Reduced cardiovascular morbidity in patients with hemophilia: results of a 5-year multinational prospective study

Antithrombotic Therapy in People with Hemophilia-A Narrative Review

As the life expectancy of individuals with hemophilia continues to increase, the complexity of balancing bleeding risks and thrombotic management has become increasingly critical in people with hemophilia with or at a high risk of thrombosis. Advances in hemophilia therapies such as extended half-life coagulation factors, non-factor therapies, rebalancing agents, and gene therapy have expanded treatment options for a variety of people with hemophilia. The thrombotic risk of people with hemophilia in general are relatively low as compared to those without hemophilia. However, antithrombotic therapy for prevention and treatment for thrombosis should still be considered in some situations, even in hemophilia. This clinical focus highlights the use of antithrombotic therapy in the management of thrombosis in people with hemophilia. A multidisciplinary, personalized approach is essential for optimizing the safety and efficacy of antithrombotic therapy in people with hemophilia with or at a high risk of thrombosis. High performance computer based multidimensional data analysis may help in establishing the personalized antithrombotic therapy in the future.

Comorbidity and Mortality in Men and Women With Haemophilia in Three Nordic Countries-Comparisons to Matched Controls

INTRODUCTION

Comorbidities and public health conditions in haemophilia are receiving increasing attention.

AIM

To analyse the prevalence of comorbidities and mortality in people with haemophilia (PwH) compared to matched controls in subgroups (factor consumption and sex).

METHODS

This study used longitudinal individual-level data (11 years) from national registers in three Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland and Sweden) from the MIND study (NCT03276130) for PwH and matched controls (1:5 on birth year and sex). It compared the prevalence of arthropathy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, depression, anxiety, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, stroke, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and epilepsy, and mortality. Three severity subgroups for PwH were identified by use of factor concentrates and sex, including female carriers.

RESULTS

Data for 2716 PwH (24,921 person-years) were analysed. PwH had increased prevalence of single and multiple comorbidities (p < 0.001), and increased mortality (p < 0.001). Arthropathy was more prevalent in all male PwH subgroups in Nordic countries, and among women including carriers in Sweden (odds ratios: ∼2→12). Arthropathy was a concomitant comorbidity alongside depression, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, hepatitis and HIV. Hypertension was more prevalent for PwH than controls in most subgroups. Hepatitis and HIV had the highest odds ratios among PwH in Denmark and Sweden.

CONCLUSION

Arthropathy occurs in combination with a complex of comorbidities. The potential common pathophysiologic denominator should be further explored. Higher prevalence of comorbidities and mortality rates in men and women with haemophilia call for a holistic approach with more ambitious treatment goals for PwH across severities and sexes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The MIND Study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03276130.

When anticoagulation management in atrial fibrillation becomes difficult: Focus on chronic kidney disease, coagulation disorders, and cancer

Anticoagulation therapy (AT) is fundamental in atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment but poses challenges in implementation, especially in AF populations with elevated thromboembolic and bleeding risks. Current guidelines emphasize the need to estimate and balance thrombosis and bleeding risks for all potential candidates of antithrombotic therapy. However, administering oral AT raises concerns in specific populations, such as those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), coagulation disorders, and cancer due to lack of robust data. These groups, excluded from large direct oral anticoagulants trials, rely on observational studies, prompting physicians to adopt individualized management strategies based on case-specific evaluations. The scarcity of evidence and specific guidelines underline the need for a tailored approach, emphasizing regular reassessment of risk factors and anticoagulation drug doses. This narrative review aims to summarize evidence and recommendations for challenging AF clinical scenarios, particularly in the long-term management of AT for patients with CKD, coagulation disorders, and cancer.

Reducing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in people with hemophilia: the importance of primary prevention

Revolutionary advances in the treatment of hemophilia has led to a significant improvement in life expectancy. Associated with this has been an increase in age-related diseases especially atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). While people with hemophilia (PWH) develop atherosclerosis at rates similar to those of the general population, rates of atherothrombosis and mortality related to CVD have been much lower, due to their hypocoagulable state. Changing treatment paradigms, aimed at reducing the risk of bleeding by improving hemostasis to levels approaching normality, has meant that the protection they are thought to have had may be lost. CVD risk factors are just as common in PWH as in the general population, but appear to be undertreated. In particular, primary prevention of CVD is vital in all individuals, but particularly in PWH as treatment of established CVD can be difficult. Active identification and management of CVD risk factors, such as obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, is required. In particular, statins have been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular and all-cause mortality with few adverse events and no increased risk of bleeding in the general population, and their use needs urgent assessment in PWH. Further longitudinal research into preventing CVD in PWH, including accurate CVD risk assessment, is required to optimize prevention and management.

Coronary artery stenosis in Japanese people living with HIV-1 with or without haemophilia

An extremely high prevalence (12.2%) of moderate-to-severe coronary artery stenosis (CAS) was documented in asymptomatic Japanese haemophiliacs living with HIV-1 (JHLH) in our previous study. The cause of this phenomenon remains unknown. We conducted the CAS screening in people living with HIV-1 without haemophilia (PLWH without haemophilia) to compare the prevalence of CAS in JHLH and PLWH without haemophilia and to identify the risk factors including inflammation markers. Ninety-seven age-matched male PLWH without haemophilia who consulted our outpatient clinic between June and July 2021 were randomly selected, and 69 patients who provided informed consent were screened for CAS using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The number of JHLH cases was 62 in this study. The prevalence of moderate (> 50%) to severe (> 75%) CAS was significantly higher in JHLH [14/57 (24.6%) vs. 6/69 (8.7%), p = 0.015], and the ratio of CAS requiring urgent interventions was significantly higher [7 (12.3%) vs. 1 (1.4%), p = 0.013] in JHLH than in PLWH without haemophilia. Among the inflammatory markers, serum titres of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (p < 0.05) and interleukin-6 (p < 0.05) in JHLH were significantly higher than those in PLWH without haemophilia. Although some patient demographics were different in the age-matched study, it might be possible to speculate that intravascular inflammation might promote CAS in JHLH.

Challenges in ageing persons with haemophilia

As treatments for individuals with inherited bleeding disorders improve, life expectancy increases and is approaching that of the normal population. Concomitant with this we are now seeing the problems of ageing in the bleeding disorder population. Although the clear-cut association between low clotting factor levels and risk of bleeding is well recognised, a relationship between high levels, some non-factor therapies and thrombotic risk also exists. The management of thrombosis in persons with inherited bleeding disorders is complex but manageable with modern treatments and collaboration in decision making between health care professionals and patients. Despite the improvements in treatment and reduction in bleeding, mostly musculoskeletal pain continues to be a major issue with advancing age. The management of pain amongst older people with haemophilia who may have multiple comorbidities should involve a person-centred, holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to support and optimise long-term physical functioning and overall quality of life.

Emicizumab is efficacious in people with hemophilia A with comorbidities aged ≥50 years: analysis of 4 phase III trials

Background

The treatment of older people with hemophilia A (HA) can be complicated by comorbidities.

Objectives

This post hoc analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of emicizumab in people with HA aged ≥50 years with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors or HIV and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods

The HAVEN 1 (NCT02622321), HAVEN 3 (NCT02847637), HAVEN 4 (NCT03020160), and STASEY (NCT03191799) studies enrolled adults/adolescents with severe HA. Participants were categorized as having a comorbidity if they had any CV risk factors (including history of CV disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, prior stroke, or obesity), HIV, and/or HCV infection. Efficacy and safety outcomes were compared by age (<50 vs ≥50 years).

Results

Of 504 participants at data cutoff, 408 were aged <50 years and 96 were aged ≥50 years. In people with HA aged <50 years, 26.7% had ≥1 CV risk factor and 29.4% had HIV and/or HCV infection. In people with HA aged ≥50 years, 72.9% had ≥1 CV risk factor and 74.0% had HIV and/or HCV infection. The mean (95% CI) annualized bleed rate for treated bleeds was 1.29 (0.07-6.06) for people with HA aged <50 years and 1.82 (0.19-6.93) for people with HA aged ≥50 years. No significant differences in annualized bleed rates were observed for those with comorbidities compared with those without. Safety outcomes were similar regardless of age.

Conclusion

This pooled analysis suggests that emicizumab efficacy and safety in people with HA aged ≥50 years with CV and HIV/HCV comorbidities were consistent with those in people with HA aged <50 years enrolled in the HAVEN 1, 3, and 4 and STASEY studies.

Bleeding Outcomes in Patients Treated With Asundexian in Phase II Trials

BACKGROUND

Phase II trials of asundexian were underpowered to detect important differences in bleeding.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to obtain best estimates of effects of asundexian vs active control/placebo on major and clinically relevant nonmajor (CRNM) and all bleeding, describe most common sites of bleeding, and explore association between asundexian exposure and bleeding.

METHODS

We performed a pooled analysis of 3 phase II trials of asundexian in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), recent acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or stroke. Bleeding was defined according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) criteria.

RESULTS

In patients with AF (n = 755), both asundexian 20 mg and 50 mg once daily vs apixaban had fewer major/CRNM events (3 of 249; incidence rate [IR] per 100 patient-years 5.47 vs 1 of 254 [IR: not calculable] vs 6 of 250 [IR: 11.10]) and all bleeding (12 of 249 [IR: 22.26] vs 10 of 254 [IR: 18.21] vs 26 of 250 [IR: 50.56]). In patients with recent AMI or stroke (n = 3,409), asundexian 10 mg, 20 mg, and 50 mg once daily compared with placebo had similar rates of major/CRNM events (44 of 840 [IR: 7.55] vs 42 of 843 [IR: 7.04] vs 56 of 845 [IR: 9.63] vs 41 of 851 [IR: 6.99]) and all bleeding (107 of 840 [IR: 19.57] vs 123 of 843 [IR: 22.45] vs 130 of 845 [IR: 24.19] vs 129 of 851 [IR: 23.84]). Most common sites of major/CRNM bleeding with asundexian were gastrointestinal, respiratory, urogenital, and skin. There was no significant association between asundexian exposure and major/CRNM bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses of phase II trials involving >500 bleeds highlight the potential for improved safety of asundexian compared with apixaban and similar safety compared with placebo. Further evidence on the efficacy of asundexian awaits the results of ongoing phase III trials.

Cardiovascular Risk Scores among Asymptomatic Adults with Haemophilia

BACKGROUND

The mortality rate of Brazilian people with haemophilia (PwH) is decreasing, but the relative incidence of deaths associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe the CVD risk score of PwH according to Pooled Cohort Equations Risk (PCER) Calculator tool and its treatment recommendations. We also compared the PCER estimates with the respective Framingham Risk Score (FRS).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included male PwH ≥ 40 years treated at the Comprehensive Haemophilia Treatment Centre of Pernambuco (Recife/Brazil). PwH with a previous CVD event or a low-density lipid cholesterol ≥ 5.0 mmol/L were excluded. Interviews, medical file reviews, and blood tests were performed. The PCER tool was used to estimate the CVD risk and compare it with the respective FRS. A p-value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Thirty PwH were included. Median age was 51.5 [interquartile range-IQR; 46.0-59.5] years. The prevalence of obesity, systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, and hypoHDLaemia were 20%, 67%, 24%, 14%, 47%, and 23%, respectively. The median PCER score was 6.9% [IQR; 3.1-13.2], with 50% having a high risk (PCER ≥ 7.5%). Statin use was suggested for 54% of PwH. Blood pressure was poorly controlled in 47% of PwH. The agreement between PCER and FRS was 80% (κ = 0.60; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Half of the male people with haemophilia aged 40 years or older had a 10-year high risk of developing CVD with strong recommendations to improve control of dyslipidaemia and blood pressure.

Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Hemophilia: an EHA-ISTH-EAHAD-ESO Clinical Practice Guidance

Cardiovascular disease is an emerging medical issue in patients with hemophilia (PWH) and its prevalence is increasing up to 15% in PWH in the United States. Atrial fibrillation, acute and chronic coronary syndromes, venous thromboembolism, and cerebral thrombosis are frequent thrombotic or prothrombotic situations, which require a careful approach to fine-tune the delicate balance between thrombosis and hemostasis in PWH when using both procoagulant and anticoagulant treatments. Generally, PWH could be considered as being naturally anticoagulated when clotting factors are <20 IU/dL, but specific recommendations in patients with very low levels according to the different clinical situations are lacking and mainly based on the anecdotal series. For PWH with baseline clotting factor levels >20 IU/dL in need for any form of antithrombotic therapy, usually treatment without additional clotting factor prophylaxis could be used, but careful monitoring for bleeding is recommended. For antiplatelet treatment, this threshold could be lower with single-antiplatelet agent, but again factor level should be at least 20 IU/dL for dual antiplatelet treatment. In this complex growing scenario, the European Hematology Association in collaboration with the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, the European Association for Hemophilia and Allied Disorders, the European Stroke Organization, and a representative of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Thrombosis has produced this current guidance document to provide clinical practice recommendations for health care providers who care for PWH.

Applicability of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the management of acute coronary syndromes to older people with haemophilia A - A modified Delphi consensus by the ADVANCE Working Group

INTRODUCTION

As people with haemophilia (PWH) receive better treatment and live longer they are more likely to encounter cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other comorbidities. ESC guidelines for the acute management of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are based on the non-haemophilia population.

AIM

To review the guidelines and propose relevant adaptations for PWHA without inhibitors who are treated with prophylaxis and present with ACS.

METHODS

As part of the ADVANCE Group, 20 European haemophilia experts used a modified Delphi approach to develop and gain consensus on proposed adaptations of the ESC guidelines for PWHA without inhibitors.

RESULTS

Of the 32 Class I recommendations across both guidelines, adaptions were considered necessary and proposed for 15. The adaptions highlight the need to provide sufficient FVIII trough levels at the time of antithrombotic treatment in people with haemophilia A (HA) without inhibitors. Patients receiving emicizumab prophylaxis and requiring oral anticoagulation therapy or combined single antiplatelet plus oral anticoagulation therapy will require additional FVIII replacement therapy.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of high-quality clinical evidence, the combined expert opinion used to develop these adaptions to the current ESC guidelines may help to guide clinicians in their treatment decisions when a PWHA presents with ACS.

Prevalence of selected bleeding and thrombotic events in persons with hemophilia versus the general population: A scoping review

Life expectancy for persons with hemophilia has increased over recent decades due to advances in treatment practice and patient care. Those with hemophilia are now more likely to be affected by conditions associated with aging, such as myocardial infarction, hemorrhagic/ischemic stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and intracranial hemorrhage. Here, we describe the results of a literature search designed to summarize current data on the prevalence of the above selected bleeding and thrombotic events in persons with hemophilia vs the general population. A total of 912 articles published between 2005 and 2022 were identified in a search of BIOSIS Previews, Embase, and MEDLINE databases conducted in July 2022. Case studies, conference abstracts, review articles, studies focusing on hemophilia treatments or surgical outcomes, and studies examining patients with inhibitors only were excluded. After screening, 83 relevant publications were identified. The prevalence of bleeding events was consistently higher in hemophilia populations vs reference populations (hemorrhagic stroke, 1.4%-5.31% vs 0.2%-0.97%; intracranial hemorrhage, 1.1%-10.8% vs 0.04%-0.4%). Serious bleeding events showed a high rate of mortality with standardized mortality ratios for intracranial hemorrhage ranging from 3.5 to 14.88. Although 9 studies reported lower prevalence of arterial thrombosis (myocardial infarction/stroke) in hemophilia vs general populations, 5 studies reported higher or comparable prevalence in hemophilia. Prospective studies are therefore needed to understand the prevalence of bleeding and thrombotic events in hemophilia populations, particularly with the observed increases in life expectancy and availability of novel treatments.

Assessing cardiovascular disease: looking beyond cholesterol

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol level is a weak predictor of developing cardiovascular (CV) disease and can only explain a small proportion of CV risk. It is not used to determine CV risk on either the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) calculator in the United States, or the Qrisk3 in the UK.A study in JAMA in 2022 suggested that ' the absolute benefits of statins are modest and may not be strongly mediated through the degree of LDL reduction '. Perhaps it is time to look beyond cholesterol to a different causal model - the 'thrombogenic' model of ASCVD.

RECENT FINDINGS

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic demonstrated that infectious agents damage the endothelium and the glycocalyx - the glycoprotein layer protecting underlying endothelial cells. There are numerous other conditions leading to this kind of damage, which can trigger thrombus formation, causing strokes and myocardial infarctions.Although these are acute events, they highlight a mechanism for the development of ASCVD which centres on endothelial damage and thrombus formation as both the primary causal mechanism for acute events, and the driver behind progression towards atherosclerotic plaque development.

SUMMARY

The cholesterol hypothesis, that a raised LDL is directly causal for ASCVD, does not adequately explain cardiovascular risk in individuals, or populations. An alternative 'thrombogenic' hypothesis is proposed as a more valid causal model.

Gene therapy - are we ready now?

Introduction

Haemophilia therapy has evolved from rudimentary transfusion‐based approaches to an unprecedented level of innovation with glimmers of functional cure brought by gene therapy. After decades of misfires, gene therapy has normalized factor (F)VIII and factor (F)IX levels in some individuals in the long term. Several clinical programmes testing adeno‐associated viral (AAV) vector gene therapy are approaching completion with imminent regulatory approvals.

Discussion

Phase 3 studies along with multiyear follow‐up in earlier phase investigations raised questions about efficacy as well as short‐ and long‐term safety, prompting a reappraisal of AAV vector gene therapy. Liver toxicities, albeit mostly low‐grade, occur in the first year in at least some individuals in all haemophilia A and B trials and are poorly understood. Extreme variability and unpredictability of outcome, as well as a slow decline in factor expression (seemingly unique to FVIII gene therapy), are vexing because immune responses to AAV vectors preclude repeat dosing, which could increase suboptimal or restore declining expression, while overexpression may result in phenotoxicity. The long‐term safety will need lifelong monitoring because AAV vectors, contrary to conventional wisdom, integrate into chromosomes at the rate that calls for vigilance.

Conclusions

AAV transduction and transgene expression engage the host immune system, cellular DNA processing, transcription and translation machineries in ways that have been only cursorily studied in the clinic. Delineating those mechanisms will be key to finding mitigants and solutions to the remaining problems, and including individuals who cannot avail of gene therapy at this time.

Cardiovascular disease in hereditary haemophilia: The challenges of longevity

The development of effective and safe treatments has significantly increased the life expectancy of persons with haemophilia (PWH). This has been accompanied by an increase in the comorbidities of ageing including cardiovascular disease, which poses particular challenges due to the opposing risks of bleeding from haemophilia and antithrombotic treatments versus thrombosis. Although mortality secondary to coronary artery disease in PWH is less than in the general population, the rate of atherosclerosis appears similar. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in PWH and risk of secondary thromboembolic stroke are not well established. PWH can be safely supported through acute coronary interventions but data on the safety and efficacy of long-term antithrombotics are scarce. Increased awareness and research on cardiovascular disease in PWH will be crucial to improve primary prevention, acute management, secondary prevention and to best support ageing PWH.