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Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare chronic autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, driven mainly by classical complement pathway activation, leading to profound fatigue and poor quality of life. In the Phase 3 CADENZA trial, sutimlimab—a C1s complement inhibitor—rapidly halted haemolysis, increased haemoglobin levels and improved fatigue versus placebo in patients with CAD without a recent history of transfusion. Patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) included Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT‐Fatigue), 12‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐12), EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ‐VAS), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and Patient Global Impression of (fatigue) Severity (PGIS). Sutimlimab resulted in significant rapid and meaningful improvements versus placebo in PROs. From Week 1, the FACIT‐Fatigue mean score increased >5 points above baseline (considered a clinically important change [CIC]). Least‐squares (LS) mean change in FACIT‐Fatigue score from baseline to treatment assessment timepoint was 10.8 vs. 1.9 points (sutimlimab vs. placebo; p < 0.001). Improvements in physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component scores of the SF‐12 were also considered CICs (LS mean changes from baseline to Week 26: PCS 5.54 vs. 1.57 [p = 0.064]; MCS 5.65 vs. –0.48 [p = 0.065]). These findings demonstrate that in addition to improving haematologic parameters, sutimlimab treatment demonstrates significant patient‐reported benefits. Study registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03347422. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) which is the triad of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia and organ damage. It mentions that it is different from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) by less thrombocytopenia, acute renal insufficiency and an ADAMTS13 activity.

Background: Hyperhemolysis in sickle cell disease is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of transfusion. Study Design and Methods: In this article we report a case of delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction with resultant hyperhemolysis triggered by an anti-IH autoantibody with alloantibody behavior. Results: The anti-IH was reactive at room temperature as well as 37 °C, but only weakly reactive with autologous red blood cells. Initial cold agglutinin titer was 512. The profound, life-threatening, intravascular hemolysis was rapidly and dramatically reduced with the Complement 5 (C5) inhibitory antibody, eculizumab. The auto/allo cold agglutinin was subsequently suppressed with rituximab treatment. Conclusions: Eculizumab, a potent C5 inhibitory antibody, can be a rapid and effective therapy for hyperhemolytic transfusion reactions when given in a sufficient dose to fully block the activation of complement C5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes a patient with hepatitis C virus infection responding to pegylated INF/ribaviron therapy, who developed immune thrombocytopenia. The severe thrombocytopenia failed to resolve with cessation of the peg-IFN/ribaviron. Because of rising hepatitis C virus RNA levels and evidence of rising serum transaminases, the patient was treated with rituximab, anti-CD20 humanized monoclonal antibody. After treatment with rituximab, the patient's platelet count normalized and the patient was able to resume the pegylated IFN/ribaviron. The patient's hepatitis C virus RNA levels decreased, and the serum transaminases normalized without impairment of hepatic function or recurrence of the thrombocytopenia., (Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The association between malignancy and clinical thrombosis has been recognized for nearly 140 years. The purpose of this review is to examine our current understanding of thrombosis as a complication of cancer and cancer therapy. The review includes a discussion of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)