Adherence to prophylaxis in adolescents and young adults with severe haemophilia: a qualitative study with healthcare professionals.

Aim: to examine healthcare professionals' (HP) perceptions and experiences in relation to adherence to prophylactic treatment among young people living with haemophilia (YPH). Methods: All HPs in four haemophilia centres across England and Wales were invited to participate, and all HPs who agreed to take part (n = 6) were interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: HPs estimate that generally young people with haemophilia keep to their treatment regimen well, although they also recognise that adherence may fluctuate with many patients going through shorter periods of non-adherence. The increasingly personalised or flexible approach to prophylaxis makes it harder to assess adherence. The main themes identified through IPA included (1) HPs' suggest that adherence fluctuates (2) Non-adherence is mainly driven by lifestyle and developmental, social and family factors, and (3) Education, HPs' sensitivity to individual needs, and psychological and peer support are key facilitators of good adherence. Conclusion: The increasingly flexible approach to prophylaxis requires a new way of thinking about, and assessment of, adherence. More personalised treatment regimen can be more complicated and may, therefore, lead to accidental non-adherence. The results of this study with HPs complement those of a previous qualitative study with patients but place greater emphasis on a broader perspective on understanding drivers of non-adherence as well as understanding strategies to improve adherence in the minority of patients who appear to struggle.

Common themes and challenges in hemophilia care: a multinational perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To identify ways that provision of hemophilia care can be maximized at the local level, irrespective of available resources or cultural or geographic challenges. METHODS: The SHIELD group used its multinational experience to share examples of local initiatives that have been employed to deliver optimal hemophilia care. RESULTS: The examples were reviewed and categorized into four key themes: guidelines and algorithms for delivery of care; collaboration with patients and allied groups for care and education; registries for the monitoring of treatment and outcomes and health care planning and delivery; and opportunities for personalization of care. These themes were then incorporated into a road map for collaborative care in hemophilia that reflected the contribution of best practice. DISCUSSION: Differing healthcare reimbursement systems, budgetary constraints, and geographical and cultural factors make it difficult for any country to fully deliver ideal care for people with hemophilia. The SHIELD approach for collaborative care provides illustrative examples of how four key themes can be used to optimize hemophilia care in any setting. ABBREVIATIONS: AHCDC: Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada; AICE: Italian Association of Hemophilia Centres; ATHN: American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network; EAHAD: European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders; EHC: European Hemophilia Consortium; FIX: Coagulation Factor IX; FVIII: Coagulation Factor VIII; HAL: Haemophilia Activity List; HJHS: Haemophilia Joint Health Score; HTC: Hemophilia Treatment Centre; HTCCNC: Hemophilia Treatment Centre Collaborative Network of China; MASAC: Medical and Scientific Advisory Council; MDT: Multidisciplinary team; NHD: National Haemophilia Database; NHF: National Hemophilia Foundation; PK: Pharmacokinetics; POCUS: Point of care ultrasound; PWH: People with haemophilia; SHIELD: Supporting Hemophilia through International Education, Learning and Development; WFH: World Federation of Hemophilia.

Treatment of bleeding episodes in haemophilia A complicated by a factor VIII inhibitor in patients receiving Emicizumab. Interim guidance from UKHCDO Inhibitor Working Party and Executive Committee.

Emicizumab is a bispecific antibody that activates FX to FXa in the absence of FVIII. It has been shown to reduce bleeding episodes in people with haemophilia A complicated by a FVIII inhibitor. Despite the protection against bleeds, some breakthrough bleeds are inevitable and these may require additional haemostatic treatment. Emicizumab has been associated with severe adverse events when co-administered with activated prothrombin complex concentrate. To minimize the risk of adverse events, the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation issues the following updated interim guidance to its Inhibitor Guidelines for managing patients receiving Emicizumab based on the limit published information available in February 2018.

Optimization of pre-analytical heat treatment for inhibitor detection in haemophilia A.

INTRODUCTION: Factor VIII (FVIII) antibody formation is the greatest clinical and laboratory challenge within the haemophilia centre. The Nijmegen-Bethesda assay (NBA) is the gold standard for inhibitor quantification, but affected by pre-analytical variables including a patient's FVIII activity (FVIII:C). Pre-analytical heat treatment (PHT) provides a methodology for inhibitor testing when measurable FVIII:C is present. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of different PHT conditions (time/temperature) on FVIII:C as well as on potency of inhibitory activity in samples containing FVIII:C (endogenous pooled plasma and exogenous recombinant FVIII (rFL-FVIII) concentrate) or FVIII inhibitor. RESULTS: PHT of endogenous FVIII at 37°C, 47°C and 52°C resulted in declining measurable FVIII:C at 120 minutes (69%, 57% and 13% of the original FVIII:C, respectively). Incubation at 56°C resulted in FVIII:C ≤ 1IU/dL after 60 minutes for endogenous FVIII and 120 minutes for rFL-FVIII. Incubation at 58°C resulted in FVIII:C < 1IU/dL at 15-30 minutes for endogenous FVIII and at 30-60 minutes for rFL-FVIII. No difference was seen for inhibitor detection following PHT (56°C or 58°C) by NBA or anti-FVIII IgG ELISA. CONCLUSION: PHT at 58°C for 30 minutes demonstrated consistent reduction in FVIII:C < 1IU/dL without appearing to affect inhibitor detection. Laboratory awareness of differences in thermostability of different sources of FVIII is important when choosing PHT conditions.

Individualized PK-based prophylaxis in severe haemophilia.

Over the past decades, haemophilia management has continually evolved, with prophylaxis now considered the treatment of choice. Prophylaxis primarily seeks to prevent bleeding and haemarthrosis episodes from occurring and avert the otherwise inevitable haemophilic arthropathy. Yet, numerous unanswered issues remain. These concern dose levels, dosing intervals, ways of integrating variability in bleeding phenotype, patient age, joint status, lifestyle, physical activity, treatment adherence and individual responses to FVIII or FIX concentrates. Individualized prophylaxis may thus be paramount. One crucial tool that may allow more accurate prophylaxis regimens to be implemented is the individual pharmacokinetic (PK) study. Therefore, physicians in charge of managing those living with haemophilia must be comfortable with PK profiling in order to be in a position to tailor patients' treatment, taking into account PK data, while minimizing patients' inconvenience, discomfort, as well as, possibly, treatment costs. For optimization of prophylaxis, recent development of recombinant molecules with more attractive PK properties, such as prolonged elimination half-life, increases the choice of dosing regimens, enabling decreased frequency of dosing for some, if deemed appropriate. For each patient, PK parameters can be determined, including trough levels, AUC, and time spent under a predefined threshold, with additional pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters possibly established by means of a global coagulation test like the thrombin generation test. Most importantly, target PK/PD parameters will need to consider clinical variables like patient age, body weight, joint status, treatment adherence, number of bleeding episodes, activity index or lifestyle.

Adherence to prophylaxis in adolescents and young adults with severe haemophilia A, a qualitative study with patients.

Introduction: Reported levels of adherence to prophylaxis among young people with haemophilia (YPH) vary widely and are predominately based on estimations made by healthcare professionals and parents. Reasons for (non)adherence among YPH in particular have not been evidenced. Aim: to examine experiences in relation to prophylaxis with YPH themselves, and barriers and facilitators to their adherence. Methods: 11 Participants were recruited in five haemophilia centres across England and Wales. All patients who met the inclusion criteria (aged 12-25, diagnosed with haemophilia, on prophylaxis) were approached during a routine check-up appointment, and all participants who agreed to take part were interviewed. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Self-reported adherence to prophylaxis was good. Few participants admitted to intentionally skipping injections although they reported sometimes forgetting. However, due to the increasingly personalised and flexible approach to prophylaxis, adherence is not straightforward to define. Barriers to adherence included a busy lifestyle, dislike of the intravenous injection, venous access issues, anxiety or stress and being out of one's normal routine. Support was an important facilitator to adherence, including support from health professionals at the haemophilia centre as well as friends. Parents appear to be very involved with their child's haemophilia management, even after they leave home. Conclusion: What this study adds is that the increasingly flexible and personalised approach to managing prophylaxis in haemophilia may sometimes lead to confusion around treatment frequency and dosing. This may lead to accidental non-adherence, which is distinct from both skipping and forgetting. Advice from haemophilia teams may not always be consistent and is likely to be interpreted differently by different individuals. Some additional training and education of patients and their families to increase their knowledge and skills around prophylaxis may reduce this confusion and therefore is likely to improve adherence further.

A computer-based model to assess costs associated with the use of factor VIII and factor IX one-stage and chromogenic activity assays.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of coagulation factor factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) activity can be associated with a high level of variability using one-stage assays based on activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Chromogenic assays show less variability, but are less commonly used in clinical laboratories. In addition, one-stage assay accuracy using certain reagent and instrument combinations is compromised by some modified recombinant factor concentrates. Reluctance among some in the hematology laboratory community to adopt the use of chromogenic assays may be partly attributable to lack of familiarity and perceived higher associated costs. OBJECTIVES: To identify and characterize key cost parameters associated with one-stage APTT and chromogenic assays for FVIII and FIX activity using a computer-based cost analysis model. METHODS: A cost model for FVIII and FIX chromogenic assays relative to APTT assays was generated using assumptions derived from interviews with hematologists and laboratory scientists, common clinical laboratory practise, manufacturer list prices and assay kit configurations. RESULTS: Key factors that contribute to costs are factor-deficient plasma and kit reagents for one-stage and chromogenic assays, respectively. The stability of chromogenic assay kit reagents also limits the cost efficiency compared with APTT testing. Costs for chromogenic assays might be reduced by 50-75% using batch testing, aliquoting and freezing of kit reagents. CONCLUSIONS: Both batch testing and aliquoting of chromogenic kit reagents might improve cost efficiency for FVIII and FIX chromogenic assays, but would require validation. Laboratory validation and regulatory approval as well as education and training in the use of chromogenic assays might facilitate wider adoption by clinical laboratories.

Ongoing risk of thrombosis with factor XI concentrate: 5 years experience in two centres.

INTRODUCTION: Factor XI (FXI) deficiency is the commonest of the rare bleeding disorders, affecting 2079 individuals in the United Kingdom. Treatment options for bleeding or surgery include antifibrinolytics, fresh frozen plasma or plasma-derived (pd) FXI concentrates. There were a number of reports of thrombosis following treatment with FXI concentrates prior to changes in their manufacturing processes made in the mid-1990's. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of adverse events (haemorrhagic and thrombotic) following usage of pd-FXI concentrates at two large UK haemophilia centres. Retrospective chart review of all consecutively treated patients with BPL Factor XI(®) or Hemoleven(®) over a 5-year period (11/06-11/11) was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (median age = 57.1 years) received treatment over 64 treatment episodes (surgery = 56, bleeding = 5, other = 3), using 126 000 U of concentrate. Median baseline FXI:C was 9 U dL(-1) (range = <1-51), with 21 having severe and eight partial deficiency. BPL Factor XI(®) was used in 39 episodes (79 110 U) and Hemoleven(®) 25 episodes (46 890 U). There were six clinically significant bleeding events, managed either with a single additional dose of FXI concentrate (n = 4) or requiring no further intervention (n = 2). One patient required blood transfusion and one oral iron replacement. Two thrombotic events (transient ischaemic attack and pulmonary emboli), occurred in two patients with severe FXI deficiency, despite cautious FXI concentrate usage in the perioperative period. CONCLUSIONS: FXI concentrate use is efficacious and safe in the majority of cases although physicians should remain mindful of the possibility of thrombotic complications.

The incidence of factor VIII inhibitors in severe haemophilia A following a major switch from full-length to B-domain-deleted factor VIII: a prospective cohort comparison.

Although it has been suggested that switching of factor VIII (FVIII) products may increase inhibitor formation this is disputed. Half of UK patients changed rFVIII brands because of national contracting in 2010, presenting an opportunity to compare inhibitor incidence of switchers with non-switchers. Centres were requested to test all the patients for inhibitors prior to the switching date and 6-monthly thereafter. Positive and negative inhibitor test data were also collected to analyse for testing bias. A total of 1198 patients with severe haemophilia A and treated with Advate, Kogenate/Helixate or Refacto AF preswitch were included in the analysis, of whom 516 switched to Refacto-AF and 682 did not switch products. Five new inhibitors were reported amongst previously treated patients (>50 exposure days) with a median titre at the time of detection of 1.25 BU mL(-1) (IQR 0.7-23.05). One inhibitor occurred in a non-switcher using Kogenate, an incidence of 1.5 per 1000 treatment-years (95% CI 0.2-10.5). Four inhibitors arose in patients who had switched from Kogenate (two) or Advate (two) to ReFacto-AF, an incidence of 7.8 per 1000 treatment-years (95% CI 2.9-20.8). These incidence rates did not differ significantly from one another (incidence rate ratio 5.3 (95% CI 0.5-260.3) or from the historical rate of 6.05 inhibitors/1000 treatment-years (95% CI 5.18-7.06). Only one inhibitor (non-switcher) persisted. Non-switchers were significantly older (P = 0.03), and used significantly less FVIII per year (P = 0.005) prior to switching. Following switching, factor usage increased similarly (P = 0.53) in both groups. Switching from FLRFVIII to Refacto-AF (BDDRFVIII) was not associated with an increased inhibitor development.

Safety and efficacy of a von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate (Wilate®): a single centre experience.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the commonest inherited bleeding disorder. Management of major surgery or bleeding often requires treatment with a plasma-derived (pd) VWF/FVIII containing concentrate. Wilate® is a dual-virally inactivated pd-concentrate, produced specifically for the treatment of VWD, containing physiological (1:1) ratios of VWF: FVIII. We reviewed efficacy and safety of Wilate® usage (2007-2012) at our centre including 2 years following product switching the majority of patients. Clinical and laboratory data of all adult patients treated with Wilate® during the study period were evaluated. Fifty four patients used 3 972 150 IU of Wilate® (1378 infusions) between 1/3/07 and 1/5/12. Efficacy was rated as being excellent or good in 94% of surgical episodes (n = 70; 34 patients) and 98% of bleeding/traumatic episodes (n = 46; 25 patients). Eight patients (2 636 100 IU) were managed on home treatment regimens. Two patients switched to Wilate® prophylaxis in the evaluation period, demonstrating similar efficacy to a previous product. Incremental recoveries (n = 37) were 2.24 IU dL(-1) per IU kg(-1) for FVIII:C, 2.39 IU dL(-1) per IU kg(-1) for VWF:Ag and 1.88 IU dL(-1) per IU kg(-1) for VWF:RCo. Six adverse events occurred in six patients (11.1% patients) over 1378 infusions (0.44%). Half of these were retrospectively felt to be infusion speed related. No notable accumulation of FVIII was seen in patients treated for ≥3 days. There was no treatment failure, thrombosis, transfusion transmitted infection or inhibitory VWF antibodies seen. Our findings confirm safety and efficacy of Wilate® in an adult VWD population with lack of notable FVIII accumulation.

The incidence and magnitude of fibrinolytic activation in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a global disease, with over 2.5 million deaths annually from hemorrhage and coagulopathy. Overt hyperfibrinolysis is rare in trauma, and is associated with massive fatal injuries. Paradoxically, clinical trials suggest a much broader indication for antifibrinolytics. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and magnitude of fibrinolytic activation in trauma patients and its relationship to clot lysis as measured by thromboelastometry. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 303 consecutive trauma patients admitted between January 2007 and June 2009 was performed. Blood was drawn on arrival for thromboelastometry (TEM) and coagulation assays. Follow-up was until hospital discharge or death. TEM hyperfibrinolysis was defined as maximum clot lysis of > 15%. Fibrinolytic activation (FA) was determined according to plasmin-antiplasmin (PAP) complex and D-dimer levels. Data were collected on demographics, mechanism, severity of injury, and baseline vital signs. The primary outcome measure was 28-day mortality. The secondary outcome measures were 28-day ventilator-free days and 24-h transfusion requirement. RESULTS: Only 5% of patients had severe fibrinolysis on TEM, but 57% of patients had evidence of 'moderate' fibrinolysis, with PAP complex levels elevated to over twice normal (> 1500 µg L(-1)) without lysis on TEM. TEM detected clot lysis only when PAP complex levels were increased to 30 times normal (P < 0.001) and antiplasmin levels were < 75% of normal. Patients with FA had increased 28-day mortality as compared with those with no FA (12% vs. 1%, P < 0.001), fewer ventilator-free days, and longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: FA occurs in the majority of trauma patients, and the magnitude of FA correlates with poor clinical outcome. This was not detected by conventional TEM, which is an insensitive measure of endogenous fibrinolytic activity.

Access to primary dental care for patients with inherited bleeding disorders.

Patients with inherited bleeding disorders (IBD) can face difficulty in accessing primary dental care either due to disease-specific or patient-related barriers. This can lead to poor oral health and increase the need for more invasive dental treatment. This study aimed to highlight actual and perceived barriers that IBD patients from the East London area were experiencing. It also gives an overview of the experience history of the General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) treating these patients. Information was gathered via pre-designed surveys as part of a service development audit. A total of 105 anonymous patient surveys and 50 GDP surveys were completed between December 2010 and July 2011. The patient survey highlighted more patients to be affected by patient-related than disease-specific barriers to access dental care. The GDP survey identified that just under half of GDPs questioned were not confident in the dental management of patients with bleeding disorders. Identifying misconceptions and barriers to access primary dental care will enable further development of our shared-care approach between General Dental Services, Hospital or Community Dental Services and Haemophilia Centre, optimizing regular preventative advice and follow ups to prevent dental disease and invasive dental treatment requiring haemostatic treatment.

Retroviral transfer of a dominant TCR prevents surface expression of a large proportion of the endogenous TCR repertoire in human T cells.

The latent membrane protein-2 (LMP2) of Epstein-Barr virus is a potential target for T-cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy of Hodgkin lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Here, we modified a human leukocyte antigen-A2-restricted, LMP2-specific TCR to achieve efficient expression following retroviral TCR gene transfer. The unmodified TCR was poorly expressed in primary human T cells, suggesting that it competed inefficiently with endogenous TCR chains for cell surface expression. In order to improve this TCR, we replaced the human constant region with murine sequences, linked the two TCR genes using a self-cleaving 2A sequence and finally, codon optimized the TCR-alpha-2A-beta cassette for efficient translation in human cells. Retroviral transfer of the modified TCR resulted in efficient surface expression and HLA-A2/LMP2 pentamer binding. The transduced cells showed peptide-specific interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 production and killed target cells displaying the LMP2 peptide. Importantly, the introduced LMP2-TCR suppressed the cell surface expression of a large proportion of endogenous TCR combinations present in primary human T cells. The design of dominant TCR is likely to improve TCR gene therapy by reducing the risk of potential autoreactivity of endogenous and mispaired TCR combinations.

Current status of allogeneic stem cell transplantation for treatment of hematologic malignancies.

Bone marrow transplantation has evolved significantly over the past 40 years. The initial rationale of using donor bone marrow to guarantee a supply of hematopoietic stem cells uncontaminated by tumor remains a relevant principle today. However, the donor hematopoietic cells also exert an important immunological, therapeutic effect in the recipient. This synopsis will consider the balance of conditioning therapy intensity and immunological effect of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, informing the positioning of these approaches in current treatment algorithms.

The effect of low-dose aciclovir on reactivation of varicella zoster virus after allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are at high risk of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation, with a significant incidence of dissemination. This study reports a retrospective analysis of 247 allogeneic HSCT recipients receiving anti-viral prophylaxis with low-dose oral aciclovir 400 mg/day, administered until immunosuppression was discontinued and the CD4(+) cell count exceeded 200/mm(3). Viral reactivation was successfully suppressed by aciclovir prophylaxis, with only one case of breakthrough infection. The cumulative incidence of zoster infection at 1 year post transplant was 2% and at 5 years 34%. In all, 64 patients discontinued prophylaxis. Zoster developed in 26 of these, giving a cumulative incidence of infection at 1 year after stopping aciclovir of 39% and at 3 years 44%. Infection occurred in a localised dermatomal distribution in 93% of cases. This supports previous findings that aciclovir prophylaxis prevents early VZV reactivation, although the long-term incidence is not affected as infection occurs once prophylaxis is discontinued. Such infection, however, is mild and localised. This study does not support the idea that use of such low-dose aciclovir regimens reduces the zoster incidence by permitting subclinical reactivation during prophylaxis, and therefore the re-establishment of protective anti-viral immunity.