Expert review of hematology
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Inhibitor development is the most serious adverse event linked to the treatment of hemophilia, as it renders standard hemostatic therapy ineffective. Consequently, inhibitor patients are at increased risk for difficult-to-control bleeding and complications, particularly arthropathy and physical disability. ⋯ In hemophilia patients without inhibitors, the initiation of prophylaxis with factor (F) VIII or IX prior to the onset of recurrent hemarthroses can prevent the development of joint disease. Whether this is also true for bypassing agent prophylaxis remains to be determined.
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The latest Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held in San Francisco, included data on novel-targeted agents active in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). MABTENANCE and PROLONG study suggest that either rituximab or ofatumumab improves progression-free survival in CLL. ⋯ Idelalisib, a selective inhibitor of PI3K delta, demonstrated its activity with manageable toxicity in previously untreated patients ≥65 years with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma. Finally, a series Phase I/II studies of BCL-2 inhibitor (i.e., venetoclax, GDC-0199) used alone or in combination provide promising results in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL.