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- Nilsson-Ehle, Herman, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of life, physical function and MRI T2*in elderly low-risk MDS patients treated to a haemoglobin level of andgt;= 120 g/L with darbepoetin alfa +/- filgrastim or erythrocyte transfusions
- 2011
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Ingår i: European Journal of Haematology. - : John Wiley and Sons. - 0902-4441 .- 1600-0609. ; 87:3, s. 244-252
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Anaemia in low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). Response to treatment with erythropoietin +/- granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is associated with improved QoL, but whether transfusion therapy with higher haemoglobin (Hb) target levels has similar effects is unknown. The objective for this prospective phase II Nordic multicentre trial was to assess QoL, response rate and physical function in elderly anaemic MDS patients treated to a target Hb level of andgt; 120 g /L. Methods: Thirty-six elderly patients with low-and intermediate-1 risk MDS received darbepoetin (DA) 300 mu g/wk, with the addition of G-CSF if no response. If the Hb target was reached at 16 wk, treatment was maintained until week 26. Remaining patients were transfused to reach the target level for at least 8 wk. Results: Twenty-seven patients completed the study. Response rate to DA +/- G-CSF was 67% in evaluable patients and 56% according to intention to treat. Eighteen patients reached the target Hb level according to protocol. QoL scores for fatigue, dyspnoea, constipation, and physical, role and social functioning improved significantly during study, with similar results for transfused and untransfused patients. Maintaining Hb andgt; 120 g /L did not confer a higher transfusion rate, once the target was reached. In two of fourteen patients, magnetic resonance imaging T2* indicated cardiac iron overload, however, without association with ferritin levels. Conclusions: In elderly anaemic MDS patients, an increment in haemoglobin is associated with improved QoL, whether induced by growth factor treatment or transfusion therapy.
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| 2. |
- Hellstrom-Lindberg, E., et al.
(författare)
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A validated decision model for treating the anaemia of myelodysplastic syndromes with erythropoietin + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor : Significant effects on quality of life
- 2003
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Ingår i: British Journal of Haematology. - : Wiley. - 0007-1048 .- 1365-2141. ; 120, s. 1037-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have published previously a prototype of a decision model for anaemic patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), in which transfusion need and serum erythropoietin (S-Epo) were used to define three groups with different probabilities of erythroid response to treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) + Epo. S-Epo = 500 U/l and a transfusion need of < 2 units/month predicted a high probability of response to treatment, S-Epo > 500 U/l and =2 units/month for a poor response, whereas the presence of only one negative prognostic marker predicted an intermediate response. A total of 53 patients from a prospective study were included in our evaluation sample. Patients with good or intermediate probability of response were treated with G-CSF + Epo. The overall response rate was 42% with 28.3% achieving a complete and 13.2% a partial response to treatment. The response rates were 61% and 14% in the good and intermediate predictive groups respectively. The model retained a significant predictive value in the evaluation sample (P < 0.001). Median duration of response was 23 months. Scores for global health and quality of life (QOL) were significantly lower in MDS patients than in a reference population, and fatigue and dyspnoea was significantly more prominent. Global QOL improved in patients responding to treatment (P = 0.01). The validated decision model defined a subgroup of patients with a response rate of 61% (95% confidence interval 48-74%) to treatment with G-CSF + Epo. The majority of these patients have shown complete and durable responses.
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