Utilizing artificial intelligence for the detection of hemarthrosis in hemophilia using point-of-care ultrasonography.

Background: Recurrent hemarthrosis and resultant hemophilic arthropathy are significant causes of morbidity in persons with hemophilia, despite the marked evolution of hemophilia care. Prevention, timely diagnosis, and treatment of bleeding episodes are key. However, a physical examination or a patient's assessment of musculoskeletal pain may not accurately identify a joint bleed.

Integrating musculoskeletal ultrasound as a shared decision-making tool in hemophilia care: observations from a 3-year study.

Background: Hemophilia significantly impacts joint health, necessitating innovative strategies for early detection and management of joint damage.

Objectives: This study assessed the impact of incorporating musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) into shared decision-making processes on prophylaxis regimens for patients with hemophilia over a 3-year period.

Methods: The "Joint Damage Monitoring by Ultrasonography in Patients with Hemophilia in Japan" study was a long-term prospective observational study conducted at Ogikubo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Artificial intelligence-assisted ultrasound imaging in hemophilia: research, development, and evaluation of hemarthrosis and synovitis detection.

Background: Joint bleeding can lead to synovitis and arthropathy in people with hemophilia, reducing quality of life. Although early diagnosis is associated with improved therapeutic outcomes, diagnostic ultrasonography requires specialist experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms may support ultrasonography diagnoses.

Treatment of thrombotic cardiovascular diseases in people with haemophilia: A Japanese consensus study.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) that require long-term anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy presents a problem in people with haemophilia (PWH) who receive factor replacement therapy to reduce bleeding risk. Currently, there are no Japanese guidelines for the management of PWH with CVD.

Aim: To develop expert guidance on managing CVD in PWH in Japan.

Association of physical activity with bleeding events and safety in patients with haemophilia A starting emicizumab prophylaxis: an interim analysis of the TSUBASA study.

Introduction: Little information exists on the relationship between bleeding outcomes and physical activity in patients with haemophilia A (PwHA).

Aim: This interim analysis of the TSUBASA study (UMIN-CTR ID: UMIN000037448) evaluated the association of physical activity with bleeding and safety in PwHA starting emicizumab.

Methods: PwHA without factor VIII inhibitors were recruited.

Association of patient, treatment and disease characteristics with patient-reported outcomes: Results of the ECHO Registry.

Introduction: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in people living with haemophilia A (PLWHA) are often under-reported. Investigating PROs from a single study with a diverse population of PLWHA is valuable, irrespective of FVIII product or regimen.

Aim: To report available data from the Expanding Communications on Haemophilia A Outcomes (ECHO) registry investigating the associations of patient, treatment and disease characteristics with PROs and clinical outcomes in PLWHA.

Real-World Experience of People with Hemophilia A Receiving Turoctocog Alfa Pegol (N8-GP): Results from a Patient Experience Survey.

Purpose: Turoctocog alfa pegol (N8-GP) is an extended half-life recombinant factor VIII molecule used for the treatment of hemophilia A (HA). The purpose of this study was to investigate real-world experiences of patients with HA treated with N8-GP.

Patients And Methods: A 25-minute online survey was completed by adults (≥18 years) and caregivers of adolescents (12-16 years) with HA receiving N8-GP across six countries (Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK and US).

Haemophilia and cardiovascular disease in Japan: Low incidence rates from ADVANCE Japan baseline data.

Introduction: With the increasing life expectancy of people with haemophilia, the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and thrombotic events has become a growing concern. Longitudinal studies on the incidence and risk factors of CVD in this population are limited, and optimal prevention and treatment strategies are yet to be established.

Aim: This study aimed to present the baseline data of a prospective longitudinal study focusing on a subset of Japanese patients with haemophilia, specifically investigated the incidence, risk factors and treatment modalities for CVD and thrombotic diseases in people aged 40 years in Japan over 10 years through the ADVANCE Japan study.

The length of the sanitary napkins can be used as a handier index than pictorial blood loss assessment chart to predict the heavy menstrual bleeding.

Aim: Many women with inherited bleeding disorders are not diagnosed because of a lack of appropriate indicators. This study aimed to assess the predictability of the pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) as an indicator of menorrhagia and identify an easy indicator of menorrhagia resulting from bleeding disorders.

Methods: A multicenter study enrolled 9 patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD), 23 hemophilia carriers, and 71 controls aged 20-45 years who completed PBACs for two menstrual cycles as well as questionnaires.

Real-World Use of Albutrepenonacog Alfa, A Recombinant Coagulation Factor IX Albumin Fusion Protein, for Personalized Prophylaxis in Japanese Individuals With Hemophilia B: A Case Series.

Currently, the mainstay of disease management for hemophilia B, a hemorrhagic disease caused by a congenital deficiency or molecular abnormalities of blood coagulation factor IX (FIX), is prophylaxis using FIX concentrate. On-demand injections of FIX concentrate may also be required, even during prophylaxis, when a patient with hemophilia B is bleeding. Albutrepenonacog alfa (rFIX-FP) is a human albumin fusion gene recombinant FIX, which is administered once every seven, 14, or 21 days, depending on patient preferences and symptoms.

The seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies against the adeno-associated virus capsids in Japanese hemophiliacs.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are promising modalities of gene therapy to address unmet medical needs. However, anti-AAV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) hamper the vector-mediated therapeutic effect. Therefore, NAb prevalence in the target population is vital in designing clinical trials with AAV vectors.

Burden of congenital hemophilia A requiring treatment in Japan: The HIKOBOSHI study.

Background: Treatment of congenital hemophilia A (HA) in Japan has greatly improved with the widespread adoption of prophylactic factor (F)VIII concentrates. However, it is unknown if this has translated into a real-world reduction in disease and treatment burden.

Objectives: To describe HA disease burden in Japan based on information from two medical information databases, JMDC and Real World Data Co.

AOZORA: long-term safety and joint health in paediatric persons with haemophilia A without factor VIII inhibitors receiving emicizumab - protocol for a multicentre, open-label, phase IV clinical study.

Introduction: Persons with haemophilia A (PwHA) commonly experience regular bleeding into joints, which may result in joint damage and complications such as degenerative arthritis. Emicizumab has previously demonstrated efficacy in reducing the occurrence of joint bleeds and target joints, along with having a favourable safety profile; however, data on the long-term effects on joint health are lacking. The AOZORA study will evaluate the long-term safety and joint health of paediatric PwHA without factor (F)VIII inhibitors taking emicizumab; here, we report the details of the study protocol and baseline data.

Turoctocog alfa pegol (N8-GP) in severe hemophilia A: Long-term safety and efficacy in previously treated patients of all ages in the pathfinder8 study.

Background: N8-GP (turoctocog alfa pegol; Esperoct) is a glycoPEGylated human recombinant factor VIII (FVIII).

Objectives: Pathfinder8 (NCT01480180) was a phase 3, multinational, open-label, nonrandomized trial to investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of N8-GP in people of all ages with severe hemophilia A previously treated with N8-GP.

Patients/method: Patients were recruited from the completed phase 3 pathfinder2 and pathfinder5 trials to receive intravenous N8-GP prophylaxis for up to 104 weeks, administered every 7 days, twice weekly, or three times weekly.

AKATSUKI study: a prospective, multicentre, phase IV study evaluating the safety of emicizumab under and immediately after immune tolerance induction therapy in persons with congenital haemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors.

Introduction: For persons with haemophilia A with factor (F) VIII inhibitors (PwHAwI), immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy is indicated for inhibitor eradication; however, since PwHAwI on ITI were excluded from the emicizumab clinical development programme, there are limited safety data for emicizumab treatment under/immediately after ITI in PwHAwI. Accordingly, there is a need to collect safety and efficacy data on this concomitant treatment strategy. The AKATSUKI study aims to evaluate the safety of emicizumab under/immediately after ITI in PwHAwI; here we report details of the study protocol.

Long-term safety and efficacy of rIX-FP prophylaxis with extended dosing intervals up to 21 days in adults/adolescents with hemophilia B.

Background: An international, multicenter extension study evaluated recombinant fusion protein linking recombinant coagulation factor IX (FIX) with recombinant human albumin (rIX-FP) in hemophilia B (FIX ≤ 2%) patients previously enrolled in a phase III study or who initiated rIX-FP prophylaxis following surgery.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of rIX-FP prophylaxis in adult previously treated patients (PTPs) with hemophilia B.

Methods: Male PTPs were treated with a 7- (35-50 IU/kg), 10- or 14-day regimen (50-75 IU/kg).

Development and Validation of a Population-Pharmacokinetic Model for Rurioctacog Alfa Pegol (Adynovate): A Report on Behalf of the WAPPS-Hemo Investigators Ad Hoc Subgroup.

Background And Objective: Rurioctacog alfa pegol (Adynovate) is a modified recombinant factor VIII concentrate used for treating hemophilia A. Aiming to improve treatment tailoring on the Web-Accessible Population Pharmacokinetic Service-Hemophilia (WAPPS-Hemo) platform for patients of all ages treated with Adynovate, we have developed and evaluated a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model. On the platform, PopPK models are used as priors for Bayesian forecasting that derive individual PK of hemophilia patients and are subsequently used for personalized dose regimen design.

Ischaemic events are rare, and the prevalence of hypertension is not high in Japanese adults with haemophilia: First multicentre study in Asia.

Introduction: With the increasing life expectancy of patients with haemophilia (PWH), the number of PWH with age-related comorbidities, such as ischaemic events, is increasing.

Aim: We conducted this multicentre observational study to identify the risk factors for major ischaemic events in PWH.

Methods: This study was the first multicentre observational study, conducted with the participation of five haemophilia treatment centres in Japan, conducted in ≥30-year-old adult PWH.