BJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
A. Enguita PhD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic malignancy characterised by marrow fibrosis and myeloproliferation caused by a constitutive activation of the Janus-activated kinase (JAK) transcription signalling pathway. This constitutive activation is usually the result of mutations in the driver genes JAK2, myeloproliferative leukaemia virus (MPL) or calreticulin (CALR).1 The most important clinical manifestation of MF consists of splenomegaly, in addition to hepatomegaly, cytopenia (mainly anaemia), and constitutional symptoms.2 MF significantly decreases the life expectancy of patients with a median survival of less than six years.3 During the 37th general annual meeting of the Belgian Haematology Society, professor Jean-Jacques Kiladjian (Saint Louis Hospital, Paris, France) discussed the contemporary management of this disease.
Read moreBJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
J. Blokken PhD, PharmD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
In recent years, we have witnessed many advances in laboratory technology to detect germline or somatic mutations that predispose individuals to the development of haematopoietic malignancies. The laboratory technology session during the BHS GAM kicked off with a presentation from Dr. Ann Debecker explaining the differences between CHIP, CHOP and ARCH. In a second lecture of the laboratory technology session, Dr. Ine Moors provided a contemporary overview on genetic predisposition for myeloid malignancies.
Read moreBJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
J. Blokken PhD, PharmD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
The Belgian Society of Human Genetics (BeSHG) was launched in March 2000 and aims at promoting human genetics in its wider sense, i.e. by supporting genetic research, improving exchanges between Belgium and foreign countries, organising scientific meetings, and enhancing collaboration between Belgian labs. During the 37th general annual meeting of the Belgian Haematology Society, a joint BeSHG-BHS session was organised. In this session, Karlijn Brekelmans (University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium) first discussed how genetic predisposition in haemato-oncological disorders can be detected, with a focus on technique, type of tissue that can be used and turn-around-time. Her talk was followed by a presentation from Esmé Waanders (Princess Maxima Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands) discussing geentic predisposition in lymphoid malignancies.
Read moreBJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
A. Enguita PhD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
High-risk haematology patients present with a partial or totally disintegrated immune system. Consequently, infections remain one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality among these patients. During the 37th general annual meeting of the Belgian Haematology Society, Prof. Johan Maertens (University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium), walked us through the current advances in the management of infections in high-risk haematology patients, with a focus on patients undergoing aggressive chemotherapy for any type of leukaemia and allogenic non-transplanted siblings.
Read moreBJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
J. Blokken PhD, PharmD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemias (AIHAs) are rare and heterogeneous disorders characterised by the destruction of red blood cells through warm or cold antibodies. During a special lecture during the 2022 BHS GAM, Prof. Marc Michel (Henri-Mondor University Hospital, Paris-Est Créteil, France) gave an overview of the diagnostic and treatment landscape for AIHA anno 2022. The incidence of AIHA runs from 1.8-2.4/100,000 individuals each year, with an increasing incidence in the last decade. The median age at onset for patients with warm AIHA (wAIHA) is 58 years, while cold agglutinin disease (CAD) mainly effects older patients (median age at onset of 67 years). AIHA patients are at a high risk of mortality and thrombosis.1
Read moreBJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
J. Blokken PhD, PharmD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
The annual Pierre Stryckmans Memorial Lecture at this years’ BHS-GAM was presented by Prof. Dr. Bob Löwenberg (Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands), awarding him for his lifetime achievements in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Historically, intensive treatment for AML consists of induction chemotherapy, followed by post-remission consolidation therapy with chemotherapy and an autologous (auto-SCT) or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) to eradicate potential residual cells.1 In order to improve on the treatment outcomes that can be achieved today, we need a deeper understanding of the molecular diversity of the disease and its functional consequences. Furthermore, we should aim for a further personalization of the treatment, tailored to the individual patient.
BJH - 2022, issue SPECIAL, april 2022
J. Blokken PhD, PharmD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
Although palliative care is often associated with end-of-life and death, its concept is much broader than that and should focus on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of any serious illness. In the Ethics session of the 2022 BHS GAM meeting, Prof. Dr. Thomas LeBlanc (Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA) discussed the unmet needs regarding advance care planning and specialist palliative care integration in haematology. In addition, he shared the results of a randomised trial of integrated palliative and oncology care for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, demonstrating significant advances of palliative care for patients.
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