Key clinical point: Combination of decitabine and human leukocyte antigen-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell microtransplantation (HLA-MST) could be an effective and safe treatment in patients with intermediate- or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: Overall survival was significantly higher in the decitabine and HLA-MST combination vs. decitabine alone group (24.00 vs. 14.13 months; hazard ratio, 0.32; P = .04). The incidence of hematological adverse events except thrombocytopenia and nonhematological adverse events was slightly lower in decitabine+HLA-MST vs. decitabine alone group.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 22 patients with intermediate- or high-risk MDS who were treated with decitabine (n=11) or decitabine and HLA-MST combination (n=11).

Disclosures: The study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China; the Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory; and the Project of Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau. The authors declared absence of any commercial or financial relationships during conduct of the study.

Source: Li MM et al. Front Oncol. 2021 Mar 31. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.628127.

Key clinical point: Combination of decitabine and human leukocyte antigen-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell microtransplantation (HLA-MST) could be an effective and safe treatment in patients with intermediate- or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: Overall survival was significantly higher in the decitabine and HLA-MST combination vs. decitabine alone group (24.00 vs. 14.13 months; hazard ratio, 0.32; P = .04). The incidence of hematological adverse events except thrombocytopenia and nonhematological adverse events was slightly lower in decitabine+HLA-MST vs. decitabine alone group.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 22 patients with intermediate- or high-risk MDS who were treated with decitabine (n=11) or decitabine and HLA-MST combination (n=11).

Disclosures: The study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China; the Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory; and the Project of Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau. The authors declared absence of any commercial or financial relationships during conduct of the study.

Source: Li MM et al. Front Oncol. 2021 Mar 31. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.628127.

Key clinical point: Combination of decitabine and human leukocyte antigen-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell microtransplantation (HLA-MST) could be an effective and safe treatment in patients with intermediate- or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: Overall survival was significantly higher in the decitabine and HLA-MST combination vs. decitabine alone group (24.00 vs. 14.13 months; hazard ratio, 0.32; P = .04). The incidence of hematological adverse events except thrombocytopenia and nonhematological adverse events was slightly lower in decitabine+HLA-MST vs. decitabine alone group.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 22 patients with intermediate- or high-risk MDS who were treated with decitabine (n=11) or decitabine and HLA-MST combination (n=11).

Disclosures: The study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China; the Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory; and the Project of Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau. The authors declared absence of any commercial or financial relationships during conduct of the study.

Source: Li MM et al. Front Oncol. 2021 Mar 31. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.628127.

Key clinical point: Higher doses of hypomethylating agents, azacytidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), can help achieve higher rates of transfusion independence (TI) in patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, benefits should be weighed against the risk for adverse events.

Major finding: TI rate was higher with AZA (75 mg/m²/day for 7 days) than other regimens (P less than .025). The rate of grade 3/4 anemia was higher (15.8% vs. 0.0%; P less than .0001) and that of diarrhea/constipation (6.9% vs. 25.0%; P = .002) was lower with DAC (20 mg/m²/day for 3 days) vs. AZA (75 mg/m²/day for 5 days).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 19 prospective studies including 1,076 patients with low-risk MDS.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Beijing Natural Science Foundation, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, and the Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of CAMS. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Wan Z et al. Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Mar 26. doi: 10.18632/aging.202767.

Key clinical point: Higher doses of hypomethylating agents, azacytidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), can help achieve higher rates of transfusion independence (TI) in patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, benefits should be weighed against the risk for adverse events.

Major finding: TI rate was higher with AZA (75 mg/m²/day for 7 days) than other regimens (P less than .025). The rate of grade 3/4 anemia was higher (15.8% vs. 0.0%; P less than .0001) and that of diarrhea/constipation (6.9% vs. 25.0%; P = .002) was lower with DAC (20 mg/m²/day for 3 days) vs. AZA (75 mg/m²/day for 5 days).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 19 prospective studies including 1,076 patients with low-risk MDS.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Beijing Natural Science Foundation, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, and the Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of CAMS. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Wan Z et al. Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Mar 26. doi: 10.18632/aging.202767.

Key clinical point: Higher doses of hypomethylating agents, azacytidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), can help achieve higher rates of transfusion independence (TI) in patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, benefits should be weighed against the risk for adverse events.

Major finding: TI rate was higher with AZA (75 mg/m²/day for 7 days) than other regimens (P less than .025). The rate of grade 3/4 anemia was higher (15.8% vs. 0.0%; P less than .0001) and that of diarrhea/constipation (6.9% vs. 25.0%; P = .002) was lower with DAC (20 mg/m²/day for 3 days) vs. AZA (75 mg/m²/day for 5 days).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 19 prospective studies including 1,076 patients with low-risk MDS.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Beijing Natural Science Foundation, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, and the Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of CAMS. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Wan Z et al. Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Mar 26. doi: 10.18632/aging.202767.

Clinicians should consider the use of medication for adults with untreated stage 1 hypertension (130-139/80-89 mm Hg) whose 10-year risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is <10% and who fail to meet the blood pressure goal of <130/80 mm Hg after 6 months of guideline-based lifestyle therapy, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises in new scientific statement.

The statement was published online April 29 in Hypertension.

The recommendation complements the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Management Guidelines, which do not fully address how to manage untreated stage 1 hypertension, the AHA says.

“There are no treatment recommendations in current guidelines for patients who are at relatively low short-term risk of heart disease when blood pressure does not drop below 130 mm Hg after six months of recommended lifestyle changes. This statement fills that gap,” Daniel W. Jones, MD, chair of the statement writing group and a past president of the AHA, said in a news release.

If after 6 months with lifestyle changes, blood pressure does not improve, lifestyle therapy should be continued and “clinicians should consider adding medications to control blood pressure,” said Dr. Jones, professor and dean emeritus, University of Mississippi, Jackson.

Healthy lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure include achieving ideal body weight, exercising (30 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days, if possible), limiting dietary sodium, enhancing potassium intake, and following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is plentiful in fruits and vegetables with low-fat dairy products and reduced saturated fat and total fat. In addition, patients should be advised to limit alcohol intake and to not smoke.

The writing group acknowledges that these goals can be hard to achieve and maintain over time.

“It is very hard in America and most industrialized countries to limit sodium sufficiently to lower blood pressure, and it is difficult for all of us to maintain a healthy weight in what I refer to as a toxic food environment,” Dr. Jones said.

“We want clinicians to advise patients to take healthy lifestyle changes seriously and do their best. We certainly prefer to achieve blood pressure goals without adding medication; however, successfully treating high blood pressure does extend both years and quality of life,” said Dr. Jones.

The AHA statement also addresses cases in which adults were found to have hypertension during adolescence or childhood and were prescribed antihypertensive drug therapy.

In this patient population, clinicians should consider the original indications for starting antihypertensive drug treatment and the need to continue the medication and lifestyle therapy as young adults, the AHA advises.

“In young adults with stage 1 hypertension who are not controlled with lifestyle therapy, special consideration should be given to use of antihypertensive medication in individuals with a family history of premature CVD, a history of hypertension during pregnancy, or a personal history of premature birth,” the AHA states.

The scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the AHA Council on Hypertension; the Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease; the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; the Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; and the Stroke Council.

The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Clinicians should consider the use of medication for adults with untreated stage 1 hypertension (130-139/80-89 mm Hg) whose 10-year risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is <10% and who fail to meet the blood pressure goal of <130/80 mm Hg after 6 months of guideline-based lifestyle therapy, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises in new scientific statement.

The statement was published online April 29 in Hypertension.

The recommendation complements the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Management Guidelines, which do not fully address how to manage untreated stage 1 hypertension, the AHA says.

“There are no treatment recommendations in current guidelines for patients who are at relatively low short-term risk of heart disease when blood pressure does not drop below 130 mm Hg after six months of recommended lifestyle changes. This statement fills that gap,” Daniel W. Jones, MD, chair of the statement writing group and a past president of the AHA, said in a news release.

If after 6 months with lifestyle changes, blood pressure does not improve, lifestyle therapy should be continued and “clinicians should consider adding medications to control blood pressure,” said Dr. Jones, professor and dean emeritus, University of Mississippi, Jackson.

Healthy lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure include achieving ideal body weight, exercising (30 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days, if possible), limiting dietary sodium, enhancing potassium intake, and following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is plentiful in fruits and vegetables with low-fat dairy products and reduced saturated fat and total fat. In addition, patients should be advised to limit alcohol intake and to not smoke.

The writing group acknowledges that these goals can be hard to achieve and maintain over time.

“It is very hard in America and most industrialized countries to limit sodium sufficiently to lower blood pressure, and it is difficult for all of us to maintain a healthy weight in what I refer to as a toxic food environment,” Dr. Jones said.

“We want clinicians to advise patients to take healthy lifestyle changes seriously and do their best. We certainly prefer to achieve blood pressure goals without adding medication; however, successfully treating high blood pressure does extend both years and quality of life,” said Dr. Jones.

The AHA statement also addresses cases in which adults were found to have hypertension during adolescence or childhood and were prescribed antihypertensive drug therapy.

In this patient population, clinicians should consider the original indications for starting antihypertensive drug treatment and the need to continue the medication and lifestyle therapy as young adults, the AHA advises.

“In young adults with stage 1 hypertension who are not controlled with lifestyle therapy, special consideration should be given to use of antihypertensive medication in individuals with a family history of premature CVD, a history of hypertension during pregnancy, or a personal history of premature birth,” the AHA states.

The scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the AHA Council on Hypertension; the Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease; the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; the Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; and the Stroke Council.

The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Clinicians should consider the use of medication for adults with untreated stage 1 hypertension (130-139/80-89 mm Hg) whose 10-year risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is <10% and who fail to meet the blood pressure goal of <130/80 mm Hg after 6 months of guideline-based lifestyle therapy, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises in new scientific statement.

The statement was published online April 29 in Hypertension.

The recommendation complements the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Management Guidelines, which do not fully address how to manage untreated stage 1 hypertension, the AHA says.

“There are no treatment recommendations in current guidelines for patients who are at relatively low short-term risk of heart disease when blood pressure does not drop below 130 mm Hg after six months of recommended lifestyle changes. This statement fills that gap,” Daniel W. Jones, MD, chair of the statement writing group and a past president of the AHA, said in a news release.

If after 6 months with lifestyle changes, blood pressure does not improve, lifestyle therapy should be continued and “clinicians should consider adding medications to control blood pressure,” said Dr. Jones, professor and dean emeritus, University of Mississippi, Jackson.

Healthy lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure include achieving ideal body weight, exercising (30 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days, if possible), limiting dietary sodium, enhancing potassium intake, and following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is plentiful in fruits and vegetables with low-fat dairy products and reduced saturated fat and total fat. In addition, patients should be advised to limit alcohol intake and to not smoke.

The writing group acknowledges that these goals can be hard to achieve and maintain over time.

“It is very hard in America and most industrialized countries to limit sodium sufficiently to lower blood pressure, and it is difficult for all of us to maintain a healthy weight in what I refer to as a toxic food environment,” Dr. Jones said.

“We want clinicians to advise patients to take healthy lifestyle changes seriously and do their best. We certainly prefer to achieve blood pressure goals without adding medication; however, successfully treating high blood pressure does extend both years and quality of life,” said Dr. Jones.

The AHA statement also addresses cases in which adults were found to have hypertension during adolescence or childhood and were prescribed antihypertensive drug therapy.

In this patient population, clinicians should consider the original indications for starting antihypertensive drug treatment and the need to continue the medication and lifestyle therapy as young adults, the AHA advises.

“In young adults with stage 1 hypertension who are not controlled with lifestyle therapy, special consideration should be given to use of antihypertensive medication in individuals with a family history of premature CVD, a history of hypertension during pregnancy, or a personal history of premature birth,” the AHA states.

The scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the AHA Council on Hypertension; the Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease; the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; the Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; and the Stroke Council.

The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Key clinical point: Bridging therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) did not provide long-term survival benefit in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Major finding: Overall survival was not significantly different among patients who received HMAs vs. best supportive care before allo-HSCT (hazard ratio, 0.86; P = .32).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 7 retrospective studies including 820 patients with MDS, of which 395 patients received HMAs before allo-HSCT and the remaining patients received best supportive care.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Youth Science Foundation of National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu L et al. Clin Exp Med. 2021 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s10238-021-00712-0.

Key clinical point: Bridging therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) did not provide long-term survival benefit in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Major finding: Overall survival was not significantly different among patients who received HMAs vs. best supportive care before allo-HSCT (hazard ratio, 0.86; P = .32).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 7 retrospective studies including 820 patients with MDS, of which 395 patients received HMAs before allo-HSCT and the remaining patients received best supportive care.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Youth Science Foundation of National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu L et al. Clin Exp Med. 2021 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s10238-021-00712-0.

Key clinical point: Bridging therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) did not provide long-term survival benefit in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Major finding: Overall survival was not significantly different among patients who received HMAs vs. best supportive care before allo-HSCT (hazard ratio, 0.86; P = .32).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 7 retrospective studies including 820 patients with MDS, of which 395 patients received HMAs before allo-HSCT and the remaining patients received best supportive care.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Youth Science Foundation of National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu L et al. Clin Exp Med. 2021 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s10238-021-00712-0.

Key clinical point: There could be a possible relationship between organizing pneumonia (OP) and karyotype der(1;7)(q10; p10) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: Overall, 5 (3.1%) patients developed pathologically diagnosed OP, of which 3 had der(1;7)(q10; p10) abnormality. The chances of developing OP was higher among patients with vs. without der(1;7)(q10;p10) abnormality (odds ratio, 25.70; 95% confidence interval, 2.582-347.400).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 159 patients with high-risk MDS.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Matsunawa M et al. Br J Haematol. 2021 Apr 14. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17473.

Key clinical point: There could be a possible relationship between organizing pneumonia (OP) and karyotype der(1;7)(q10; p10) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: Overall, 5 (3.1%) patients developed pathologically diagnosed OP, of which 3 had der(1;7)(q10; p10) abnormality. The chances of developing OP was higher among patients with vs. without der(1;7)(q10;p10) abnormality (odds ratio, 25.70; 95% confidence interval, 2.582-347.400).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 159 patients with high-risk MDS.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Matsunawa M et al. Br J Haematol. 2021 Apr 14. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17473.

Key clinical point: There could be a possible relationship between organizing pneumonia (OP) and karyotype der(1;7)(q10; p10) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: Overall, 5 (3.1%) patients developed pathologically diagnosed OP, of which 3 had der(1;7)(q10; p10) abnormality. The chances of developing OP was higher among patients with vs. without der(1;7)(q10;p10) abnormality (odds ratio, 25.70; 95% confidence interval, 2.582-347.400).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 159 patients with high-risk MDS.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Matsunawa M et al. Br J Haematol. 2021 Apr 14. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17473.

Key clinical point: Quizartinib-based combinations were effective and well tolerated in both frontline and first salvage for patients with untreated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Major finding: Frontline quizartinib/azacitidine vs. quizartinib/low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) led to a higher proportion of patients achieve composite response (87% vs. 74%) and a longer overall survival (19.2 vs. 8.5 months; P = .036). Similarly, quizartinib/azacitidine vs. quizartinib/LDAC was associated with a higher proportion of patients with relapsed/refractory AML achieve composite response (64% vs. 29%) and a trend for longer overall survival (12.8 vs. 4 months; P = .053). Overall, therapy was well tolerated in both cohorts.

Study details: In this open-label phase I/II trial, patients with untreated MDS/AML or those receiving first-salvage treatment for FLT3-ITD AML were treated with a combination of quizartinib and either azacitidine or LDAC in frontline (n=34) or as first-salvage (n=39) therapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by the Cancer Center Support Grant. The authors declared no competing financial interests.

Source: Swaminathan M et al. Haematologica. 2021 Apr 15. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2020.263392.

Key clinical point: Quizartinib-based combinations were effective and well tolerated in both frontline and first salvage for patients with untreated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Major finding: Frontline quizartinib/azacitidine vs. quizartinib/low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) led to a higher proportion of patients achieve composite response (87% vs. 74%) and a longer overall survival (19.2 vs. 8.5 months; P = .036). Similarly, quizartinib/azacitidine vs. quizartinib/LDAC was associated with a higher proportion of patients with relapsed/refractory AML achieve composite response (64% vs. 29%) and a trend for longer overall survival (12.8 vs. 4 months; P = .053). Overall, therapy was well tolerated in both cohorts.

Study details: In this open-label phase I/II trial, patients with untreated MDS/AML or those receiving first-salvage treatment for FLT3-ITD AML were treated with a combination of quizartinib and either azacitidine or LDAC in frontline (n=34) or as first-salvage (n=39) therapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by the Cancer Center Support Grant. The authors declared no competing financial interests.

Source: Swaminathan M et al. Haematologica. 2021 Apr 15. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2020.263392.

Key clinical point: Quizartinib-based combinations were effective and well tolerated in both frontline and first salvage for patients with untreated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Major finding: Frontline quizartinib/azacitidine vs. quizartinib/low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) led to a higher proportion of patients achieve composite response (87% vs. 74%) and a longer overall survival (19.2 vs. 8.5 months; P = .036). Similarly, quizartinib/azacitidine vs. quizartinib/LDAC was associated with a higher proportion of patients with relapsed/refractory AML achieve composite response (64% vs. 29%) and a trend for longer overall survival (12.8 vs. 4 months; P = .053). Overall, therapy was well tolerated in both cohorts.

Study details: In this open-label phase I/II trial, patients with untreated MDS/AML or those receiving first-salvage treatment for FLT3-ITD AML were treated with a combination of quizartinib and either azacitidine or LDAC in frontline (n=34) or as first-salvage (n=39) therapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by the Cancer Center Support Grant. The authors declared no competing financial interests.

Source: Swaminathan M et al. Haematologica. 2021 Apr 15. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2020.263392.

Key clinical point: Stanozolol (STZ) monotherapy could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without del(5q) after the failure of epoetin alfa.

Major finding: Hematologic improvement-erythroid response (HI-E) and transfusion independence were achieved in 48.2% and 43.2% of patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was higher in HI-E responders vs. nonresponders (88.6% vs. 33.8%). Most of the adverse events were manageable.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with lower-risk MDS without del(5q) exclusively treated with STZ after failure of epoetin alfa as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Qu WY et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04508-w. 

Key clinical point: Stanozolol (STZ) monotherapy could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without del(5q) after the failure of epoetin alfa.

Major finding: Hematologic improvement-erythroid response (HI-E) and transfusion independence were achieved in 48.2% and 43.2% of patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was higher in HI-E responders vs. nonresponders (88.6% vs. 33.8%). Most of the adverse events were manageable.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with lower-risk MDS without del(5q) exclusively treated with STZ after failure of epoetin alfa as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Qu WY et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04508-w. 

Key clinical point: Stanozolol (STZ) monotherapy could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without del(5q) after the failure of epoetin alfa.

Major finding: Hematologic improvement-erythroid response (HI-E) and transfusion independence were achieved in 48.2% and 43.2% of patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was higher in HI-E responders vs. nonresponders (88.6% vs. 33.8%). Most of the adverse events were manageable.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with lower-risk MDS without del(5q) exclusively treated with STZ after failure of epoetin alfa as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Qu WY et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04508-w. 

Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.

Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.

Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.

Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631

Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.

Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.

Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.

Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631

Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.

Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.

Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.

Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631

Key clinical point: Low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Major finding: LMR lesser than vs. greater than 5 was associated with a lower risk for leukemic transformation (median time not reached; P = .003) and better leukemia-free survival (median, 48 months vs. 21 months; P = .03).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 201 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Pénichoux J et al. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907381

Key clinical point: Low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Major finding: LMR lesser than vs. greater than 5 was associated with a lower risk for leukemic transformation (median time not reached; P = .003) and better leukemia-free survival (median, 48 months vs. 21 months; P = .03).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 201 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Pénichoux J et al. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907381

Key clinical point: Low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Major finding: LMR lesser than vs. greater than 5 was associated with a lower risk for leukemic transformation (median time not reached; P = .003) and better leukemia-free survival (median, 48 months vs. 21 months; P = .03).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 201 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Pénichoux J et al. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907381

Key clinical point: Presence of autoimmune manifestations (AIMs) predicts poor prognosis irrespective of disease severity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: MDS-associated AIMs were identified in 20% of patients, with overall survival being shorter in patients with vs. without AIMs (P log-rank = .03). The prognosis was poor and comparable among patients with low-risk MDS and associated AIMs vs. those with high-risk MDS without AIMs (P log-rank = .9).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 61 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Arinobu Y et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406

Key clinical point: Presence of autoimmune manifestations (AIMs) predicts poor prognosis irrespective of disease severity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: MDS-associated AIMs were identified in 20% of patients, with overall survival being shorter in patients with vs. without AIMs (P log-rank = .03). The prognosis was poor and comparable among patients with low-risk MDS and associated AIMs vs. those with high-risk MDS without AIMs (P log-rank = .9).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 61 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Arinobu Y et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406

Key clinical point: Presence of autoimmune manifestations (AIMs) predicts poor prognosis irrespective of disease severity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: MDS-associated AIMs were identified in 20% of patients, with overall survival being shorter in patients with vs. without AIMs (P log-rank = .03). The prognosis was poor and comparable among patients with low-risk MDS and associated AIMs vs. those with high-risk MDS without AIMs (P log-rank = .9).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 61 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Arinobu Y et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406