В работе представлен обзор международных и отечественных данных, касающихся диагностики и терапии первичной иммунной тромбоцитопении. The paper presents an overview of international and national data concerning the diagnosis and treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia.
Background. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TORAs), which can imitate the biological effect of thrombopoietin, have shown high efficacy in a number of clinical studies and real clinical practice in patients with resistant primary immune thrombocytopenia (IT). It seems extremely relevant to evaluate the success of using various TORAs in a longterm nonrandomized study and their comparative effectiveness.Aim. To evaluate the longterm efficacy of TORAs (romiplostim and eltrombopag) in patients with primary IT who are resistant to standard therapy, and to determine the clinical and hematological factors predicting the efficacy of TORAs therapy.Materials and methods. The study included 456 patients with primary IT (127 (28 %) men and 329 (72 %) women) who were resistant to standard therapy. atients received TORAs therapy at the otkin Hospital. The median age at the start of TORAs therapy was 59 (9–91) years. Romiplostim was received by 339 patients (95 (28 %) men and 244 (72 %) women), eltrombopag – 117 (32 (27 %) men and 85 (73 %) women).Results. The median duration of TORAs therapy was 78 (1–583) weeks for romiplostim and 59 (1–572) weeks for eltrombopag. uring the TORAs therapy the platelet response was obtained in 89 % (n = 405) of cases in total group of IT patients, in the romiplostim group – in 90 % (n = 306), in the eltrombopag group – in 85 % (n = 99). y the time of data analysis in the total cohort of IT patients, 55 % (n = 253) of patients maintained a sustained platelet response, with a median duration of 159 (2–655) weeks. Among patients receiving romiplostim, these parameters were 59 % (n = 200) and 149 (2–655) weeks, for eltrombopag – 45 % (n = 53) and 240 (24–565) weeks, respectively. The 10‑year overall survival rate with TORAs therapy, regardless of the drug chosen, was 86 %. Negative predictors of achieving a platelet response to romiplostim therapy were identified: ≥2 lines of previous therapy (p = 0.03), a history of splenectomy (p = 0.02). No negative predictors of platelet response to eltrombopag therapy were identified.Conclusion. The longterm efficacy of 2 drugs of the same therapeutic class (TORAs), romiplostim and eltrombopag, in patients with resistant IT was demonstrated in a direct comparative analysis in a nonrandomized study. Clinical and hematological factors predicting the longterm effectiveness of romiplostim were identified.
Aim. To assess the stability of clinical remission in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) after withdrawal of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs). Materials & Methods. The study enrolled 456 patients with primary ITP who received second- and subsequent-line TPO-RA treatment. Complete platelet response (PR) was achieved in 338 patients, the therapy was discontinued in 116 of them. The present prospective clinical study started in 2014 and focused on the data of these 116 patients. Among them, there were 27 (23 %) men and 89 (77 %) women. By the time of TPO-RA therapy onset, the median age of the patients was 60 years (range 13–87 years), on ITP diagnosis date it was 52 years (range 1–80 years). Results. By the time of data analysis, 59 % of patients sustained PR after TPO-RA withdrawal. The median PR duration after TPO-RA withdrawal was 230 weeks. Romiplostim and eltrombopag recipients showed no significant differences in the survival rates without PR-loss after TPO-RA withdrawal. In the present study, the maximum PR duration achieved 9.5 years. The mid-term assessment of PR status was carried out in 3, 6, 12, 24, and 30 months after TPO-RA withdrawal and showed 99 %, 94 %, 83 %, 72 %, and 70 %, respectively. The number of previous therapy lines significantly affected the survival rates without PR-loss (p = 0.011). The age of patients, prior splenectomy, TPO-RA treatment duration, time to different PR levels on therapy, PR duration on TPO-RA therapy, and platelet count upon TPO-RA withdrawal showed no significant effect on this parameter. After PR-loss, TPO-RAs were administered again to 31 (27 %) patients. Repeated PR was achieved in 26 (84 %) of them. Conclusion. TPO-RA administration yields multi-year off-treatment remission in some patients with primary ITP. Upon therapy discontinuation, 59 % of patients with complete PR sustained PR for 3 months to 9.5 years. Stable PR after TPO-RA withdrawal significantly correlated with only one of the studied prognostic parameters, i.e., the number of previous therapy lines.
Background. Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases that are characterized by excessive proliferation and accumulation of clonal (neoplastic) mast cells in one or more organs. Advanced variants of systemic mastocytosis (aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis associated with hematological neoplasm, and mast cell leukemia) are characterized by infiltration of organs by mast cells, which leads to organs dysfunction. Such patients require a more active approach and the use of cytoreductive therapy. Available therapeutic options include imatinib, interferon-alpha, cladribine. Only one of the targeted drugs is registered in Russia – midostaurin. Midostaurin is a potent multikinase inhibitor that is active against KIT regardless of mutation status. Midostaurin has shown its effectiveness in clinical trials, however, we know that data from real clinical practice often differ from clinical studies due to the characteristics of patients (preserved comorbid status, stable disease parameters) traditionally included in clinical trials. Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of midostaurin in patients with advanced variants of systemic mastocytosis in real clinical practice. Materials and methods. This work analyzed 13 patients (7 (54 %) men and 6 (46 %) women) who received midostaurin therapy for systemic mastocytosis (aggressive systemic mastocytosis – 9 (69 %), systemic mastocytosis associated with a hematological neoplasm – 4 (31 %)). The median age of patients when the diagnosis was verified was 73 (61–87) years, the median age when midostaurin was prescribed was 74 (61–88) years. According to the International prognostic scoring system for mastocytosis (IPSM) based on clinical variables, patients are classified as follows groups: SM1 – 1 (8 %) patient, SM2 – 3 (23 %), SM3 – 8 (61 %), SM4 – 1 (8 %). Results. As a result of therapy, clinical improvement was achieved in 10 (77 %) patients, and stabilization in 3 (23 %) patients. During midostaurin therapy, grade I–II adverse events were noted from the gastrointestinal tract: nausea in 5 patients (38 %), vomiting in 2 (15 %), diarrhea in 6 (46 %). Hematological toxicity of grade I–II was also observed: anemia in 6 (46 %) patients, thrombocytopenia in 5 (38 %) patients. The median overall survival in the group was not achieved. The 2-year overall survival rate was 75 %. Conclusion. The study results suggest the potential efficacy and safety of midostaurin in patients with aggressive systemic mastocytosis and systemic mastocytosis associated with hematological malignancies.
Aim. To study the quality of life in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in the process of romiplostim therapy and to assess the efficacy and safety of this drug in real-world setting. Materials & Methods. The study enrolled adult patients with the confirmed chronic ITP diagnosis and indications for romiplostim therapy. Clinical parameters, RAND SF-36 and FACT-Th6 quality of life as well as FACIT-Fatigue scores were evaluated prior to romiplostim administration vs. 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment onset. Patient satisfaction checklist was also administered at all study points after the start of therapy. The clinical efficacy of romiplostim was analyzed along with assessing response and time to response. To study the quality of life and fatigue changes, the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) method was used during the observation period. Significant fatigue changes were determined and compared in terms of the perception differences from patient’s and physician’s perspective. Results. The study enrolled 60 chronic ITP patients treated with romiplostim in the real-world setting (mean age 51.9 years, 70 % women). The median thrombocyte count prior to romiplostim therapy was 18.5 × 109/L (interquartile range 10.8–22.3 × 109/л). On the enrollment date, 90 % of patients showed hemorrhagic syndrome. Overall response to romiplostim therapy was 98.3 % (complete response was achieved in 93.3 % of patients). After 6 months of therapy, 89.5 % of patients preserved response. After 3 months of therapy, hemorrhagic syndrome was eliminated in 81 % of patients, after 6 months the same was achieved in 93 % of patients. The median time to response was 4.4 weeks (95% confidence interval 3.6–5.3 weeks). Adverse events of grades 1/2 associated with romiplostim were reported in 6.7 % of patients. On romiplostim therapy, pronounced positive changes in quality of life were shown by all scales of the general questionnaire SF-36 and the targeted questionnaire FACT-Th6 (p < 0.001). The clearest improvements were observed in role-physical and role-emotional functioning. Already after 3 months of therapy, a considerable fatigue reduction was observed and sustained for the next 6 and 12 months of romiplostim administration (p < 0.001). During the therapy, the proportion of patients with fatigue impacting various aspects of functioning became considerably smaller. The vast majority of patients (85 %) were satisfied with the treatment. Discrepancies between patients’ and physicians’ evaluations of fatigue were also identified during the treatment. Conclusion. The results of the present multi-center observational study demonstrate high efficacy and safety of romiplostim for chronic ITP patients in the real-world setting. Romiplostim therapy yields considerable quality of life improvement and fatigue reduction. To optimize the patient monitoring system and patient-centered ITP treatment in the real-world setting, it is advisable to use the standardized questionnaires assessing quality of life and fatigue.
Background. For many years the primary aim of treatment strategy for ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms has been to restrain disease progression, with lasting relief and management of symptoms to improve patients’ quality of life. Generally, this did not lead to a significant increase in life expectancy with primary myelofibrosis and didn’t decrease the risk of fibrosis in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. To date a new class of targeted drugs has been developed, it is JAK2 inhibitors with pathogenetic effects. The results of clinical trials showed the high efficacy of the first registered drug of this its kind – ruxolitinib – that includes a faster reduction in the symptoms of tumor intoxication and in symptoms associated with the development of splenomegaly and increase in the overall survival rates. It is known that the data obtained during clinical trials of medicines may differ from the results obtained in routine clinical practice. In actual practice drugs are used in a much wider heterogeneous population of patients, less limited first of all by age and comorbid characteristics. It is possible to analyze cohorts of patients including a larger number of clinical cases with a longer follow-up period. In this regard of great interest is the actual clinical experience of long-term use of ruxolitinib in patients whose set is limited only by clinical contraindications for prescribing the drug.Aim. To present our own actual experience of targeted therapy of myelofibrosis and compare the results obtained with the data of clinical trials.Materials and methods. Our analysis includes data from 141 patients (67 (47.5 %) men and 74 (52.5 %) women) in a chronic phase myelofibrosis. All patients received ruxolitinib. Of these, 109 (69 %) patients had primary myelofibrosis, 26 (16 %) – postpolycythemia myelofibrosis, 6 (4 %) – postessential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis. The median age at the start of therapy was 62 (18–84) years. The median disease duration before ruxolitinib was prescribed – 79 (1–401) months. According to the dIpSS (dynamic International prognostic Scoring System) criteria, 13 % of patients were assigned to the low risk group, 38 % – to the intermediate-1, 36 % – to the intermediate-2, 13 % – to the high risk group. Most patients (52 %) had grade 3 bone marrow fibrosis.Results. The median duration of treatment was 18 (range from 1 to 115) months. Symptoms of intoxication were relieved 74 (81 %) of 91 patients, the spleen size decreased in 81 % of patients (the spleen size returned to normal in 25 % of patients). The increase in the median hemoglobin level was 15 %. The proportion of patients requiring blood transfusion decreased by 4 times (from 39 to 9 %). Mean platelet levels normalized in most patients with baseline high and low platelet levels. A complete clinical and hematological response was achieved in 16 % (n = 23) of cases, a partial response – in 26 % (n = 37) of cases, clinical improvement – in 21 % (n = 30), disease stabilization – in 33 % (n = 46) of cases. No response was received in 1 (1 %) patient and in 3 (3 %) cases there was progression of the disease. At the time of analysis, 81 (57 %) of 141 patients were continuing the ruxolitinib treatment. The fatal outcome in 33 (22 %) patients was associated with concomitant diseases, among which 20 (14 %) died from proven COvId-19 infection. Overall survival: 1-year 81 %, 2-year 73 %, 5-year 50 %. Overall survival excluding deaths due to COvId-19: 1-year 92 %, 2-year 85 %, 5-year 70 %. Massive splenomegaly and a high degree of fibrosis were unfavorable predictors of prognosis of overall survival.Conclusion. Target therapy with Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib has demonstrated high efficacy in patients with myelofibrosis in routine clinical practice. The most rapid effect ruxolitinib had on the spleen size and the symptoms of intoxication. Tolerability of ruxolitinib therapy was generally satisfactory. The overall and progression-free survival rates in patients with myelofibrosis, receiving ruxolitinib in the clinical setting was consistent with the results of international multicenter clinical trials.
Background. The national observational program MPN-QoL-2020 was focused on quality of life (QoL) and symptoms in patients with classical Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) in the Russian Federation, as well as on the perception of the disease and treatment from the patient's and physician's perspective. Aim. To evaluate QoL in patients with different MPNs using new standardized questionnaires, to assess the most common symptoms and their impact on QoL in patients with myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV) and essential throm-bocythemia (ET), and to characterize the perception of the disease and treatment concerns from patients' perspective and their treating physicians' perspective. Materials & Methods. In total 1100 patients with MPNs (MF: n = 355, PV: n = 408, and ET: n = 337; mean age 58 ± 14 years; 61 % women) and 100 hematologists (mean age 42 ± 12 years; 85 % women) from 37 medical centers in 8 Federal districts of the Russian Federation participated in the study. All the patients filled out symptom assessment tool (MPN10), QoL questionnaire for patients with hematological nancies (HM-PRO) and patient's survey checklist; physicians filled out physician's survey checklist and patient record for each patient included in the study. Results. For the first time in Russia in a representative population of MPN patients in the real-world setting, QoL and symptom profiles in patients with different MPNs were characterized and symptom impact on the daily living of MPN patients was identified. MPN patients exhibited QoL impairment: noticeable detriments in physical and emotional functioning, as well as in eating and drinking regimen were found, social functioning was less impaired. More than one third of MPN patients had significant QoL impairment. The vast majority of patients experienced fatigue: 92.6 % MF patients, 83.7 % PI patients, and 82 % ET patients. Symptom prevalence severity differed across different MPNs. Top disease-related symptoms to be resolved were identified from patient's and physician's perspective. Discrepancies in the attitudes of MPN patients and their treating physicians to various aspects regarding the disease and its treatment were found as well as issues needed to be improved in the patient-physician communication were identified. Conclusion. The results of national research program MPN-QoL-2020 allowed to identify the areas of QoL impairment and symptom burden in MPN patients in Russia, to verify areas of concern related to the disease and its treatment in patients with different MPNs, as well as to highlight the unmet needs in this patients' population in our country. The outcomes of the study may contribute to establishing recommendations for improving/maintaining QoL in patients with MPNs and to developing measures aimed to raise awareness of this patients' population about the disease and its treatment.
Актуальность. Национальная наблюдательная программа МПН-КЖ-2020 была направлена на получение данных об особенностях качества жизни и симптомов, а также восприятия болезни и лечения при классических Ph-негативных миелопролиферативных новообразованиях (МПН) в Российской Федерации с точки зрения пациентов и врачей. Цель. При использовании новых стандартизованных опросников изучить качество жизни пациентов с различными МПН, дать характеристику наиболее распространенным симптомам и их влиянию на качество жизни больных миелофиброзом (МФ), истинной полицитемией (ИП) и эссенциальной тромбоцитемией (ЭТ), охарактеризовать восприятие проблем, связанных с заболеванием и лечением, с точки зрения самих пациентов и их лечащих врачей-гематологов. Материалы и методы. В исследование включено 1100 пациентов с Ph-негативными МПН (355 — с МФ, 408 — с ИП и 337 — с ЭТ; средний возраст пациентов 58 ± 14 лет, 61 % женщин). В исследовании также участвовали 100 врачей-гематологов (средний возраст 42 ± 12 лет, 85 % женщин) из 37 ЛПУ в 8 федеральных округах РФ. В рамках исследования пациенты однократно заполняли специальный опросник для оценки симптомов МПН (MPN10), специальный опросник качества жизни у онкогематологических больных (HM-PRO), а также опросный лист пациента. Гематологи однократно заполняли опросный лист врача, а также «карту пациента» на всех включенных ими в исследование больных МПН. Результаты. В условиях реальной клинической практики впервые в России получены данные об особенностях качества жизни пациентов с Ph-негативными МПН, профиле симптомов при разных вариантах МПН и степени их влияния на повседневную жизнь. Больные МПН имеют нарушения качества жизни, которые в большей степени касаются физического и эмоционального функционирования, а также режима приема пищи и питья, в меньшей — социального функционирования. Более чем у 1/3 больных с Ph-негативными МПН зарегистрировано значительное нарушение качества жизни. У подавляющего большинства пациентов отмечается слабость: при МФ — у 92,6 %, при ИП — у 83,7 %, при ЭТ — у 82 %. Профили актуальных симптомов и их выраженность отличаются при разных МПН. Определены симптомы, более всего требующие коррекции с точки зрения пациентов и врачей. Установлены расхождения в оценках пациентов и их лечащих врачей в отношении к заболеванию и проводимому лечению, а также аспекты, нуждающиеся в улучшении при взаимодействии пациент-врач. Заключение. Результаты, полученные в рамках национальной наблюдательной программы МПН-КЖ-2020, позволили выявить особенности нарушений качества жизни больных МПН в России. Определен спектр специфических проблем, связанных с заболеванием и лечением, которые характерны для этих пациентов. Кроме того, актуализированы неудовлетворенные потребности этой категории пациентов в нашей стране. Результаты программы МПН-КЖ-2020 могут использоваться при подготовке рекомендаций по улучшению/поддержанию качества жизни пациентов с Ph-негативными МПН и для разработки мероприятий, направленных на повышение осведомленности больных МПН о заболевании и его лечении.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and symptoms in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). 93 patients with MF who participated in the multicenter observational study “Quality of life and symptoms in myelofibrosis: validation of the symptom assessment tool for patients with myelofibrosis” (2014–2015) were enrolled in the analysis. 62 patients received best available treatment (BAT) and 31 patients received ruxolitinib. All the patients filled out the SF-36, CSP-Myelofibrosis Module and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) tools. In the real-world study in MF patients QoL was demonstrated to be significantly worse than in healthy controls; more than one third of patients had significant or severe QoL impairment. Patients treated with ruxolitinib had better QoL and lower symptom severity as compared to BAT patients. Decline of activity appeared to be the major symptom which significantly reduced QoL in MF patients. QoL and symptom data in MF patients during treatment in a real world setting may be a solid supplement to clinical variables and may contribute to better disease control in accordance with the principles of risk-adaptive therapy.
Aim. To develop a Russian version of MPN10 form for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) compliant with international recommendations. Materials & Methods. The study included 57 patients treated in 2019 at the Hematology Center of Botkin Hospital (n = 30) and the Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusiology (n = 27). Among them there were 36 myelofibrosis, 9 polycythemia vera, and 12 essential thrombocythemia patients. Mean age of the patients was 54.6 years (standard deviation 15.9 years; age range 20-79 years). The male/female ratio was 23/34 (40.4 %/59.6 %). Underlying disease duration was from 1 month to 33 years (mean duration 7 years; standard deviation 8.6 years). Results. A stable structure and a high internal consistency of the form as well as its reproducibility as a tool were demonstrated. The study also confirmed its convergent and discriminant validity and satisfactory sensitivity to changes in a patient's status. Conclusion. The Russian MPN10 version can be used for symptom assessment in MPN patients in clinical practice and scientific research.
AIM:To analyze the long-term efficacy and safety of ATR in adult patients with primary resistant ITP in real-world clinical practice.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The article contains long-term results analysis of ATR application under real clinical practice conditions in 138 patients (40 men and 98 women) whose median age at the beginning of therapy was 59 (18-86) years. Two ATR medicines-romiplostim (100 patients) and eltrombopag (38 patients) were used.RESULTS:During the first month of therapy, the median platelet count in the romiplostim group increased from 17·109 / L to 60·109 / L (9-600·109 / L), and the elethrombopag from 16.109 / L to 56.109 / L (9-400·109 / L). The minimal response (reaching platelet counts over 30·109 / L) was achieved in 92% of cases in both groups. Partial response (achievement of platelet count more than 50·109 / L) was achieved in 91 and 84% of patients in the rhombostim and eltrombopag groups, respectively. The frequency of complete response (an increase in platelet counts above 100·109 / L) was noted somewhat more often in the rhy- ploistim group-69% compared to 47% in the eltrombopag group (P = NS). Most patients demonstrated a long-term stable effect in the form of an increase in blood platelet count to a safe level during months and years of ATR treatment. The achievement of at least partial remission for 3 months or more was 70 and 71% in romiplostim and elthrombopag groups, respectively. Patients who started ATR- therapy are currently continuing treatment: 51% - in romiplostim group and in eltrombopag group-39%. The main reason of discontinuation the initially effective therapy were the loss of platelet response, toxicity, withdrawal from treatment (withdrawal with preservation of remission) and patients death. The tolerability of drugs with long-term admission was satisfactory. The most common AE were headache, bone pain, thrombosis, increased blood pressure and petechial hemorrhagic eruptions. The overall incidence of complications did not differ significantly between the romiplostim and eltrombopag groups -15.6 and 15.8%, respectively.CONCLUSION:Long-term ATR-therapy using in patients with resistant chronic ITP is an effective and largely safe treatment option.
Aim. To evaluate the clinical experience of bosutinib use for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with intolerance and resistance to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), as well as to compare the obtained results with the data of clinical trials. Materials & Methods. The analysis was conducted on case history records of 51 CML patients (25 men and 26 women; median age was 56 years, range 28-86). By the beginning of bosutinib therapy 37 chronic phase, 8 acceleration phase, and 6 blast crisis patients were included in the study. Bosutinib was administered as second-line TKI treatment in 10 patients, as third-line treatment in 18 patients, and as fourth-line treatment in 23 patients. The causes for switching to bosutinib were poor tolerance of previous TKI therapy in 21 patients and resistance to previous TKI therapy in 30 patients. Results. The median duration of bosutinib treatment was 6 months (range 1-50). Bosutinib toxicity profile and its tolerance in common clinical practice corresponded to the data of clinical trials. Because of adverse events the therapy was discontinued only in 5 (10 %) patients. Complete hematological response was 88 % (persistent response was maintained in 76 % of patients); complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) was 39 %, (persistent response in 37 % of cases); major mo- lecular response (MMR) was 31 % (it was confirmed in 25 % of patients during the last follow-up visit). The efficacy of bosutinib in the real clinical setting was slightly higher compared to the results of clinical trials. This difference was associated with a disease phase, a reason for withdrawal of the previous TKI, line of treatment, BCR-ABL mutations, and the form of them. The therapy was continued in 22 (43 %) patients, most of them reached stable optimal response, both CCyR and MMR. Conclusion. Bosutinib appears to be an acceptable alternative to other TKIs having its specific mechanisms of action and adverse events. The efficacy and safety of bosutinib proved in routine clinical practice are sufficient to recommend it for use in national hematology.
Background & Aims. This paper presents the results of the observational study of ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), conducted in SP Botkin Municipal Clinical Hospital. The main objective was the analysis of complications of ibrutinib and identification of factors, influencing the dosage regimen; the secondary objective was the estimation of the total response to treatment, event-free and overall survival. Materials & Methods. The study included 96 patients with CLL with indications for ibrutinib therapy. The median age was 64,9 years (range 32-91 years), the study population consisted of 69 (72 %) men and 27 (28 %) women. The condition of 25 (26 %) patients according to the ECOG scale was of > 3 points. The disease of stage C were diagnosed in 36 (37 %) patients. Deletion of 17p/TP53 mutations were detected in 29 (33 %) of 87 patients. Seventy patients had refractory CLL. The median of the number of the lines of the previous therapy was 3 (range 1-9). Adverse events were assessed in accordance with the CTCAE criteria, version 4.0; the bleeding severity was evaluated using ITP-specific bleeding score; hematological complications were classified according to the recommendations of IWCLL-2008. Results. Ibrutinib was administered at a dosage of 420 mg per day daily until progression or intolerable toxicity. The median duration of ibrutinib therapy was 10.3 months. brutinib was shown to have moderate toxicity, mostly of grade I or II. The bleeding was the most frequent complication. Of the hematological complications, thrombocytopenia was the most common (35 %); neutropenia < 1 x 109/L was observed in 4 patients. GIT complications were identified in 51 (53 %) patients. Atrial fibrillation was registered in 5 patients, who initially had sinus rhythm. The total of 144 infections were diagnosed in 64 (66 %) patients. Severe infections (> grade III) developed in 26 % of patients. The treatment response was assessed in 92 patients. The overall response to treatment was 89 %. Complete remission, partial remission and partial remission with lymphocytosis were achieved in 4 (4 %), 57 (62 %), and 21 (23 %) patients, respectively. The event-free survival and overall survival by the month 10 was 90 % and 91 %, respectively. For this observation period, ECOG status and the number of the lines of therapy prior to ibrutinib had the prognostic value. Conclusion. Ibrutinib was shown to have high efficiency in relapsed/refractory forms of CLL. The nature of the ibrutinib toxicity is fundamentally different from that of the conventional chemotherapy. The frequency of ibrutinib therapy complications and patients' non-compliance depends on the intensity of the previous treatment of CLL. Despite a short observation period, it can be concluded that ibrutinib had the greatest impact on the patient's quality of life when administered for the first relapse. The low toxicity of ibrutinib is likely to allow the combination with other antitumor agents.
Background. Myelofibrosis (primary myelofibrosis, postessential trombocythemia myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia myelofibrosis) is the most complex and pressing problem among all Ph-negative myeloproliferative diseases. The present article summarizes the author's experience of using new Janus kinase inhibitors in routine clinical practice, and compares the data with the results of other clinical research. Aim. To evaluate the use of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis. Materials & Methods. Our analysis includes 48 patients (21 men and 27 women) with histologically verified myelofibrosis (primary myelofibrosis in 36 cases, post-essential trombocythemia myelofibrosis in 10 cases, and post-polycythemia myelofibrosis in 2 cases) in a chronic stage. All patients received ruxolitinib. Median age at the start of therapy was 60 years (range from 35 to 79). Massive splenomegaly (> 10 cm below the costal margin) was found in 34 (71 %) of 48 patients. The initial dose of ruxolitinib was determined by the platelet level. The efficacy of the therapy was evaluated in accordance with ELN 2013 criteria. Results. Median duration of treatment was 18 months (range from 1 to 50 months). Symptoms of intoxication were relieved in 33 of 37 patients (89 %). The spleen size decreased in 64 % of patients. In 33 % of cases spleen size did not change, whereas an increase was observed in 3 % of patients. In the majority of patients hemoglobin level remained stable through the course of treatment. Three of 14 transfusion dependent patients did not require blood transfusions after 3 months of therapy. In patients with high thrombocyte levels prior to ruxolitinib therapy the mean level was approaching normal by the end of the 1st month of treatment. The median JAK2V617F mutant allele burden at the beginning treatment was 56.5 % (n = 20; 22.5-126.1 %). After 6 moths of treatment it accounted for 62.3 % (n = 11; 25.4-79.7 %) and in 12 months accounted for 47.4 % (n = 12; 14.2-102.2 %). By the time of the analysis 42 of 48 patients continued the ruxolitinib treatment (88 %). Death occurred in 4 patients. Overall 1-year (92 %) and 2-year (87 %) survival corresponds to the data of COMFORT-I, COMFORT-II and JUMP clinical trials. Conclusion. Ruxolitinib showed to be an effective treatment for myelofibrosis. The most pronounced and rapid effect ruxolitinib had on the spleen size and the symptoms of intoxication. The tolerability of ruxolitinib was satisfactory in the majority of patients. According to the author's data, ruxolitinib had a small impact on the JAK2V617F mutant allele burden. The overall survival rate in patients with myelofibrosis, receiving ruxolitinib in the clinical setting was similar to that of in the clinical trials.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and symptoms in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). 93 patients with MF who participated in the multicenter observational study "Quality of life and symptoms in myelofibrosis: validation of the symptom assessment tool for patients with myelofibrosis' (2014-2015) were enrolled in the analysis. 62 patients received best available treatment (BAT) and 31 patients received ruxolitinib. All the patients filled out the SF-36, CSP-Myelofibrosis Module and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) tools. In the real-world study in MF patients QoL was demonstrated to be significantly worse than in healthy controls; more than one third of patients had significant or severe QoL impairment. Patients treated with ruxolitinib had better QoL and lower symptom severity as compared to BAT patients. Decline of activity appeared to be the major symptom which significantly reduced QoL in MF patients. QoL and symptom data in MF patients during treatment in a real worldsetting may be a solid supplement to clinical variables and may contribute to better disease control in accordance with the principles of risk-adaptive therapy.