Cardiac iron overload evaluation in thalassaemic patients using T2* magnetic resonance imaging following chelation therapy: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* technique is used to assess iron overload in the heart, liver and pancreas of thalassaemic patients. Optimal iron chelation and expected tissue iron response rates remain under investigation. The objective of this study was to analyse serum ferritin and the iron concentration in the heart, liver and pancreas measured by MRI T2*/R2* during regular chelation therapy in a real-world cohort of patients with thalassemia. Methods We evaluated thalassaemic patients ≥ 7 years old undergoing chelation/transfusion therapy by MRI and assessed serum ferritin at baseline and follow-up from 2004-2011. Results We evaluated 136 patients, 92% major thalassaemic, with a median age of 18 years, and median baseline ferritin 2.033ng/ml (range: 59-14,123). Iron overload distribution was: liver (99%), pancreas (74%) and heart (36%). After a median of 1.2 years of follow-up, the iron overload in the myocardium reduced from 2,63 Fe mg/g to 2,05 (p 0.003). The optimal R2* pancreas cut-off was 148 Hertz, achieving 78% sensitivity and 73% specificity. However, when combining the R2* pancreas cut off ≤ 50 Hertz and a ferritin ≤ 1222 ng/ml, we could reach a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% for cardiac siderosis. Only 28% were undergoing combined chelation at baseline assessment, which increased up to 50% on follow up evaluation. Conclusions Chelation therapy significantly reduced cardiac siderosis in thalassaemic patients. In patients with moderate/severe liver iron concentration undergoing chelation therapy, ferritin levels and myocardium iron improved earlier than the liver siderosis.

Screening for myeloid mutations in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes

ABSTRACT Introduction: One of the most critical complications in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is the progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The dynamics of clonal evolution in MDS and how acquired mutations can be used as biomarkers to track disease progression remains under investigation. Objective and method: Herein, we investigated the frequency of common myeloid clonal mutations (FLT3, NPM1, JAK2, IDH1 and IDH2) in 88 patients with MDS and 35 AML patients with myelodysplasia-related changes, followed at a single reference center in northeastern Brazil. Results: Overall, 9/88 (10%) ofthe MDSpatients and 9/35 (26%) of the secondary AML patients had at least one mutation. While the JAK2 V617F mutation was the most frequent in the MDS patients, the FLT3, NPM1, IDH1 and IDH2 mutations were more frequently found in the secondary AML group. Furthermore, there was a higher frequency of FLT3, NPM1, IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in MDS patients classified as high-risk subtypes than in those of lower risk. Conclusion: Despite the limited sample size, our data suggest that mutations in FLT3, NPM1, IDH1 and IDH2 genes could be potential biomarkers to detect early disease progression in MDS.

Main Complications during Pregnancy and Recommendations for Adequate Antenatal Care in Sickle Cell Disease: A Literature Review / Principais complicações durante a gestação e recomendações para o cuidado antenatal na doença falciforme: Revisão da literatura

Abstract Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic disease worldwide, with a variable prevalence in each continent. A single nucleotide substitution leads to an amino-acid change in the β-globin chain, altering the normal structure of hemoglobin, which is then called hemoglobin S inherited in homozygosity (HbSS) or double heterozygosity (HbSC, HbSβ), and leads to chronic hemolysis, vaso-occlusion, inflammation, and endothelium activation. Pregnant women with SCD are at a higher risk of developing maternal and perinatal complications. We performed a narrative review of the literature considering SCD and pregnancy, the main clinical and obstetrical complications, the specific antenatal care, and the follow-up for maternal and fetal surveillance. Pregnant women with SCD are at a higher risk of developing clinical and obstetric complications such as pain episodes, pulmonary complications, infections, thromboembolic events, preeclampsia, and maternal death. Their newborns are also at an increased risk of developing neonatal complications: fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth. Severe complications can occur in patients of any genotype. We concluded that SCD is a high-risk condition that increases maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary approach during pregnancy and the postpartum period is key to adequately diagnose and treat complications.

Resumo Doença falciforme (DF) é a condição genética mais comum no mundo, com uma prevalência variável nos continentes. A substituição de um nucleotídeo muda um aminoácido na cadeia da β globina, e altera a estrutura normal da hemoglobina, que é então chamada de hemoglobina S, e pode ser herdada em homozigose (HbSS) ou heterozigose (HbSC, HbSβ), e leva a hemólise crônica, vaso-oclusão, inflamação, e ativação endotelial. Realizou-se uma revisão narrativa da literatura considerando doença falciforme e gestação, as complicações clínicas e obstétricas, o cuidado antenatal específico, e o seguimento para monitoramento materno e fetal. Gestantes com DF têm maior risco de desenvolver complicações clínicas e obstétricas, como crises dolorosas, complicações pulmonares, infecções, eventos tromboembólicos, préeclâmpsia, e morte materna. E seus recém-nascidos correm maior risco de desenvovler complicações neonatais: restrição de crescimento fetal, prematuridade e óbito fetal/ neonatal. Complicações graves podem ocorrer em qualquer genótipo da doença. Concluiu-se que DF é uma condição de alto risco que aumenta a morbimortalidade materna e perinatal. Um seguimento com abordagem multidisciplinar na gestação e puerpério é fundamental para o diagnóstico e o tratamento das complicações.

Current global scenario of guidelines on the management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a systematic literature review / Cenário global de diretrizes para o manejo da hemoglobinúria paroxística noturna: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

Objective: To report the outcomes of a systematic literature review of guidelines and consensus on the management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and describe the main therapeutic options available worldwide. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in April 2018 with no time limit and reported in line with the PRISMA statement. The AGREE II instrument was used to determine the quality of each guideline included in the systematic review. Results: Eight guidelines/consensus were eligible, one developed by an international group, two in Spain, and one each in Turkey, Germany, Argentina, Australia and the United Kingdom. Supportive treatment with erythrocyte transfusion, anticoagulants and steroids is indicated by all guidelines and consensus. The use of erythropoietin is suggested by three of them. Recommendations for the prescription of eculizumab were consistent in all but one guideline, published in 2005. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is reported as the only potentially curative treatment for PNH, although its association with high mortality and morbidity rates is emphasized, being indicated for a selected group of patients. The AGREE II scores applied for each domain showed in general a low and heterogeneous methodological quality among guidelines. Conclusion: Despite the low and heterogeneous methodological quality, in general the comparison of guidelines and consensus for PNH management showed consistent recommendations regarding supportive care, eculizumab and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objetivo: Relatar os desfechos de uma revisão sistemática da literatura de diretrizes e documentos de consenso sobre o manejo da hemoglobinúria paroxística noturna (HPN) e descrever as principais opções terapêuticas disponíveis mundialmente. Métodos: Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi conduzida em abril de 2018 sem limite temporal e realizada de acordo com a recomendação PRISMA. O instrumento AGREE II foi utilizado para determinar a qualidade de cada diretriz incluída na revisão. Resultados: Foram elegíveis oito diretrizes/consensos, um desenvolvido por um grupo internacional, dois na Espanha e um em cada um dos países a seguir: Turquia, Alemanha, Argentina, Austrália e Reino Unido. O tratamento de suporte com transfusão de eritrócitos, anticoagulantes e esteroides é indicado por todos os documentos. A eritropoetina é indicada por três deles. A recomendação de prescrição do eculizumabe foi consistente em todos, exceto em um publicado em 2005. O transplante alogênico de células-tronco hematopoéticas é reportado como o único tratamento com potencial curativo para a HPN, apesar de uma enfática associação com maiores taxas de mortalidade e morbidade, sendo indicado para grupos selecionados de pacientes. Os escores AGREE II aplicados para cada domínio demonstraram, em geral, qualidade metodológica baixa e heterogênea entre as diretrizes. Conclusão: Apesar da qualidade metodológica baixa e heterogênea, em geral, a comparação de diretrizes e consensos para o manejo da HPN demonstrou recomendações consistentes quanto ao uso de tratamento de suporte, eculizumabe e transplante alogênico de células-tronco hematopoiéticas.

Talassemia beta maior e gestação na adolescência: relato de dois casos / Beta thalassemia major and pregnancy during adolescence: report of two cases

A talassemia beta maior é uma doença hematológica hereditária rara em que deficiência na síntese de cadeias globínicas beta causa anemia grave. O tratamento consiste de transfusão sanguínea e quelação de ferro. Descrevemos dois casos de adolescentes com talassemia beta maior, com gestação não planejada e início tardio de pré-natal. Uma delas apresentou piora da anemia, necessidade transfusional aumentada, restrição de crescimento fetal e senescência placentária. A outra apresentava também hipotireoidismo e baixo peso materno, e foi internada por duas ocasiões durante a gestação, por choque hemorrágico do dengue e por infecção respiratória associada a vírus influenza H1N1. Uma delas apresentou restrição de crescimento fetal e teve parto vaginal no termo complicado com hipotonia uterina. Ambas necessitaram de transfusão sanguínea no pós-parto e optaram por medroxiprogesterona como método contraceptivo subsequentemente. Esse relato ressalta a importância de orientação contraceptiva para essas mulheres e o papel do cuidado pré-natal especializado em conjunto com hematologista.

Beta thalassemia major is a rare hereditary blood disease in which impaired synthesis of beta globin chains causes severe anemia. Medical treatment consists of chronic blood transfusions and iron chelation. We describe two cases of adolescents with beta thalassemia major with unplanned pregnancies and late onset of prenatal care. One had worsening of anemia with increased transfusional requirement, fetal growth restriction, and placental senescence. The other was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and low maternal weight, and was admitted twice during pregnancy due to dengue shock syndrome and influenza H1N1-associated respiratory infection. She also developed fetal growth restriction and underwent vaginal delivery at term complicated by uterine hypotonia. Both patients required blood transfusions after birth and chose medroxyprogesterone as a contraceptive method afterwards. This report highlights the importance of medical advice on contraceptive methods for these women and the role of a specialized prenatal follow-up in association with a hematologist.

Brazilian Thalassemia Association protocol for iron chelation therapy in patients under regular transfusion

In the absence of an iron chelating agent, patients with beta-thalassemia on regular transfusions present complications of transfusion-related iron overload. Without iron chelation therapy, heart disease is the major cause of death; however, hepatic and endocrine complications also occur. Currently there are three iron chelating agents available for continuous use in patients with thalassemia on regular transfusions (desferrioxamine, deferiprone, and deferasirox) providing good results in reducing cardiac, hepatic and endocrine toxicity. These practice guidelines, prepared by the Scientific Committee of Associação Brasileira de Thalassemia (ABRASTA), presents a review of the literature regarding iron overload assessment (by imaging and laboratory exams) and the role of T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to control iron overload and iron chelation therapy, with evidence-based recommendations for each clinical situation. Based on this review, the authors propose an iron chelation protocol for patients with thalassemia under regular transfusions.

Hb H disease resulting from the association of an αº-thalassemia allele [-(α)20.5] with an unstable α-globin variant [Hb Icaria]: First report on the occurrence in Brazil

Hb H Disease is caused by the loss or inactivation of three of the four functional a-globin genes. Patients present chronic hemolytic anemia and splenomegaly. In some cases, occasional blood transfusions are required. Deletions are the main cause of this type of thalassemia (α-thalassemia). We describe here an unusual case of Hb H disease caused by the combination of a common αº deletion [-(α)20.5] with a rare point mutation (c.427T > A), thus resulting in an elongated and unstable α-globin variant, Hb Icaria, (X142K), with 31 additional amino-acid residues. Very high levels of Hb H and Hb Bart's were detected in the patient's red blood cells (14.7 and 19.0 percent, respectively). This is the first description of this infrequent association in the Brazilian population.