Clinical benefit of eculizumab in patients with no transfusion history in the International Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria Registry

António M. Almeida*, Camille Bedrosian, Alexander Cole, Petra Muus, Hubert Schrezenmeier, Jeff Szer, Wendell F. Rosse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Eculizumab reduces intravascular haemolysis and improves disease symptoms in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). Aims: To characterise, in a real-world setting, the effect of eculizumab in patients with haemolytic PNH (lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) ≥ 1.5 upper limit of normal) and no history of red blood cell transfusion, including those with high disease activity (HDA). Methods: Three populations from the International PNH Registry were studied: (i) non-transfused, untreated; (ii) non-transfused, eculizumab-treated and (iii) transfused, eculizumab-treated (≥1 transfusions in 6 months prior to eculizumab initiation). Using multivariate linear regression, the primary outcome was mean absolute change from baseline to 6 months in LDH (U/L) in non-transfused patients who were treated with eculizumab versus those who remained untreated. Secondary outcomes were mean changes in functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ)-C30 Fatigue scores from baseline to last available assessment. Results: The study population included (i) 144 non-transfused, untreated patients; (ii) 45 non-transfused, eculizumab-treated patients and (iii) 105 transfused, eculizumab-treated patients. Of these, 136/144, 43/45 and 99/105 had HDA respectively. Compared with untreated patients, non-transfused, treated patients had greater absolute reduction in LDH (−1318.8 vs −39.4; P < 0.001) and greater percentage reduction in LDH (−69.9 vs −1.6%; P < 0.001). Clinically meaningful improvements in FACIT-Fatigue (73.7 vs 24.6%, respectively) and in EORTC-QLQ-C30 (84.2 vs 33.3%, respectively) were observed. Non-transfused, treated patients with HDA had significantly reduced LDH levels (P < 0.001) and clinically meaningful improvements in FACIT-Fatigue (P = 0.003) and EORTC-QLQ-C30 (P = 0.020) versus untreated patients. Conclusion: Significant LDH reduction and clinically meaningful improvement in fatigue were observed in patients with PNH and HDA treated with eculizumab versus untreated patients, irrespective of transfusion history.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1026-1034
Number of pages9
JournalInternal Medicine Journal
Volume47
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Eculizumab
  • High disease activity
  • Outcome
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
  • Transfusion

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