Caroline Piatek, MD: High HCRU, Patient Concerns Highlight Great Unmet Need in wAIHA

New research has revealed high unmet needs in people with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA), as evidenced by high healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and prevalent concerns about adverse events (AEs) and a lack of treatment efficacy.1,2

These findings are from 2 studies, data from which were presented at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, held December 7-10, 2024, in San Diego, California.

HCPLive® spoke with Caroline Piatek, MD, Associate Professor, Jane Anne Nohl Division of Hematology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, who served as an investigator on both studies.

In a retrospective, HCRU study, Piatek and colleagues found that HCRU remained high in both 12-month periods preceding and following initial wAIHA diagnosis in people with both primary and secondary wAIHA.1 In a sentiment analysis study powered by artificial intelligence (AI), they found a dearth of positive sentiments about rituximab treatment or transfusion therapy, notable concerns about AEs and a lack of treatment efficacy, and a prevalence of information seeking, highlighting the importance of healthcare provider support and involvement in implementing a successful treatment strategy.2

During the discussion, Piatek emphasized the high unmet need that these studies revealed and the need for better treatment strategies for people with wAIHA.

“There just isn't much [out there for wAIHA]. And so, anything is helpful, but ultimately, we need better therapeutic agents in this setting… Characterizing the disease burden is important, but we kind of have to move forward from that and do something about it,” Piatek said.

REFERENCES

1. Jackson LA, Pesa J, Choudhry Z, et al. A Retrospective Database Analysis of Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients with Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in the United States. Presented at: ASH Annual meeting; December 7-10; San Diego, California. Abstract 2324

2. Piatek C, Jackson LA, Brethenoux C, et al. Sentiment Analysis Applied to Digital Conversations Among Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (wAIHA) Patients Receiving Rituximab and/or Blood Transfusion. Presented at: ASH Annual meeting; December 7-10; San Diego, California. Abstract 3705