Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Treating Autoimmune Disease in MDS and AML Patients
JAMA Oncol; ePub 2017 Feb 2; Ertz-Archambault, et al
In people with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) being treated for primary autoimmune disease, azathioprine exposure was linked with a 7-fold risk for myeloid neoplasm, according to a case control study involving 258 individuals.
Participants included those with either MDS (n=55) or AML (n=31) and primary autoimmune disease (AID), as well a matched control group (n=172). Investigators looked the impact of therapies on AID. Among the results:
- One-fourth of case patients had rheumatoid arthritis; 21% had psoriasis; and 14% systemic lupus erythematosus.
- A median of 8 years passed between AID onset and diagnosis of myeloid neoplasm.
- Two-thirds of case patients received a cytotoxic or an immunomodulating agent; 6 in every 10 of those in the control group received such.
- Case patients had a 7-fold higher chance of being treated with azathioprine sodium.
- There was no significant link between a specific length of time of exposure to an agent and the drug’s category.
Ertz-Archambault N, Kosiorek H, Taylor G, et al. Association of therapy for autoimmune disease with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. [Published online ahead of print February 2, 2017]. JAMA Oncol. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.6435.