What is the importance of prophylaxis in 'non-severe' hemophilia A? Italian doctors have attempted to answer this question in their recent expert consensus.

The goal of gene therapy for hemophilia A is to safely transfer stable and durable expression of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), which predictably improves the bleeding phenotype at the lowest possible vector dose. Updated data from a study examining the use of the adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) SPK-8011 were presented during the virtual congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2021.

Standards of care for critically ill patients recommend enteral nutrition for those on mechanical ventilation. A recently published study addressed the question of how to identify patients at risk of enteral nutrition intolerance (ENI) and how to subsequently prevent this intolerance, which may be associated with worse clinical outcomes.

The aging population of individuals with hemophilia brings new experiences and challenges, leading to the search for the safest and most effective treatments and prevention strategies for diseases typical of older age, particularly cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is important to recognize that these complications pose a real risk for individuals with hemophilia, a risk that has thus far been somewhat underestimated.

The cold test is used to experimentally induce acute pain –⁠ it can thus be used, for example, to test the efficacy of analgesics. The authors of a recently published German study evaluated the analgesic effect and tolerability of metamizole compared to opioid analgesics using this method. They were led by the fact that although the drug has proven clinical efficacy and safety, it has not yet been tested using this procedure, unlike opioids.

The last decade has been marked by the emergence of new, as well as re-emerging human pathogens responsible for various infectious diseases. Viruses, especially those of zoonotic origin that originate in the wild, are demanding significant attention—and rightly so. This group of viruses currently accounts for 70% of infectious diseases in the human population, with many using animal organisms as vectors (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes) to transport and infect the human body. Human-vector interactions are becoming increasingly common, particularly due to ongoing urbanization, encroachment into previously uninhabited areas, population migration, increasing travel, shrinking distances, and climate change. In the following text, we will look at some specific examples.

Is it time to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) without chemotherapy? The authors of a recently published article in the Expert Review of Hematology journal attempted to answer this question.

The position of metformin has changed in the guidelines for the treatment of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in individuals with cardiovascular (CV) disease, issued by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in 2019. The 2019 EASD recommendations differ somewhat, thus we provide the following updated summary.

On behalf of Bristol Myers Squibb, we warmly invite you to the Zeposia Stand Alone Meeting, which will take place on March 22, 2023, at 5 PM at the EA Hotel Tereziánský dvůr in Hradec Králové.

As part of a series of interviews with the heads of professional societies on the topic of hot topics 2023, we speak with the chairwoman of the Czech Pneumological and Phthiseological Society of the CLS JEP Prof. MUDr. Martina Koziar Vašáková, Ph.D.

Secondary antibody immunodeficiency is a common complication in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and infections, along with secondary malignancies, are the leading cause of death in these patients. Hypogammaglobulinemia can be managed with immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IGRT). Besides the classic intravenous form (IVIG), a subcutaneous form (SCIG) is also available. An Italian retrospective study published in the journal Current Oncology compared their efficacy in secondary immunodeficiency in CLL patients.

Given the heterogeneity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the use of a composite parameter that includes lung function, the occurrence of exacerbations, and quality of life offers a more comprehensive view of treatment outcomes. Such a parameter was used in the analysis of the TONADO studies, which compared early use of the fixed combination of tiotropium/olodaterol with tiotropium alone.

For patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not suitable candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation, a wide range of treatment regimens is available. Recently, the addition of polatuzumab vedotin to rituximab and bendamustine therapy has shown promising efficacy in both registration studies and real-world clinical practice.

Are you applying the optimal approach to the treatment of chronic venous disease? What do the new Czech recommendations bring? And what is the current role of venopharmacs in treatment management? You can read all about this in an interview with the chair of the Czech Angiological Society ČLS JEP Doc. MUDr. Debora Karetová, CSc., from the 2nd Internal Clinic –⁠ Clinic of Cardiology and Angiology at the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and General University Hospital in Prague.

Intravenous thrombolysis is the only approved systemic reperfusion therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The most commonly used thrombolytic is alteplase. Earlier this year, the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) issued new evidence-based recommendations for this clinical situation. They contain 40 points, summarized below are the most important ones.