ALBERT

Description: Despite a decade of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity, a few individuals termed as long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) maintain a stable CD4+ T-cell count for a period of time. The aim of this study was to establish, through the sequential determination of all known predictors of HIV disease, the proportion of such patients having stringent criteria of true long-term nonprogression. Among 249 individuals who were HIV-infected and prospectively followed up over a 10-year period (1985 to 1995), 12 having a CD4+ T-cell count greater than 500/μL (LTNP I group) and 9 having a CD4+ T-cell count less than 500 but stable over time (LTNP II group) after at least 10 years of infection without intervention of antiviral therapy, were studied over the entire follow-up period. The plasma HIV RNA copy number and the serum concentrations of p24 antigen, each anti-HIV antibody, neopterin, β-2-microglobulin, Immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA were determined every 18 months over the study period. Cellular and plasma viremias were cross-sectionaly assayed in all 21 patients. Only two patients had strictly no marker of progression over the follow-up period. They were the only ones who had, over the 10-year period, a viral copy number too low to be detected. The other patients had a viral copy number higher than 400/mL at at least one visit and increasing over the follow-up period, and they evidenced one or more markers of virological or immunological deterioration. Cellular viremia was positive in all patients but two, while plasma viremia was negative in all but one. The population of individuals termed as LTNPs is not virologically and immunologically homogeneous. The majority present biological signs of HIV disease progression. A new pattern of true LTNP can be drawn through stringent criteria based on the whole known predictors. This pattern appears to be rare in HIV-positive population.

Description: Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the primary cause of hospitalization of patients with sickle-cell disease. Treatment mainly consists of intravenous morphine, which has many dose-related side effects. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have been proposed to provide pain relief and decrease the need for opioids. Nevertheless, only a few underpowered trials of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs for sickle-cell VOC have been conducted, and conflicting results were reported. We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with ketoprofen (300 mg/day for 5 days), a nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, for severe VOC in adults. A total of 66 VOC episodes were included. The primary efficacy outcome was VOC duration. The secondary end points were morphine consumption, pain relief, and treatment failure. Seven VOC episodes in each group were excluded from the analysis because of treatment failures. No significant between-group differences were observed for the primary outcome or the secondary end points. Thus, although ketoprofen was well-tolerated, it had no significant efficacy as treatment of VOC requiring hospitalization. These findings argue against its systematic use in this setting.

Description: Background Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) can produce lasting remissions in patients with relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but are less effective in non-CML diseases. Chemotherapy-induced lymphodepletion prior to DLI, achieved with cyclophosphamide (Cy) and fludarabine (Flu), has been shown to enhance activation of donor lymphocytes and cause significantly more acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) than DLI alone. To safely balance the toxic versus beneficial effects of activated donor lymphocytes, we combined lymphodepleting chemotherapy with the infusion of donor T cells engineered to carry a suicide gene to treat patients with aggressive hematologic malignancies. Methods Donor T cells were transduced with a retroviral vector expressing the Herpes simplex thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene and the human Thy-1 selection marker and expanded in culture for 15 to 19 days prior to their infusion. In this phase I/II trial, the safety and efficacy of Cy/Flu/DLI-TK was studied between February and December 2011 in 10 adults with relapsed multiple myeloma (n=5) or myelodysplasic syndrome/acute leukemia (n=5). One had previously failed to respond to at least one standard DLI while others had not received any DLI before inclusion. All were free of immunosuppressive therapy at inclusion. Patients were infused with a mean cell-dose of 5 (range: 1-10) x106 CD3+ cells/kg of which 98% were TK+ cells (range: 97%-99%). DLI products contained a mean ratio of 0.6% (range: 0.1-1.6) CD4+FoxP3+Helios+ regulatory T-cells. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT 01086735. Results The Cy/Flu regimen was profoundly lymphodepleting and led to a mean 3-day period of neutropenia below 500 PMN/µL. Three patients developed acute GVHD following TK+ cell infusion. One patient had a grade I cutaneous GVHD resolving with local steroids. In another patient with grade III cutaneous and digestive involvement, intra-venous administration of ganciclovir (GCV) led to the complete and lasting resolution of symptoms correlated with clearance of TK+ cells in peripheral blood. A third patient had a grade III liver GVHD. Due to only partially controlled leukemia at the time of DLI, GCV treatment was postponed for one week after GVHD onset in order to support a putative GVL effect. Treatment with GCV led to the rapid disappearance of TK+ cells in peripheral blood and liver (see Figure) but without clinical improvement after 2 weeks, so that an additional immunosuppressive therapy should be instituted. Six patients, including one of the 2 treated with GCV, experienced relapse/progression of their malignancy and received additional anti-cancer therapy. With a median follow-up of 22 months after Cy/Flu/DLI-TK, 6 patients are alive, 5 of them being disease-free. In patients not treated with GCV, TK+ cells could still be detected in peripheral blood till at least 12 months after their infusion. Conclusion Lymphodepletion followed by suicide-gene-transduced T-cell infusion may help to safely enhance the immune activity of DLI, which could be further improved by regulatory T-cell depletion (Maury et al, Science Translat Medicine 2010). Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Introduction: Splenectomy was historically regarded as the gold standard for treatment in chronic adult immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). However, the recent emergence of new drugs has deeply modified ITP management and splenectomy is no longer viewed as an unavoidable step in adult chronic ITP in many countries. The estimation of the risk over benefit of this potential curative treatment remains challenging both for patients and physicians. A retrospective Italian study focused on long-term outcome of patients splenectomized for ITP gave reassuring data concerning safety. A recent study from a large cohort of American veterans showed an increased risk of death due to septicemia, pulmonary embolism, coronary artery disease and cancer more than 10 years after splenectomy. We reported here the results of the first single center case-control study evaluating the long-term incidence of splenectomy complications with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Methods: We retrospectively selected in a clinical computer database all primary ITP patients splenectomized more than 10 years ago in our unit. We matched 1 by 1 to non-splenectomized ITP patients based on date and age at ITP diagnosis and sex criteria. Clinical data were then completed from medical charts. All patients were interviewed by phone and a standardized questionnaire was used. Medical records from general practitioner or from Medical care center have been systematically obtained if necessary, especially for deceased patients. Comparison between groups were made using Fisher’s test for qualitative variables, Kaplan-Meier method to estimate incidence and Rank test for comparison of cumulative incidence, with p

Description: Introduction: Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) is a rare autoimmune disease that can be life threatening especially in elderly patients. Rituximab has shown very promising efficacy in several uncontrolled studies and in one controlled trial for treating adult' wAIHA and it is commonly used off-label as a second-line treatment and as a corticosteroid-sparing agent. Methods: This phase 3 multicentre randomized (1/1 ratio) and double-blind controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab compared to placebo for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed wAIHA treated with prednisone. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of wAIHA (hemoglobin level ≤ 10g/dL with hemolysis and a positive direct antiglobulin test with an anti-IgG ± anti-C3d pattern in the absence of any other cause of hereditary or acquired hemolytic anemia). Only patients previously treated with corticosteroids for less than 6 weeks could be included. Patients with secondary wAIHA (except for stage A chronic lymphocytic leukemia) were excluded. At time of inclusion, all patients were given prednisone at a daily dose of 1 mg/kg for 2 weeks and then tapered every 10 days according to a standardized procedure and stopped within 3 months in case of response. Eligible patients received in combination with prednisone (double-blind) 2 infusions of either rituximab (arm A) or placebo (arm B) at a fixed dose of 1,000 mg 2 weeks apart (on days 1 and 15 after randomization). The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (CR + PR) at 1 year in both arms. Complete remission (CR) was defined by a hemoglobin (Hb) level ≥11 g/dL (women) or 12 g/dL (men) without hemolysis (including a normal haptoglobin level) in the absence of any ongoing treatment for wAIHA, on 2 different occasions 4 weeks apart in the absence of recent transfusion. Partial remission (PR) was defined by a Hb level ≥ 10g/dL with at least a 2g increase from baseline in the absence of any other treatment than prednisone given at a daily dose ≤ 10 mg or recent transfusion. A non-response (NR) was defined by the need of receiving prednisone at a daily dose 〉 10mg to maintain a PR and/or any other treatment potentially active in wAIHA (i.e., splenectomy, immunosuppressors). The hypothesis for the calculation of the sample size (n = 32 patients, 16 in each arm) was, based on previous data from the literature, an 80% overall response rate (CR + PR) at 1 year in the RTX arm versus 20% in the placebo arm with an a risk of 5% and a b risk of 10%. Results: A total of 32 patients, 17 females (53%), with a mean age at inclusion of 71 (SD: 16) years were enrolled and randomized. The patients main characteristics (mean age, sex ratio, Hb and LDH levels, number of packed red cells transfused at diagnosis) were comparable in both arms. Twenty-eight patients were followed for at least 1 year and were evaluable for response. Three patients aged of 90, 84 and 87 from the placebo arm prematurely died versus none in the rituximab arm (p=0.073) and 1 patient from the placebo arm was prematurely withdrawn at Week 28 for severe anemia. At 1 year, in intention to treat, the overall response rate (CR + PR) was 75% (11 CR and 1 PR) in the rituximab arm versus 31% (5 CR) in the placebo arm (p value=0.032). Among the non-responders in the placebo arm, 6 patients were given azathioprine and 2 patients underwent splenectomy. There was no difference in the mean gammaglobulin level at 1 year between the 2 arms (8.1 ±2.2 g/l versus 7.7 ±1.5 g/l, p value 0.499). A total of 7 severe infections occurred during the first year of follow-up, 5 in the placebo group and 2 in the RTX group (p=0.39) including 2 cases of pneumocystosis (1 in each treatment arm) and 1 bilateral pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumonia in the placebo arm. One severe pulmonary embolism occurred on day 15 in a 84-year-old woman in the placebo arm. Conclusion: Compared to placebo, rituximab given in combination with prednisone is an effective and safe option for treating adult patients with newly-diagnosed wAIHA leading to an overall response of 75% at one year. Disclosures Michel: Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Research Funding. Off Label Use: rituximab use in AIHA. Godeau:Roche: Research Funding; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau.

Description: Abstract 3519 Poster Board III-456 Introduction Romiplostim is a thrombopoietic agent that has been unequivocaly demonstrated as highly effective in adult's ITP in prospective studies and has recently been licensed for adults with chronic ITP in USA, Europe, Canada, and Australia. France has been the only country where romiplostim could be given for a compassionate use outside clinical studies from January 2008. The official indication for obtaining romiplostim in this setting was: chronic ITP according to the international criteria and failure or relapse after at least one previous line of therapy regardless the status towards splenectomy. We report here the data on safety and efficacy of the first consecutive 80 ITP patients who have been registered by the French health authorities as receiving the treatment “off-label” and with at least one-year of follow up. Patients and methods The data were retrospectively reviewed using a standardized form. The protocol was approved by local ethical committee. Patients who did not fulfil official indication criteria of compassionate use were excluded (i.e. secondary-ITP). Platelet count was monitored at least monthly during the follow-up. Platelet response was defined as platelet count of 50×109/L or more and a doubling of the pre-treatment count in the absence of any rescue medication within the last 8 weeks. One-year sustained response was defined as a platelet response on at least 2 of the last 3 platelet determinations at month-10-11 and 12. Patients who received rescue medication at any time during the study could not be counted as having a one-year sustained response. Report of adverse events was captured using a standardized form. Results Among the 80 patients, 8 were actually excluded from the analysis (6 with secondary ITP and 2 have been misdiagnosed as having ITP). The analysis was then conducted on 72 patients (43 females) with a median age of 60 years (20 to 91). The median duration of ITP prior to romiplostim administration was 8.7 years (0.1 to 49) and the patients had received a median of 5 (2 to 12) treatment-lines before romiplostim including: corticosteroids (100%), rituximab (65/72, 90%) and splenectomy (39/72, 54%). Among the 33 non-splenectomized patients, 13 patients were reluctant to undergo splenectomy whereas splenectomy was considered as contra-indicated in 20 of them. At time of romiplostim first administration, median platelet count was 16×109/L (1 to 60) and 48 patients (66%) were receiving a concurrent treatment for ITP, including mainly steroids (n=29) ± immunosuppressive drugs (n=8). A platelet response was observed at least once in 76% (55/72) of the patients. On average, patients who responded at any point during the study had a platelet response during 64% of the time (range: 37 to 100%). Romiplostim was stopped in 28 % (20/72) of patients for either lack of efficacy (n=16), for intolerance (n=1) or because it was administered only transiently in preparation for surgery (n=3). Two patients had died respectively from a septic shock and from an ITP-related intracranial hemorrhage. At one-year of follow up, 52 patients were still receiving romiplostim at a median dose of 6.5 μg/kg per week. This dose remained relatively stable as after the first 12 weeks of treatment, romiplostim could be pursued at a stable dose ± 2 μg/kg in 82% of the cases. Twenty % (14/72) of patients received a rescue medication during the study and 50% (36/72) of the patients had a one-year sustained response. The percentage of one-year sustained response was similar in splenectomized and non splenectomized groups [respectively 54% (21/39) and 45% (15/33), NS)]. Among the 29 patients who responded to romiplostim and who were receiving a treatment at time of romiplostim initiation, 86 % (25/29) had discontinued this medication and a further 7% (2/29) had reduced the dose by at least 25%. Only one patient stopped romiplostim because of an adverse event (headache). The most frequent otherwise reported adverse events were: arthralgia (26%), fatigue (13%) and nausea (7%). A transient thrombocytosis 〉 400×109/L and 〉 1000×109/L has been observed in respectively 19% (14/72) and 4% (3/72) of patients. A transient stroke occurred in 2 elderly patients (age 〉 70 yrs). No deep vein thrombosis occurred. Myelofibrosis was not observed. Conclusion Our study confirms in “real-life” that romiplostim is definitely an effective and safe treatment for severe chronic ITP in both non-splenectomized and splenectomized adults. Disclosures: Godeau: AMGEN: Consultancy.

Description: Romiplostim, a thrombopoietic agent with demonstrated efficacy against immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in prospective controlled studies, was recently licensed for adults with chronic ITP. Only France has allowed romiplostim compassionate use since January 2008. ITP patients could receive romiplostim when they failed to respond to successive corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, rituximab, and splenectomy, or when splenectomy was not indicated. We included the first 80 patients enrolled in this program with at least 2 years of follow-up. Primary platelet response (platelet count ≥ 50 × 109/L and double baseline) was observed in 74% of all patients. Long-term responses (2 years) were observed in 47 (65%) patients, 37 (79%) had sustained platelet responses with a median platelet count of 106 × 109/L (interquartile range, 75-167 × 109/L), and 10 (21%) were still taking romiplostim, despite a median platelet count of 38 × 109/L (interquartile range, 35-44 × 109/L), but with clinical benefit (lower dose and/or fewer concomitant treatment(s) and/or diminished bleeding signs). A high bleeding score and use of concomitant ITP therapy were baseline factors predicting romiplostim failure. The most frequently reported adverse events were: arthralgias (26%), fatigue (13%), and nausea (7%). Our results confirmed that romiplostim use in clinical practice is effective and safe for severe chronic ITP. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01013181.

Description: Early recommendations on prophylactic transfusion of thrombocytopenic patients involved a standard platelet dose of about 0.5 × 1011/10 kg body weight. Given the lack of data supporting this dose, we prospectively studied the dose response to platelet transfusions in adults and children with hematologic malignancies. Each patient received, in similar clinical conditions, a medium, high, and very high dose of fresh (〈 24 hours old) ABO-compatible platelets, in the form of apheresis platelet concentrates (APC). For the adults, the medium dose was defined as APC containing between 4 and 6 × 1011 platelets, the high dose between 6 and 8 × 1011, and the very high dose 〉 8 × 1011; for the children, the three doses corresponded to 2 to 4, 4 to 6, and 〉 6 × 1011 platelets. The end points were the platelet increment, platelet recovery, and the transfusion interval, and the results were compared with a paired t-test. Sixty-nine adults and 13 children could be assessed. Recoveries in the adults were similar with the three doses (from 28% to 30%), but the high and very high doses led to a significantly better platelet increment (52 and 61 × 109/L, respectively) than the medium dose (33 × 109/L, P 〈 .01). The main difference was in the transfusion interval, which increased with the dose of platelets transfused, from 2.6 days with the medium dose to 3.3 and 4.1 days with the high and very high doses, respectively (P〈 .01). The positive effect of the high dose was observed regardless of pretransfusional clinical status, but was more marked in patients with no clinical factors known to impair platelet recovery. In these patients, a platelet dose of 0.07 × 1011 per kg of body weight led to a transfusion interval of more than 2 days in 95% of cases. In patients with clinical factors favoring platelet consumption, the proportion of transfusions yielding an optimal platelet increment and transfusion interval increased with the dose of platelets.The platelet dose-effect was also significant in the children, in whom the high and very high doses led to 1.5-fold to twofold higher posttransfusion platelet counts and transfusion intervals. We conclude that transfusion of high platelet doses can reduce the number of platelet concentrates required by thrombocytopenic patients and significantly reduce donor exposure. © 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Description: Key Points Tolerance of rituximab is acceptable in ITP, and with its benefit/risk ratio may remain a valid option for treating ITP in adults.