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Presents the use of cyclosporine to treat aplastic anemia in a polycythemia vera patient in Paris, France. Appearance of a dose-dependent pipobroman-induced hematologic toxicity; Exhibition of an immune-mediated mechanism of aplasia.

Azacitidine can be effective in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. Vacuoles, E1 Enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic syndrome (VEXAS) is a new monogenic autoinflammatory syndrome caused by somatic ubiquitin-like modifier-activating enzyme 1 (UBA1) mutation, often associated with MDS, whose treatment is difficult and not yet codified. Based on a French nationwide registry of 116 patients with VEXAS, we report the efficacy and safety of azacitidine treatment in 11 patients with VEXAS with MDS. Clinical response of VEXAS to azacitidine was achieved in five patients (46%), during 6, 8+, 12, 21, 27+ months respectively, suggesting that azacitidine can be effective in selected patients with VEXAS and associated MDS., (© 2021 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aplastic anemia is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease that may affect older patients. Data regarding the treatment of aplastic anemia in this ageing population remains scarce. We conducted a retrospective nationwide multicenter study in France to examine current treatments for aplastic anemia patients over 60 years old. Our aims were to evaluate efficacy and tolerance, and to analyze predictive factors for response and survival. Over the course of a decade, 88 patients (median age 68.5 years) were identified in 19 centers, with a median follow up of 2.7 years; 21% had very severe and 36% severe aplastic anemia. We analyzed 184 treatment lines, mostly involving the standard combination of anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine-A (33%), which was also the most frequent first-line treatment (50%). After first-line therapy, 32% of patients achieved a complete response, and 15% a partial response. Responses were significantly better in first line and in patients with good performance status, as well as in those that had followed an anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine-A regimen (overall response rate of 70% after first-line treatment). All treatments were well tolerated by patients, including over the age of 70. Three-year survival was 74.7% (median 7.36 years). Age, Charlson comorbidity index and very severe aplastic anemia were independently associated with mortality. Age, per se, is not a limiting factor to aplastic anemia treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine-A; this regimen should be used as a first-line treatment in elderly patients if they have a good performance status and low comorbidity index score., (Copyright © 2019 Ferrata Storti Foundation.)

Background: Pregnancy in women with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is rare, with few reports on maternal and fetal mortality rates., Design and Methods: A specific questionnaire designed to solicit data on pregnancies in women with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria was sent to all members of the French Society of Hematology in January 2008., Results: We identified 27 pregnancies in 22 women at 10 French Society of Hematology centers between 1978 and 2008. The median age was 21.5 years at diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and 27 years at pregnancy. None of these women had received eculizumab during their pregnancy. Maternal complications, consisting mostly of cytopenias requiring transfusions, occurred in 95% of cases. Two cases of severe aplastic anemia (de novo in one case and relapse in the other) were recorded. No thrombotic events occurred during pregnancy, whereas 4 postpartum thromboses (16%) were recorded, 2 of which were fatal (maternal mortality rate 8%). Most patients received antithrombotic prophylaxis during pregnancy and postpartum (n=16; 64%). Delivery was preterm in 29% of cases, and birth weight was less than 3 kg in 53% of cases. Fetal mortality rate was 4%., Conclusions: Pregnancy during paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is associated with increased maternal and fetal mortality rates (8% and 4%, respectively, in this series). Maternal mortality is related to postpartum thromboses. Prophylactic anticoagulation is recommended during pregnancy and for six weeks postpartum.

Ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) mutations have been involved in myeloid malignancies. This retrospective study aims at evaluating the frequency and impact of TET2 mutations in 247 secondary acute myeloid leukemia cases referred to as myelodysplasia-related changes (n=201) or therapy-related (n=46) leukemias. Mutation of at least one copy of the TET2 gene was detected in 49 of 247 (19.8%) patients who presented with older age, higher hemoglobin level, higher neutrophil and monocyte counts, and lower platelet count. TET2 mutations were significantly less frequent in therapy-related (8.7%) than myelodysplasia-related changes (22.3%; P=0.035) leukemias and strongly associated with normal karyotype (P<0.001). TET2 mutations did not significantly associate with NPM1, FLT3-ITD or FLT3-D835, WT1, or N- or K-RAS mutations. Complete remission was achieved in 57% of evaluable patients who had received intensive chemotherapy. In this group, TET2 mutations did not influence the complete remission rate or overall survival.