COVID-19 can be associated with coagulopathy (CAC, COVID-19-associated coagulopathy) with a high prothrombotic risk based on an intense inflammatory response to viral infection leading to immunothrombosis through different procoagulant pathways[1]. Emerging evidence suggests that the use of heparin in these patients could be associated with lower mortality[2].

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INTRODUCTION:

Since the approval of emicizumab, a bispecific, factor VIII-mimetic antibody, for use in persons with congenital haemophilia A in 2018, there have been increasing case reports and case series of off-label use of emicizumab in other bleeding disorders, including acquired haemophilia A (AHA) and von Willebrand disease (VWD).

AIM:

We conducted a scoping review on the use of emicizumab in AHA and VWD, focusing on the clinical presentation and outcomes.

METHODS:

We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus up to July 15, 2021. The following criteria were applied to the studies identified in the initial search: patients had a diagnosis of AHA or VWD; and the study reported on the clinical outcome of emicizumab use.

RESULTS:

Seventeen studies were included in the final review for a total of 41 patients (33 AHA, eight type 3 VWD). The majority of AHA patients and all type 3 VWD patients were started on emicizumab for active/recurrent bleeds. The dosing regimen of emicizumab used varied significantly in AHA patients. All patients had a clinical response to emicizumab use. One AHA patient developed a stroke on emicizumab use in association with concomitant recombinant FVIIa use for surgery. Data on adverse events from emicizumab use were not specifically reported in 24.4% of patients (four AHA, six type 3 VWD).

CONCLUSION:

Based on published case reports and case series, emicizumab appears to be an effective haemostatic therapy for AHA and VWD. Larger confirmatory clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Recent evidence demonstrated that weekly prophylaxis with subcutaneous bispecific antibody (emicizumab) has shown higher efficacy in adolescent and adults patients affected by haemophilia A (HA) with inhibitor, compared with patients treated on demand or on prophylaxis with bypassing agents (BPAs). However, no economic evaluations assessing the value and sustainability of emicizumab prophylaxis have been performed in Europe. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of emicizumab prophylaxis compared with BPA prophylaxis and its possible budget impact from the Italian National Health Service (NHS) perspective. A Markov model and a budget impact model were developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of emicizumab prophylaxis in HA patients with inhibitors. The model was populated using treatment efficacy from clinical trials and key clinical, cost and epidemiological data retrieved through an extensive literature review. Compared with BPAs prophylaxis, emicizumab prophylaxis was found to be more effective (0.94 quality adjusted life-years) and cost saving (-€19.4/-€24.4 million per patient lifetime) in a cohort of 4-year-old patients with HA and inhibitors who failed immune tolerance induction. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, emicizumab prophylaxis had always 100% probability of being cost-effective at any threshold. Further, the use of emicizumab prophylaxis was associated to an overall budget reduction of €45.4 million in the next 3 years. In conclusion, the clinically effective emicizumab prophylaxis can be considered a cost-saving treatment for HA with inhibitor patients. Furthermore, emicizumab treatment is also associated to a significant reduction of the health care budget, making this new treatment a sustainable and convenient health care option for Italian NHS.

BACKGROUND:

Hemophilia A is a genetic disorder characterized by deficiency or dysfunction of the factor VIII clotting protein, leading to serious bleeding disorders. Conventional treatment involves the exogenous administration of factor VIII. However, this therapy faces significant challenges, including the development of inhibitors and the need for frequent intravenous administration. Emicizumab, a recombinant bispecific monoclonal antibody that can be administered subcutaneously, offers a novel therapeutic alternative by mimicking the action of factor VIII.

METHODS:

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction with emicizumab in patients with hemophilia A without inhibitors. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS databases. The included studies were original articles on the use of emicizumab in hemophilia A patients without inhibitors and reviews, short communications, expert comments, and case reports were excluded. Data extraction and analysis were performed using predefined criteria.

RESULTS:

A total of 471 articles were identified, with 28 meeting the inclusion criteria. Studies demonstrated robust evidence of the efficacy of emicizumab in reducing bleeding episodes, with significant reductions in the Annualized Bleeding Rate and Annualized Joint Bleeding Rate. Safety profiles were favorable, with mainly minor adverse events reported. High patient satisfaction scores highlighted improvements in quality of life and treatment adherence.

CONCLUSION:

Emicizumab represents a significant advancement in hemophilia A treatment, offering superior efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction compared to traditional therapies. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and specific subpopulations to further validate these findings.

This single-center, open-label study will evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of emicizumab following a single subcutaneous (SC) administration to healthy Chinese subjects.

INTRODUCTION:

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare and potentially life-threatening bleeding disorder arising from autoantibodies that inhibit coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Treatment entails achieving haemostasis with bypassing agents or factor replacement, and eradication of the inhibitor with immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Due to the rarity of AHA, there are few prospective data to guide management.

METHODS:

We present a retrospective report of 11 AHA patients treated with emicizumab, a FVIII-mimetic bispecific antibody, administered at 3 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks in conjunction with rituximab-based immunosuppressive therapy. The chromogenic FVIII inhibitor assay was used to assess for inhibitor eradication.

RESULTS:

The median follow-up was 13.9 months. The median number of days of additional haemostatic therapy or red blood cell transfusions after initiating emicizumab was 2 (range 0-15). The median was 0 days (range 0-8) for patients who did not require vascular embolization to achieve haemostasis. Eight patients achieved a complete remission (defined as recovery of FVIII activity to > 50% with a negative inhibitor test in the absence of haemostatic and IST); two patients achieved a partial remission (FVIII activity > 50% but with detectable inhibitor); one patient experienced refractory disease. One patient experienced rebleeding and two patients experienced inhibitor recurrence. No thrombotic, thrombotic microangiopathic or infectious complications occurred.

CONCLUSION:

Our observations suggest emicizumab can facilitate haemostasis for AHA patients and be combined with safer, lower-intensity immunosuppressive therapies to achieve remission.

Haemophilia A (HA) is a rare constitutional haemorrhagic disease whose drug management is based on the use of chronic lifelong replacement therapy. The occurrence of an inhibitor is a dreaded complication that impacts conventional management, consisting in using factor VIII (FVIII)-based replacement therapy, most often for prophylaxis. Although effective, these treatments can only be administered intravenously, leading to accessibility constraints and significant mental burden for patients and their relatives.

Before June 15, 2021 in France, the emicizumab (HEMLIBRA®) was available only in hospital pharmacies for the prevention or reduction of bleedings. The introduction of the dual dispensing circuit in hospital or community pharmacies, left to patient\'s choice, is effective from this date. These changes have important organizational consequences for patients and health professionals alongside the pathway of care. Therefore, the effectiveness of this new organization requires to be evaluated with a national French study, called PASO DOBLE DEMI. The aims of this study are twofold :

I. To evaluate the direct impact of the training programs provided to the new placeholders of the dispensing circuit ; the community pharmacists, II. To evaluate satisfaction of patients or their relatives regarding the emicizumab treatment whether they chose dispensing in the community pharmacy, or kept the dispensing at the hospital pharmacy.

The methodology was based on the 4-level of the Kirkpatrick\'s evaluation model; 1) the immediate reaction of community pharmacists following the trainings (Reaction), 2) their knowledge acquisition (Learning), 3) their professional practice (Behavior) and 4 ) the patients\' satisfaction related to their treatment whether dispensing in hospital or in community pharmacies (Results).

The PASO DOBLE DEMI II study was based on the fourth level of the evaluation model and particularly to evaluate to what extent the dispensing of Emicizumab (HEMLIBRA ®) treatment in community pharmacies has contributed to the improvement of the satisfaction of patients with HA.

The availability of the treatment in community pharmacy assumes an improvement of the treatment accessibility for the patient at several levels :

* Global accessibility: what choice has the patient expressed to access his treatment from a practical point of view?
* Adaptation: Has the patient adapted to the new treatment delivery organization?
* Availability of resources: are the special needs of the patients taken into consideration?
* Social acceptability: is the patient willing to follow the proposed care pathway? The issue of treatment cost is not considered in this study because the cost of antihemophilic treatments is totally covered by the French government for all patients regardless of their insurance coverage

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