Clinical Practice Patterns in Sickle Cell Disease Treatment: Disease-modifying and Potentially Curative Therapies.

Therapeutic options for sickle cell disease (SCD) have increased recently as well as the development of updated national guidelines. It is not known how these options are being offered or to what degree guidelines are incorporated into clinical practice. This study aimed to describe practice patterns for pediatric hematologists regarding the use of disease-modifying and potentially curative therapies for SCD. A 9-section, cross-sectional electronic survey was disseminated during a 3-month period via SurveyMonkey, to members of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Hemoglobinopathy Special Interest Group (ASPHO HSIG). A total of 88 physician members of the ASPHO HSIG were surveyed. Ninety percent of respondents (72/80) start hydroxyurea routinely in patients with HbSS and HbSß 0 thalassemia, regardless of disease severity. Laboratory monitoring was recommended every 3 months for stable dosing in 63.8% (51/80). New therapies were recommended for patients on hydroxyurea who were still experiencing SCD complications: L-glutamine 68.5% (37/54) or crizanlizumab 93.1% (54/58). Voxelotor was recommended for patients on hydroxyurea with low hemoglobin in 65.1% (43/66) of cases. Matched sibling transplant was considered for any disease severity by 55.1% (38/69). Gene therapy trials are offered on-site by 29% (20/69). Our study demonstrated the enhanced utilization of hydroxyurea while revealing the unexplored potential of other disease-modifying therapies in SCD. These findings underscore the importance of continued knowledge acquisition about the long-term efficacy of new medical therapies and addressing barriers to the use of proven therapies and guide the development of future studies of optimal SCD management.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for B-thalassemia major with alemtuzumab.

While matched related donor (MRD) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative option for transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT), the use of alternative sources has increased, resulting in the exploration of novel transplant-conditioning regimens to reduce the contribution of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft failure (GF) to transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Alemtuzumab is a CD52 monoclonal antibody that has been successfully incorporated into myeloablative conditioning regimens for other hematologic conditions, yet there have been limited studies regarding the use of alemtuzumab in HSCT for TDT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate engraftment, incidence of GVHD, and transplant related morbidity and mortality in patients with TDT who received alemtuzumab in addition to standard busulfan-based conditioning. The primary endpoint was severe GVHD-free, event-free survival (GEFS). Our cohort included 24 patients with a median age of 6.8 years (range 1.5-14.9). Eleven patients received a 10/10 MRD HSCT, eleven 10/10 unrelated donor (UD), and two mismatched UD. All patients achieved primary engraftment. For all patients, 5-year GEFS was 77.4% and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 91%. The 5-year cumulative incidence of GF (attributed to poor graft function) without loss of donor chimerism was 13.8% (95% CI: 4.5, 35.3). We report low rates of significant acute GVHD grade II-IV (12.5%) and chronic GVHD (4.4%). Younger age and MRD were associated with significantly improved GEFS, OS and EFS. Our results show that the use of alemtuzumab promotes stable engraftment, may reduce rates of severe GVHD, and results in acceptable GEFS, OS, and EFS.

Perceptions and experiences of Latinx parents with language barriers in a pediatric emergency department: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has shown disparities exist among Latinx children who require treatment for respiratory illnesses within the pediatric emergency department (PED). Limited data exist regarding Latinx families' experiences on the care they received at PEDs within non-traditional destination areas (NDA). Their experiences can identify areas of improvement to potentially reduce healthcare disparities among pediatric patients within this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of Latinx families with low English proficiency in the PED with a NDA. The broader purpose was to identify areas of improvement for reducing health care disparities among Latinx families. METHODS: We used qualitative methods to analyze semi-structured interviews among Latinx families who presented to the PED with their 0-2 year-old child for a respiratory illness from May 2019 through January 2020. All participants had low English proficiency and requested a Spanish interpreter during registration. All interviews were transcribed and reviewed using thematic analysis based on a phenomenology framework. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 16 Latinx parents. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) Uncertainty - Families expressed uncertainty regarding how to care for a child with distressing symptoms, (2) Communication - Families favored in-person interpreters which enhanced communication and allowed families to feel more informed, (3) System Burden - Families reported that the unfamiliarity with the US health system and lack of resources are additional burdens, and (4) Emotional Support - The emergency department visits garnered confidence and reassurance for families. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified four major themes among Latinx families within a PED of a NDA. Potential areas of interventions should focus on supporting access to an interpreter, improving information delivery, and enhancing education on community resources for families with low English proficiency.

Stroke Avoidance for Children in REpública Dominicana (SACRED): Protocol for a Prospective Study of Stroke Risk and Hydroxyurea Treatment in Sickle Cell Anemia.

BACKGROUND: In the Dominican Republic, where the burden of sickle cell anemia (SCA) is high, many children lack access to routine screening and preventative care. Children with SCA are at risk for stroke, an event that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. In the United States, screening via transcranial Doppler (TCD) identifies children with SCA at highest stroke risk, allowing early intervention with blood transfusions. The need for indefinite transfusions for primary stroke prevention limits their practicality in limited-resource countries. Hydroxyurea has been shown to lower TCD velocities and to prevent conversion from conditional (170 to 199 cm/sec) to abnormal (greater than or equal to 200 cm/sec) velocities. In resource-limited settings, implementation of a TCD screening program, coupled with hydroxyurea therapy, could reduce the burden of SCA and stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the Stroke Avoidance for Children in REpública Dominicana (SACRED) trial are (1) to screen children with SCA for stroke risk using TCD and to determine the prevalence of elevated velocities in a cross-sectional sample; (2) to identify clinical and laboratory correlates of elevated velocities; and (3) to obtain longitudinal data on the natural history of TCD velocities and to measure therapeutic effects of hydroxyurea. METHODS: This prospective trial, designed and conducted by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and Hospital Infantil Robert Reid Cabral (HIRRC) with Centro de Obstetricia y Ginecología, includes a baseline cross-sectional epidemiological survey of the distribution of TCD velocities across a large cohort of children with SCA in the Dominican Republic. Children with conditional velocities are eligible to begin protocol-directed hydroxyurea if laboratory criteria are met. The treatment schedule begins with a fixed-dose of approximately 20 mg/kg/day for 6 months, after which it escalates to maximum tolerated dose (MTD). All participants undergo longitudinal annual TCD evaluation, while those on hydroxyurea have semi-annual evaluations during the 3-year study period. Data are collected using an Internet-based Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system with forms translated into Spanish; both remote and on-site monitoring are used. RESULTS: To date, 122 children with SCA have enrolled in SACRED including 85 (69.7%, 85/122) with normal, 29 (23.8%, 29/122) with conditional, 5 (4.1%, 5/122) with abnormal, and 3 (2.5%, 3/122) with inadequate TCD velocities. Of the 29 children with conditional TCD velocities, 17 (59%, 17/29) have initiated hydroxyurea per protocol, with plans for escalation to MTD. CONCLUSIONS: The SACRED trial will provide novel epidemiologic data about the prevalence of children with SCA and increased stroke risk in the Dominican Republic. The study also includes an investigation of the impact of hydroxyurea at MTD on elevated TCD velocities, as well as clinical and laboratory parameters. The design and implementation of SACRED reflect a successful international institutional partnership, one that features local capacity building and training in research methods and clinical care. The trial's results have important implications for screening and prevention of primary stroke in children with SCA living in resource-limited settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02769845; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02769845 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6qf6n0Egh).