Research Highlights New Approaches to Management of Blood Clotting and Bleeding...( ATLANTA Dec. 8 -- Data that shed...),Health

ATLANTA, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Data that shed new light on the treatment of residual vein thrombosis, thromboprophylaxis after total hip replacement, chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and venous thrombosis in relation to postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy will be presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta, GA. A press conference will reveal this new research on Saturday, December 8, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

"Complications related to blood clotting and bleeding affect millions of Americans. In this session we will see exciting breakthroughs in the treatment and approach to mitigating the risk of thrombosis and bleeding disorders, which will directly impact the quality of treatment for many patients," said Andrew Schafer, MD, President, American Society of Hematology, and Chairman, Department of Medicine, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, who will be moderating the press conference on blood clotting and bleeding disorders.

-- Investigational drug, AMG 531, demonstrates efficacy in sustaining platelet counts in splenectomized patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura in phase III study [Abstract #2]

Terry Gernsheimer, MD, Puget Sound Blood Center, Seattle, WA

In this randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study, investigators evaluated the efficacy and safety of AMG 531 in previously splenectomized patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) per ASH guidelines and baseline platelet counts <30,000/µL. Chronic ITP is an autoimmune disorder in which patients produce antiplatelet autoantibodies that destroy their blood platelets and, in some cases, damage their megakaryocytes (the cells that produce platelets in the bone marrow) causing defective platelet production. These result in a low blood platelet count that may cause bruising or excessive bleeding. Splenectomy (removal of the spleen) is sometim
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