Thalassemias

High Prevalence of Metabolic Bone Disease Seen in Children With Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia

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Researchers sought to determine the prevalence of fractures and osteoporosis among adolescents and young adults with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

A high percentage of patients with beta thalassemia demonstrated an increase in hemoglobin levels.

Luspatercept May Be a Viable Treatment Option for Anemia in Non-Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether luspatercept is effective in patients with non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

Zynteglo Approved as First Gene Therapy for Beta-Thalassemia

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Brian Park, PharmD

Zynteglo is a one-time gene therapy that works by adding functional copies of a modified form of the β-globin gene into a patient’s own hematopoietic stem cells.

Modern tools for measuring health-related quality of life may be inadequate for thalassemia patients

Psychological Models May Aid in Improving ICT Adherence in Beta-Thalassemia

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine a model to help improve adherence to iron chelation therapy among patients with beta-thalassemia.

Beta-Thalassemia Minor in Pregnant Women Screened in Rural India

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers studied the prevalence of beta-thalassemia minor in pregnant women in a rural region of India.

Beti-Cel, a Gene Therapy for Beta-Thalassemia, Gets FDA Panel Support

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Brian Park, PharmD

Beti-cel is an investigational one-time gene therapy that works by adding functional copies of a modified form of the beta-globin gene into a patient’s own hematopoietic stem cells.

Bristol Myers Squibb Withdraws Luspatercept sBLA for NTD Beta Thalassemia

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Brian Park, PharmD

The application included data from the phase 2 BEYOND study.

Lipid Profiles in Beta-Thalassemia With IVS Mutations and Hydroxyurea Therapy

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to identify lipid profiles of red blood cell membranes in patients with beta-thalassemia, in the context of IVS mutations and hydroxyurea treatment.

A nurse performs vital signs monitoring (VSM).

Mortality With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Beta-Thalassemia

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to determine mortality rates among patients with beta-thalassemia and pulmonary arterial hypertension who had right heart catheterization.

In a Canadian matched cohort study, intolerance drove patients with CP-CML to switch from generic im

Natural Iron-Chelating Agent May Be Effective for Serum Ferritin Reduction in Beta-Thalassemia

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Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether silymarin would be safe and effective in decreasing serum ferritin levels in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia.

Physicians can observe and manage thalassemia-related complications in adult patients.

Thalassemia May Not Increase Risk for Poor Outcomes From COVID-19

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Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

Researchers sought to determine whether patients with thalassemia would be at an increased risk for excess morbidity or mortality from COVID-19.

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Addressing Gaps in Care for Patients With Thalassemia

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Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC, AHC

Researchers sought to identify and address gaps in care for patients with thalassemia.

Brand of Deferasirox Does Not Appear to Affect Response in Beta Thalassemia

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine whether the brands of deferasirox would have different outcomes in patients with major beta thalassemia.

Gene Therapy Potentially Curative for β-Thalassemia

Transfusion independence, near-normal Hb levels seen for most children and adults receiving beti-cel for non-β⁰/β⁰ genotype β-thalassemia

Adherence to Iron Chelation Therapy in Young Patients With Thalassemia

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to determine the factors linked to adherence to iron chelation therapy in young patients with thalassemia.

Stored Vs Fresh Blood for Patients With Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to assess the outcomes for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia based on the use of a fresh blood product vs a stored blood product.

Calcium Channel Blocker Plus Iron Chelation Therapy Reduces Cardiac Iron Overload in Children With Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia

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Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether amlodipine with chelation therapy would be more effective in reducing cardiac iron overload in transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

Bleeding and Thrombotic Risks in Young Patients With Beta-Thalassemia Major

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia major are at increased risk of both bleeding and thrombosis.

Thalidomide Appears Safe, Effective in Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine whether thalidomide would be an effective therapy for patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

One-Time Gene Therapy Gets Priority Review for Beta-Thalassemia

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Brian Park, PharmD

Betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel) is a one-time gene therapy that works by adding functional copies of a modified form of the β-globin gene into a patient’s own hematopoietic stem cells.

Transfusion Duration Predicts Risk of Abnormal Kidney Function in Patients With Thalassemia

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine whether there is a need for regular kidney surveillance to detect dysfunction among pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

COVID-19 Pandemic Exacerbated Existing Problems With Thalassemia Care

By

Dr Androulla Eleftheriou

Τhe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges in thalassemia care worldwide.

Luspatercept Under Review for Nontransfusion Dependent Beta Thalassemia

By

Brian Park, PharmD

The application is supported by data from the phase 2 BEYOND study.

Droplet-Based Digital PCR May Be Effective for Prenatal Alpha-Thalassemia Detection

By

Patricia Chaney

Researchers sought to determine whether a droplet digital PCR would be effective for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia.

Prenatal Diagnosis Results in Early Diagnosis of Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia and Better Growth Outcomes

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Researchers sought to determine the clinical outcomes of children with thalassemia whose parents did or did not undergo prenatal diagnosis testing.

Doctor Showing Digital Tablet To Patient in ICU

Beta Thalassemia Carriers May Be More Susceptible to Severe COVID-19

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Patricia Chaney

Researchers sought to determine whether patients with beta thalassemia heterozygosity are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.

Correlation Seen Between Thyroid Function, Iron Overload in Patients With Beta Thalassemia

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Patricia Chaney

Researchers sought to determine a correlation between endocrine levels and iron overload in patients with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and growth retardation.

Patients With Beta-Thalassemia Receiving Therapy May Suffer From Growth Issues

By

Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine whether patients with thalassemia may have growth impairments from their disease.

Economics of Betibeglogene Autotemcel for Patients With Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to conduct an economic evaluation of the use of beti-cel gene therapy in the treatment of transfusion-dependent -thalassemia.

New cancer-specific designs are needed to balance out heart and cancer outcomes in the chronic disease setting of CLL.

MRI T2 Effective at Detecting Iron Overload in Patients With Thalassemia

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Patricia Chaney

Researchers sought to determine whether MRI T2 is an effective way to detect iron concentrations in the heart, liver, and pancreas during chelation therapy for patients with thalassemia major.

Carvedilol Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients With Transfusion‑Dependent Thalassemia

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Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether carvedilol would improve left ventricular diastolic function in patients with transfusion‑dependent thalassemia who had iron overload cardiomyopathy.

Mitapivat Induces Responses in Patients With Thalassemia

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine whether mitapivat would improve clinical outcomes in patients with thalassemias who are not transfusion-dependent.

Cardiac T2* Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Siderosis Validated in Patients With Thalassemia Major

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to validate the usefulness of cardiac T2* magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate cardiac siderosis in patients with thalassemia major.

Abatacept May Be Additional Prophylaxis for Graft-vs-Host Disease in Patients With Beta-Thalassemia

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Patricia Chaney

Researchers sought to determine whether adding abatacept to standard prophylaxis may reduce rates of GVHD in patients with beta-thalassemia.

Dose of Total Body Irradiation With Transplantation for Hemoglobinopathies

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether TBI could help improve treatment with allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation in patients with severe hemoglobinopathies.

Racial minorities are poorly represented in genomic research databases, raising important questions

Deferiprone Non-Inferior to Deferasirox for Patients With Pediatric Hemoglobinopathy

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Researchers sought to determine whether deferiprone could be a good option to treat pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathy.

Deferasirox FCT Good Option for Management of Iron Overload in Iron Chelation Therapy

By

Patricia Chaney

Researchers sought to determine whether deferasirox would be a good option for long-term management of iron overload in patients who receive iron chelation therapy.

An Overview of the Use of Luspatercept for Thalassemia

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Patricia Chaney

Luspatercept, an activin receptor ligand trap, has shown efficacy and safety in patients with 𝛽-thalassemia.

Promising Follow-Up of Trials Using CRISPR-Cas9 for Inherited Hemoglobinopathies

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Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers sought to determine whether CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy would be an effective treatment for patients with sickle cell disease or -thalassemia.

Ethnographic Factors May Negate Need for Matched Sibling Donors With Beta-Thalassemia

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

In communities where consanguineous marriages are commonplace, nonsibling matched donor transplants may represent a viable option in patients with beta-thalassemia.

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing May Be Effective in β-Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Disease

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Preliminary results suggest that CRISPR-Cas9 editing of BCL11A may benefit patients with sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia by potentially eliminating vaso-occlusive episodes or the need for transfusion.

Comorbidity Rate Remains High in Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia Compared With General Population

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Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Among patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, comorbidity and mortality rates remain high, suggesting an unmet need among patients.

Treatment Considerations for Thalassemia in the Emergency Department

By

Caleb Rans, PharmD

Antoine N. Saliba, MD, and colleagues summarized current literature surrounding the frequent complications that bring patients with thalassemia into the ED.

FDA Grants Orphan Drug Status to Mitapivat for Thalassemia

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Brian Park, PharmD

The FDA has granted Orphan Drug designation to mitapivat (AG-348; Agios Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of thalassemia.

Promising New Noninvasive Test Developed for β-Thalassemia in At-Risk Pregnancies

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Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Compared to invasive prenatal diagnosis, a noninvansive assay may be a viable alternative for genotyping a fetus in pregnancy at high-risk for β-thalassemia.

Ferriprox Twice-a-Day Tablet Dosing Approved for Transfusional Iron Overload Due to Thalassemia Syndromes

By

Brian Park, PharmD

The FDA has approved a twice-a-day formulation of Ferriprox® (deferiprone; Chiesi) for the treatment of transfusional iron overload due to thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate.

Altered Bone Marrow Microenvironment Induces Defect of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in β-Thalassemia

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Dibash Kumar Das, PhD

For patients with β-thalassemia who undergo HSCT, exposure to a normal microenvironment and the impairment of HSCs may be reversible in the presence of a normal microenvironment and in vivo protein restoration.

Abnormal red blood cells in Blood smear from a patient with thalassemia.

Luspatercept Improves Transfusion Burden in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

When compared with placebo, luspatercept increased the percentage of patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia who had a reduction in transfusion burden.