This e-newsletter is a monthly publication of the Platelet Disorder Support Association. The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. For advice on your unique medical condition, please consult a health care professional.
Contents:
ITP Research and Treatments
- Eltrombopag (Promacta®) Found Effective for Patients with Chronic ITP
- Veltuzumab Raises Platelet Counts in Majority of ITP Patients
- TPO Drugs (Nplate® and Promacta®) in Top Seven Topics for Hematologists
Hospitals, Insurance, and Medical Care
- Higher Risk of Fever and Convulsion in Children Who Receive the MMRV Vaccine
- Largest Insurers Are Testing Health Plans That Limit Choices
- New Nanosensor Breath Test Could Detect Common Cancers
General Health and Medicine
- Vitamin K Offers Benefits Besides a Healthy Blood Clotting System
- Berry Extract Carries Out Vital ‘Housekeeping’ to Protect the Brain
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ITP Research and Treatments
ELTROMBOPAG (PROMACTA®) FOUND EFFECTIVE FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ITP
In a study of 197 ITP patients with platelet counts less than 30,000, 79% of those taking eltrombopag responded to the treatment at least once during the 6-month study compared to 28% in the placebo group. A larger percentage of those in the eltrombopag group reduced their other medications and a smaller percentage needed rescue treatment or experienced bleeding events. A slightly larger number of those in the treatment group had elevated liver enzymes and thromboembolic events.
Cheng G et al, “Eltrombopag for management of chronic immune thrombocytopenia (RAISE): a 6-month, randomised, phase 3 study.” Lancet. 2010 Aug 23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20739054
VELTUZUMAB RAISES PLATELET COUNTS IN MAJORITY OF ITP PATIENTS
ITP took the spotlight at the Immunomedics, Inc. annual meeting with a report of the preliminary results of an ITP clinical trial for veltuzumab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody similar to Rituxan but delivered under the skin. Of the 25 patients tested, the overall response rate was 69%, with those diagnosed less than a year achieving more favorable results. Five of the six patients who had a complete response continue to maintain a high platelet count. Immunomedics is seeking FDA approval for using veltuzumab to treat ITP. The clinical trial for veltuzumbab is ongoing.
Immunomedics Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-K)
http://www.gurufocus.com/news.php?id=105622
Study of Veltuzumab (hA20) at Different Doses in Patients with ITP
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00547066
TPO DRUGS (NPLATE® AND PROMACTA®) IN TOP SEVEN TOPICS FOR HEMATOLOGISTS
The thrombopoietin mimetics, TPO drugs romiplostim (NPlate®) and eltrombopag (Promacta®), new treatments for ITP, are one of the seven hot topics in hemostasis and thrombosis according to the editors of HemOnc Today. “These agents are extremely promising in the therapy of ITP, but it remains to be known exactly how they will be combined with prednisone, IVIg, and anti-CD20 [ex. Rituxan®]…in the treatment of ITP,” concludes Joel Moake, MD.
Note: You can learn more about these treatments on the PDSA Web site at
http://www.pdsa.org/treatments/conventional/platelet-growth-factors.html
Moake J, “Hot topics in hemostasis-thrombosis for 2010.” HemOnc Today, June 10, 2010.
http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=65397
Hospitals, Insurance, and Medical Care
HIGHER RISK OF FEVER AND CONVULSION IN CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE THE MMRV VACCINE
Children receiving the MMRV vaccine, the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine with varicella (chickenpox) components, are twice as likely to get fevers that lead to convulsions, according to a medical record analysis of about 460,000 children in a database of eight managed-care organizations. Dr. Nicola Klein, the study’s lead investigator, suggests: “Unless parents have a strong preference for the combination vaccine, providers should use a separate vaccine.”
Rabin R, “Childhood: Combination Vaccine and Seizure Risk.” New York Times June 28, 2010.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/health/research/29child.html
Centers for Disease Control “MMRV and Febrile Seizures”
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/mmrv/studyfeature.html
Klein NP, “Measles-mumps-rubella-varicella combination vaccine and the risk of febrile seizures.” Pediatrics. 2010 Jul;126 (1):e1-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20587679
LARGEST INSURERS ARE TESTING HEALTH PLANS THAT LIMIT CHOICES
Some large insurers and companies with employer-funded health plans are testing new health insurance programs that reduce medical costs by narrowing the choice of doctors and hospitals. In these plans, those who want to visit a doctor or hospital outside of the designated selections might pay higher insurance premiums, higher co-pays, or the entire cost of the visit or hospital stay. To prevent a consumer backlash, insurers are emphasizing that the plans consider the quality of care and not just lower costs when choosing the participating doctors and hospitals.
Abelson R, “Insurers Push Plans That Limit Choice of Doctor.” New York Times July 17, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/business/18choice.html
NEW NANOSENSOR BREATH TEST COULD DETECT COMMON CANCERS
Cancerous tumors can prompt the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be measured and used for diagnosis, report scientists in Israel who have developed a new, sensitive sensor. To verify their theory, they tested the breath of 177 volunteers for VOCs associated with lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancers and found they could separate those with healthy and cancerous breath. If large studies confirm their initial findings, their nanosensor could be an easy way to screen for cancer, measure the effectiveness of treatments, or detect relapse. The new tool could make cancer detection inexpensive, portable, and non-invasive.
“Simple breath test may detect various cancers” HemOnc Today, August 18, 2010.
http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=67697
General Health and Medicine
VITAMIN K OFFERS BENEFITS BESIDES A HEALTHY BLOOD CLOTTING SYSTEM
In addition to its role in forming blood clots, Vitamin K can help protect against arterial calcification (leading to cardiovascular disease and varicose veins), osteoporosis, prostate/lung/liver cancer, leukemia, and dementia. Vitamin K comes in two forms: K1 found in green vegetables and K2 found in fermented foods such as cheese and natto, fermented soybeans. Both forms of vitamin K are now available as a supplement.
Mercola, “This Could Be Even BIGGER than the Vitamin D Discovery…” August 26, 2010.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/26/this-could-be-even-bigger-than-the-vitamin-d-discovery.aspx
BERRY EXTRACT CARRIES OUT VITAL ‘HOUSEKEEPING’ TO PROTECT THE BRAIN
As we age the brain becomes less efficient at collecting toxic debris, which can lead to the build-up of proteins linked to mental decline. Now scientists at Tufts University in Boston found that adding blueberry, strawberry, and acai berry extract to brain cells in culture and to the food of laboratory rats increased the autophagic, protein-clearing process and, in the rats, reversed age-related deficits in learning and memory. Since the extract amount used was quite high, more research is needed to determine if a more dilute berry extract will prompt the same phenomenon when tested in people.
Brooks M, “New Mechanism for Berries' Potential Brain Benefits Uncovered.” Medscape August 31, 2010.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/727764
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