Old disorders, new insights
Other abstracts highlighted at the premeeting press briefing included a study that found a high prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy in persons at risk for multiple myeloma (abstract 152) and another with the surprising finding that clonal hematopoiesis, a risk factor myeloid malignancies, may be protective against Alzheimer’s disease (abstract 5).
In addition, a long-term follow-up study of patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia treated with gene therapy showed that some patients have become transfusion independent and iron homeostasis was restored (abstract 573).
Presentations from CDC and FDA
Dr. Sekeres highlighted other events of interest scheduled for ASH 2021, including a Grassroots Network Lunch featuring a discussion with Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and a joint symposium between ASH and the Food and Drug Administration on newly approved drugs in hematology.
Dr. Sekeres has disclosed consulting/advising for Novartis, Takea/Millennium, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dr. Dunbar reported no relevant conflicts of interest. Dr. Tallman disclosed consulting/advising with and research funding from multiple entities.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.