Citations

Abstract Background and Aims We aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum adalimumab trough levels (ATL) with disease activity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in a large, well-characterized referral center-based cohort. Methods We compared serum ATL between those with clinical, biochemical, or endoscopic/radiologic disease activity and those without. Results A total of 236 patients with IBD were included. Higher cutoff levels were associated with endoscopic and/or radiologic responses (cutoff value: 5.3 mcg/mL, P = 0.003) compared with improvement in C-reactive protein (cutoff value: 4.3 mcg/mL, P = 0.031). Conclusions Higher cutoff ATL was associated with endoscopic and/or radiologic response.

Abstract Background While quantitation methods for small-molecule and tryptic peptide bottom-up mass spectrometry (MS) have been well defined, quantitation methods for top-down or middle-up MS approaches have not been as well defined. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (t-mAbs) are a group of proteins that can be used to both demonstrate the advantages of top-down or middle-up detection methods over classic tryptic peptide bottom-up along with the growing need for robust quantitation strategies/software for these top-down or middle-up methods. Bottom-up proteolytic digest methods for the t-mAbs tend to suffer from challenges such as limited peptide selection due to potential interference from the polyclonal immunoglobulin background, complicated workflows, and inadequate sensitivity and specificity without laborious purification steps, and therefore have prompted the search for new detection and quantitation methods. Time-of-flight along with Orbitrap MS have recently evolved from the research and/or pharmaceutical setting into the clinical laboratory. With their superior mass measurement accuracy, resolution and scanning speeds, these are ideal platforms for top-down or middle-up characterization and quantitation. Methods We demonstrate a validated, robust, middle-up protein subunit detection and quantitation method for the IgG1 t-mAb, vedolizumab (VEDO), which takes advantage of the high resolution of the Orbitrap MS detection and quantitation software to increase specificity. Results Validated performance characteristics met pre-defined acceptance criteria with simple workflows and rapid turnaround times: characteristics necessary for implementation into a high-volume clinical MS laboratory. Conclusions While the extraction method can easily be used with other IgG1 t-mAbs, the detection and quantitation method may become an option for measurement of other proteins.

Objective: Describe the first case of cochlear implantation (CI) for auditory rehabilitation of a patient with craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) and progressive mixed hearing loss. Patients: A 65-year-old woman with known autosomal dominant CMD presented with progressive mixed hearing loss and declining benefit from conventional hearing aids. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperostosis of the entire craniofacial skeleton. Hearing evaluation demonstrated pure-tone thresholds in the profound range bilaterally by air conduction, and bone conduction thresholds that matched aided thresholds for her left ear, though testing was somewhat limited by inability to mask at high air-conduction thresholds. CI candidacy testing confirmed poor word and sentence scores in the right ear. Intervention: Due to the inability to access the cochlea via a conventional mastoidectomy and facial recess approach, cochlear implantation via a postauricular subtotal petrosectomy approach with ear canal overclosure was performed. Main Outcome Measures: Post-implantation word and sentence testing. Results: Despite extensive internal auditory canal stenosis, the patient demonstrated excellent early speech understanding results 5 weeks after device activation. Postimplantation audiologic evaluation showed thresholds between 20 and 30 dB HL from 250 to 6000 Hz. Word and sentence testing scores were 76% Consonant-nucleus-consonant in quiet (up from 2% preoperatively) and 77% AzBio sentences in quiet (up from 10% preoperatively). Conclusion: This report describes the first description of CI for CMD. Despite the extensive radiologic abnormalities, the patient has demonstrated excellent benefit from implantation. Further study of rare temporal bone dysplasias, such as CMD, is critical to better characterize the progression of otologic disease and determine optimal treatment.

Abstract Background and objective: Blood loss associated with total lower-extremity joint arthroplasty (TJA) often results in postoperative anemia and need for red blood cell transfusions (RBCT). We report the results of a quality improvement initiative to improve blood management and decrease transfusions in patients undergoing TJA in one tertiary hospital. Methods: Pre and post analysis after the implementation of a multifaceted intervention which included preoperative assessment for anemia, use of tranexamic acid, discouragement of autologous pre-operative blood collection and institution of more restrictive RBCT protocols. The results were stratified into three periods: I - pre-interventional (01/01/2013 -09/30/2013); II - peri-interventional (10/01/2013 -04/30/2014); and III - post-interventional (05/01/2014 -12/31/2014). We used fractional logistic regression with robust standard errors and regression modeling was configured using a segmented, or "piecewise", approach in which slope coefficients in each period were estimated. Results: During the study period 2511 patients underwent surgery. Compared with the pre-intervention period, the total number of RBC units transfused decreased from a total of 587 in the pre- to 107 in the post-intervention period (81.8% decrease). The percentage of patients receiving transfusion declined from 36.7% in pre-implementation period to 8.8% to post-intervention period. Depending upon the costing methodology used, annualized savings in RBC expenditure between time period 1 and 3 ranged from a low of $108,000 using the acquisition cost per unit (~$225/unit) to $480,000 when using activity based costing (~$1000/unit). Mean length of stay (days) and 30-day readmission rates remained stable during the study period. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach with proactive involvement of all the interested parties can be successful and sustainable in reducing RBCT and its associated costs, in patients undergoing TJA. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: Unlike heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, there is no approved treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the predominant phenotype in women. Therefore, there is a greater heart failure therapeutic deficit in women compared with men. Methods: In a prespecified subgroup analysis, we examined outcomes according to sex in the PARAGON-HF trial (Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ARB Global Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction), which compared sacubitril-valsartan and valsartan in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The primary outcome was a composite of first and recurrent hospitalizations for heart failure and death from cardiovascular causes. We also report secondary efficacy and safety outcomes. Results: Overall, 2479 women (51.7%) and 2317 men (48.3%) were randomized. Women were older and had more obesity, less coronary disease, and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide) levels than men. For the primary outcome, the rate ratio for sacubitril-valsartan versus valsartan was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59–0.90) in women and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.84–1.25) in men ( P interaction = 0.017). The benefit from sacubitril-valsartan was attributable to reduction in heart failure hospitalization. The improvement in New York Heart Association class and renal function with sacubitril-valsartan was similar in women and men, whereas the improvement in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score was less in women than in men. The difference in adverse events between sacubitril-valsartan and valsartan was similar in women and men. Conclusions: As compared with valsartan, sacubitril-valsartan seemed to reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization more in women than in men. Whereas the possible sex-related modification of the effect of treatment has several potential explanations, the present study does not provide a definite mechanistic basis for this finding. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01920711.

Abstract Background Recent genome wide association studies (GWAS) of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have identified several associations at both HLA and non-HLA loci. However, much of HL heritability remains unexplained. Methods To identify novel risk loci, we performed a meta-analysis of 3 HL GWAS including a total of 1,810 cases and 7,879 controls. Results were replicated in an independent set of 1,163 cases and 2,580 controls, for a total of 3,097 and 11,097 cases and controls combined, respectively. participants in discovery and replication stages were of European descent. quality control and imputation we conducted a meta-analysis addressing 1,004,829 variants (λ= 1.10, λ1000= 1.03). Associations between SNP genotypes and HL risk were evaluated under a log-additive model of inheritance adjusting for sex, study center and significant principal components to control for population stratification. We performed an analysis with all HL cases and then conducted stratified analyses by histological subtype (classical, nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity), age at diagnosis (nodular sclerosis among those diagnosed at 15- 35 years in all studies, and those diagnosed at 35 and older years in the European Study only) and EBV tumor status (negative and positive). We then used a bioinformatic approach (FunciSNP) to identify potential functional variants associated with HD risk correlated with risk loci of interest. We extracted publically available ENCODE data on biofeatures to identify potential functional motifs associated with the index SNP or correlated SNPs. Finally, we measured expression levels of the two alternative mRNA transcripts in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from 49 post-therapy HL patients and 25 unaffected controls. RT-PCR was carried out in triplicate. Relative expression levels were calculated relative to TBP as housekeeping gene. Linear models were used to assess correlation between genotype and TCF3expression levels. Results The meta-analysis identified a novel susceptibility variant at chromosome 19p13.3 (rs1860661) associated with HL risk (Odds Ratio [OR]= 0.78, P=2.0*10-8, I2=0%). variant is located in intron 2 of TCF3 (also known as E2A), a regulator of B- and T-cell lineage commitment. was also significantly associated with HL (OR= 0.85, P=0.002) in the replication series of 1,281 cases and 3,218 controls. the combined analysis consisting of the discovery and replication sets, rs1860661was strongly associated with HL (OR=0.81,=3.5*10-10), with no evidence of heterogeneity between contributing studies (Phom=0.41, I2=0%). The number of G alleles defined by rs1860661 was significantly associated with a reduced risk of each HL subtype except EBV positive HL. rs1860661 and two correlated SNPs, rs10413888 (r2=0.90) and rs8103453 (r2=0.89) identified by FunciSNP analysis map in or near marks of open chromatin and in DNAse hypersensitivity sites in TCF3 in CD20+ B cell lines., the protective minor alleles of these SNPs as defined by the G-G-G haplotype map to the binding sites for ZBTB7a (rs10413888 and rs1860661) and (rs8103453) transcription factors, likely improving the binding efficiency to the sites which may result in increased transcription rates of TCF3. TCF3 is encoded by two alternative transcripts (E12 and E47). Higher expression levels of TCF3-E47, whose transcription start site is located close to rs1860661, was associated with the rs1860661-G allele in controls (P=0.02), but not in HL patients (P=0.22). Conclusion/Discussion TCF3 is essential for the commitment of lymphoid progenitors to both B-cell and T-cell lineage development. A molecular and phenotypic hallmark of classical HL is the loss of the B-cell phenotype in HRS cells, including lack of demonstrable B-cell receptor and most B-cell specific markers such as CD19 or CD20. HRS cells have a low level of TCF3, particularly homodimers of the isoform E47, due to expression of the ABF-1 and ID2 inhibitors that bind to TCF3. Thus, higher TCF3 levels in HRS precursor cells may lead to enhanced retention of the B cell phenotype, thereby conferring a protective effect. These data suggest a link between the 19p13.3 locus including TCF3 and HL risk, indicating that TCF3 could be relevant to HL etiology and pathogenesis. Disclosures: Link: Genentech: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy.

Introduction: Primary cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare disorder and accounts for 15% of all autoimmune hemolytic anemia. It is associated with an underlying monoclonal protein, which is IgM kappa in the majority of patients. The IgM protein triggers complement mediated extravascular hemolysis. The underlying pathophysiology by which autoimmune hemolysis affects only a small subset of patients with IgM monoclonal protein is poorly understood. Changes in the IgM structure via post-translational modifications of light chains (LCs), such as glycosylation are enriched in patients with AL amyloidosis, another rare disorder where disease manifestations are driven by the protein structure. (Kumar S et al Leukemia 2017). We hypothesized that presence of post-translational glycosylation is a potential mechanism allowing the IgM protein to trigger complement mediated hemolysis in CAD. Methods: Serum samples of patients being evaluated for monoclonal protein disorders were analyzed by immuno-enrichment-based matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), termed MASS-FIX. Patients who had an underlying IgM monoclonal protein identified by MASS-FIX from 07/23/2018 to 5/14/2019 were included this study. Glycosylated LCs were identified by the shift in their molecular mass due to the added molecular mass of the carbohydrates. Glycosylation was compared in patients with IgM associated CAD vs. other IgM disorders. Results: 438 unique patients with an IgM monoclonal protein identified on MASS-FIX were included in the study. CAD was present in 3% (n=14) of patients. The primary underlying diagnosis in the remaining patients was monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS): 47% (n=206), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL)/Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM): 30% (n=132), non-LPL lymphoma: 6% (n=28), AL amyloidosis: 4% (n=19), CLL: 4% (n=18), cryoglobulinemia: 2% (n=10), multiple myeloma: 2% (n=9) and other: 0.5% (n=2) Glycosylation was present in 7% (31/438) of patients in this cohort. Glycosylation was significantly more prevalent in patients with CAD than other IgM gammopathies (64% vs. 5%, p <0.001). CAD was present in 29% of patients with glycosylation and in only 1% of patients without glycosylation, p<0.001. Disease characteristics of patients with CAD, including patients with and without glycosylated LCs are listed in Table 1. No statistically significant differences were observed in the features of CAD patients with and without glycosylation, though sample size was small. All patients (100%) had IgM kappa monoclonal protein. Median M-spike was 0.5 g/dL. The associated disorder was IgM MGUS in 50% of patients, LPL/WM in 29%, marginal zone lymphoma in 14% and a non-specific B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in 7% of patients. Median hemoglobin was 11.2 g/dL. All patients had characteristic RBC agglutination on peripheral smear. Elevated LDH and undetectable haptoglobin were seen in 100% of patients. Cold agglutinin titer was positive (>1:64) in 12 of 13 patients (85%) in whom it was tested. The remaining patient had a titer of 1:8. Polyspecific Coombs test/direct antiglobin test (DAT) was positive in 100% of patients (n=12 tested) and all patients who were tested with monospecific DAT had an antiC3 antibody (n=10). One patient also had monospecific anti IgG antibody. Transfusions were needed in 21% of patients. Other clinical manifestations included acrocyanosis in 43% (n=6) and Raynaud's phenomenon in 50% (n=7) of patients, respectively. Treatment for CAD included rituximab with or without steroids in 50% (n=7) of patients, rituximab-based chemotherapy in 29% (n=4) of patients, with observation alone in 21% (n=3) of patients. Conclusions: Modification of the IgM immunoglobulin structure by post-translational glycosylation of LCs was significantly more common in patients with CAD compared with other IgM monoclonal gammopathies (64% vs. 5%, p <0.001). CAD was seen in only 1% of patients without glycosylation, while one-third of patients with glycosylation had CAD. This is a novel finding. As MASS FIX is now routinely done for detection of monoclonal proteins at our institution, the presence of LC glycosylation can provide diagnostic clues and can be a potential therapeutic target in the future. Future studies in larger, independent cohorts of patients are needed to confirm these findings. *SS & DLM contributed equally Disclosures Murray: The Binding Site: Patents & Royalties: US Patent Rights on Mass Spectroscopy Licensing agreement with The Binding Site, Research Funding. Dasari:The Binding Site: Patents & Royalties: US Patent Rights on Mass Spectroscopy Licensing agreement with The Binding Site, Research Funding. Kumar:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Dispenzieri:Janssen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding; Intellia: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy. Gertz:Spectrum: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; Ionis: Honoraria; Alnylam: Honoraria.