CONTENTS:

News from the 2016 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting

• Learning More about Current ITP Treatments:
  • Several Important Factors Determine Physicians’ Treatment Decisions in Selecting Second-Line Therapies for Children with ITP
  • Eltrombopag When Compared to Rituximab Improved the Probability of Response in Chronic ITP Adult Patients
  • Eltrombopag, Low-Dose Rituximab, and High-Dose Dexamethasone Combination Works Well as First Line Treatment for Newly Diagnosed ITP Patients
• Understanding More about TPO Treatments:
  • Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Study of Subcutaneous (SC) Romiplostim in Children with ITP Finds 80% of Children Had a Platelet Response Over the Course of the Study
  • Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality of Life Improves over Time in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Receiving Long-Term Treatment with Eltrombopag
• Splenectomy Findings:
  • Second-Line Treatment of Refractory ITP Patients with Splenectomy Achieved Higher Complete Response (CR) Compared to Treatment with Rituximab

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Inactivated Flu Vaccine Can Cause Recurrent ITP
  • Decreased Vitamin D3 Levels Found in Patients with Active ITP
  • Rigel’s Phase 3 Studies of Fostamatinib Showed Benefit in ITP Patients
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • Modified CMS P-Code Allows Outpatient Billing of Platelet Safety Test and Extends Platelet Shelf-life from 5 to 7 Days

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Small but Mighty: New Test of Platelet Strength Diagnoses Bleeding Disorders
  • ITP Patients’ Urine Found to Differ from that of Healthy Volunteers
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • Fungal-Bacterial Interaction Offers New Clue to Cause of Crohn’s Disease
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • The Power of Support Groups

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Bleeding Disorder Drug Fostamatinib Clears First of Two Key Trials
  • Health Canada Issues New Safety Alert for Revolade®
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • FDA Recommends all US Blood Donations be Screened for Zika Virus
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Unscreened Blood Donation Lead to Zika-infected Platelet Transfusions

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Romiplostim (Nplate®) Gives Higher Platelet Response Rate in Children with Chronic ITP
  • Low-level Laser Therapy May Improve Treatment of Thrombocytopenia
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • CDC Recommends Use of Flu Shot over FluMist® Nasal Spray
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Life’s a Beach: Extending Your Vacation beyond the Sand and Sun

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Diagnostic Approach May Help Distinguish Inherited Thrombocytopenia from Chronic ITP in Adults
  • Splenectomy? Read this first! Consider Rituximab First as an Alternative
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • New Trigger Tool Minimizes Adverse Events in Pediatric Medical Care
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Prioritizing Sleep for a Healthier You

This issue of the e-news is devoted to patient–centered research findings reported at this year’s ITP conference in Orlando, FL.

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Treating ITP: Balancing the Risks vs. Benefits
  • Can We Cure ITP? Research that Considers Patients' Needs
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR): What is it and Why is it Important to Patients with a Rare Disease?
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Care for the Caregiver

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • PRTX-100, a Potential New Treatment for ITP, Gets Continuing Positive Reviews
  • Blood Article Describes Treatment of Refractory ITP in Children and Adults
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • Patients Should Know the 50 Most Dangerous Drugs
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • The Benefits of Folic Acid in Food

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Revolade® Approved in EU for Children with Chronic ITP
  • Study Showed Nplate® (romiplostim) Significantly Increased Durable Platelet Count and Reduced Bleeding Rates in Children with ITP
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • Shamans and Scientists Search to Solve Autoimmune Diseases
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • DASH Diet Chosen #1 Diet

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • Lower IVIg Dosages Found as Effective as Higher Doses in Treating ITP
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • Swallowing Pills Just Got Easier for Adults and Children
  • New Government Guidelines Help Patients Access Their Medical Records
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Researchers Not So Energized about the Effects of Energy Drinks

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • PPTA States That Protein Plasma Therapies like IVIg are Safe from Zika Virus
  • Eltrombopag Effective and Safe for Chronic ITP Patients in a Real-world Setting
  • If You Take Romiplostim (Nplate®) and It Stops Working, You May Have Developed Antibodies against Proteins in the Treatment
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Eating Your Greens May Prevent Glaucoma

CONTENTS:

• ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS:
  • High-Dose Dexamethasone May Be Preferred First-Line Treatment Compared to Conventional Steroids in Adult Primary ITP
  • Successful Treatment of ITP Secondary to Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Case Report
• HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE:
  • New Touchless Device Makes Detection of Heart Problems Possible Earlier
• GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE:
  • Positive Emotions and Your Health: Benefits of Developing a Brighter Outlook