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:
TREATING H. PYLORI CAN HAVE LONG-TERM BENEFIT FOR ITPInfection with H. pylori, a bacteria linked with stomach ulcers, appears to be a risk factor for ITP in susceptible individuals. A recent, 5-year study from Italy found that two-thirds of patients with ITP whose only treatment was H. pylori eradication (with antibiotics plus proton-pump inhibitors) experienced a long-term improvement in platelet counts. They further explored the impact of specific genes in the bacteria that make it more or less virulent and found higher levels of a few H. pylori genes in patients with ITP. The authors recommend screening all ITP patients for H. pylori so that treatment of the bacterial infection could precede—and perhaps avoid the need for—more aggressive treatments for ITP. Emilia G, Luppi M, Zucchini P, Morselli M, Potenza L, Forghieri F, Volzone F, Jovic G, Leonardi G, Donelli A, Torelli G. Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: long-term results of bacterium eradication and association with bacterium virulence profiles. Blood, December 1, 2007; 110(12):3833-41. AMG531 (RENAMED ROMIPLOSTIM) PASSES PHASE 3 TESTSAmgen presented results of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 studies of AMG531, which the company is now calling romiplostim (tradename Nplate). One study was in adults with chronic ITP who had not undergone spleen removal, the other was in patients whose spleen had been removed. In both studies, significantly more patients on romiplostim experienced a durable platelet response (lasting more than six of the final eight study weeks), although the difference was greater in the patients who had not undergone spleen removal. In both studies, a majority of patients who were taking corticosteroids were able to reduce or discontinue this treatment. Romiplostim works by stimulating the thrombopoietin receptors to stimulate bone marrow cells to increase platelet counts. The researchers presented their results at the American Society of Hematology’s annual meeting in December. The company has filed for marketing approval of Nplate in the U.S, European Union, Australia, and Canada. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/91217.php GSK SUBMITS NDA FOR ELTROMBOPAGGlaxoSmithKline submitted a new drug application to the FDA for marketing eltrombopag, its oral platelet growth factor, under the tradename Promacta as a treatment for ITP. FDA HAS NEW DIRECTOR OF ORPHAN DRUG OFFICEThe new director of the FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development is Timothy Coté, MD, MPH. Coté will be responsible for promoting development of products that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases and conditions. The Office also provides grant funding for clinical research on rare diseases. Coté was previously at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as country director for Rwanda. WEBSITE RESOURCES ON HEMATOLOGYA new website, “HematologyTimes.com”, covers clinical practice in hematology. It provides late-breaking news, upcoming events, continuing medical education, discussion forums, and a resources page. A search of “ITP” yielded several reports of presentations from an October conference in San Diego, Cytopenias in 2007: Emphasis ITP. http://www.hematologytimes.com
NEW COALITION TO STRENGTHEN FDATwo organizations will merge to form the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. Merging of the Coalition for a Stronger FDA and the FDA Alliance will “create a stronger, more multi-faceted organization dedicated to securing more Congressional funding for the FDA.” The group believes that the FDA needs better funding to fulfill its mission of protecting the public health. Seven former FDA commissioners and three former HHS secretaries are honorary co-chairs. NHLBI’S STRATEGIC PLAN WILL GUIDE ITS NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARSAfter extensive input from researchers, patient advocates, and professional societies, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has published its strategic plan. It includes basic research to identify biomarkers of disease and new molecular targets for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Its clinical and translational research goal aims for personalized preventive and therapeutic regimens based on genetics combined with environmental factors. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/strategicplan/ NEWS FOR PEOPLE TAKING STEROIDS(Note: Steroids hamper bone-building cells, putting people who take steroids at relatively quick risk of osteoporosis, or bone thinning. Steroids can also raise blood sugar levels and potentially cause diabetes in susceptible individuals.)
MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EACH ASSOCIATED WITH LONGEVITYExercise and a diet high in fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and little meat and dairy, may help people live longer, according to two large studies that followed people of average age 62 over a 5-year period. The studies relied on data from the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, For the diet study, more than 380,000 people average age 62 and free of chronic illness were followed. The closer people conformed to a Mediterranean diet, the less likely they were to have died during that period—about 20% less likely. For exercise, researchers followed more than 250,000 people with no chronic diseases. Those who exercised vigorously for 20 minutes, 3 times a week were 32% less likely to die than sedentary people. Vigorous exercise was defined as any exercise that increased breathing or heart rate or caused a sweat. Even people who exercised only a little showed modest reductions in risk of death. Archives of Internal Medicine, December 10/24, 2007;167(22):2461-2468 and 2453-2460. WANT TO BE HAPPY, TRY LIVING LIKE A CAVEMAN!Humans were not designed for a sedentary, socially isolated, indoor, sleep-deprived, poorly nourished life, according to University of Kansas psychologist Stephen Ilardi. He recommends a highly social, active, outdoorsy life. He calls his regimen Therapeutic Lifestyle Change for Depression. His 14-week therapy pairs group therapy with a battery of depression-fighting remedies such as increased sleep, aerobic exercise, omega-3 fatty acids, bright-light exposure, social interaction, and replacing ruminating over negative thoughts with activity. It’s all about moving, interacting, doing. Seventy-seven percent of those on his regiment experienced reduced depression versus 27 percent in the control group that received medication and traditional psychotherapy. Klein JM. Simply Happy. AARP magazine, November/December 2007, pg. 52-54. HONEY BETTER THAN COUGH MEDICINE FOR KIDSA randomized trial compared a spoonful of buckwheat honey versus the over-the-counter cough medicine dextromethorphan, or no treatment in 130 children with cough. Honey, but not dextromethorphan, was better than no treatment in relieving nighttime coughing, and both children and their parents in the honey group slept better compared with the other groups. The study was funded by the National Honey Board. Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin Jr. CM. Effect of Honey, Dextromethorphan, and No Treatment on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, December 2007.161(12):1121. |