by oxidative stress. A major way by which the latter can provoke structural damage to biological macromolecules, such as DNA, lipids, and proteins, is by fueling the peroxidation of membrane lipids, leading to the production of several reactive aldehydes. Lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes can not only modify biological macromolecules, by forming covalent electrophilic addition products with them, but also act as second messengers of oxidative stress, having relatively extended lifespans. Their effects might be further enhanced with aging, as their concentrations in cells and biological fluids increase with age. Since the involvement and the role of lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes, particularly of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), in neurodegenerations, inflammation, and cancer, has been discussed in several excellent recent reviews, in the present one we focus on the involvement of reactive aldehydes in other age-related disorders: osteopenia, sarcopenia, immunosenescence and myelodysplastic syndromes. In these aging-related disorders, characterized by increases of oxidative stress, both HNE and malondialdehyde (MDA) play important pathogenic roles. These aldehydes, and HNE in particular, can form adducts with circulating or cellular proteins of critical functional importance, such as the proteins involved in apoptosis in muscle cells, thus leading to their functional decay and acceleration of their molecular turnover and functionality. We suggest that a major fraction of the toxic effects observed in age-related disorders could depend on the formation of aldehyde-protein adducts. New redox proteomic approaches, pinpointing the modifications of distinct cell proteins by the aldehydes generated in the course of oxidative stress, should be extended to these age-associated disorders, to pave the way to targeted therapeutic strategies, aiming to alleviate the burden of morbidity and mortality associated with these disturbances.

Validation of PLASMIC score and follow-up data in a cohort of patients with suspected microangiopathies from Southern Italy.

Severe ADAMTS13 deficiency (activity < 10%) is pathognomonic of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. ADAMTS13 testing is time-consuming and unavailable in many hospitals. Recently, a seven-variables score named PLASMIC score, has been developed to stratify acute patients, based on their risk of having a severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. We present the application of this score in a cohort of patients referred to our Center. From 2012 to 2017, 42 patients with suspected thrombotic microangiopathies from 6 Centers were referred to Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center of "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital/Research Institute for ADAMTS13 testing. For all patients, relevant medical and laboratory information were collected. To obtain the statistical measure of the discriminatory power of PLASMIC scoring system, the Area Under the Curve Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC ROC) was calculated. We were able to calculate the PLASMIC score in 27 out of 42 patients; we found a good discrimination performance of the score with a resulting AUC value of 0.86 (95% CI 0.71-1.0; p = 0.015). All patients but one with a high risk PLASMIC score (6-7) showed a severe deficiency. Among patients belonging to the intermediate risk (PLASMIC score 5) group, 2 showed normal ADAMTS13 activity and 2 levels below 10%. In none of the patients in the low risk group (PLASMIC score 0-4), a severe ADAMTS13 deficiency was found. Present results confirm and extend previous data regarding the predictive value of the PLASMIC score. Indeed, it shows a good diagnostic performance and can be useful for decision makers to properly and promptly define the better therapeutic approach.

Position paper on management of iron deficiency in adult cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Disorders of iron metabolism are commonly seen in onco-hematological clinical practice. Iron-deficiency anemia and cancer-associated anemia are usually treated with supportive therapies. Optimal management of these conditions are discussed in this perspective paper. Areas covered: A position paper discussing a number of hot topics on anemia in cancer patients is presented. The main areas covered by experts in the field are: definitions, prevalence and consequences of anemia and iron deficiency, incidence of anemia resulting from targeted therapies, importance of anemia diagnosis and monitoring, evaluation of iron status before and during treatment, role of transfusions and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, management of iron deficiency with or without anemia, parenteral iron supplementation, role of new oral iron formulations, safety and cost issues regarding different iron compounds and administration routes. Expert commentary: Despite the availability of newer therapeutic options for its management, anemia still represents a major complication of treatment in cancer patients (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapies), aggravating physical impairment, and negatively affecting general outcome. The view expressed by the panelists, attendees of the 4th Mediterranean Course on Iron Anemia, summarizes what they consider optimal clinical practice for screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of iron deficiency and anemia in cancer patients.