In this special focus issue of Expert Review of Hematology, six manuscripts are included which address timely topics and issues in bleeding disorders. The blossoming field of artificial intelligence and its application in clinical management, research, and health administration from the perspective of imaging in hemophilia is presented by Doria [Citation1]. Real-world evidence of the impact of switching from factor VIII replacement to emicizumab prophylaxis in people with hemophilia (PwH) A without inhibitors is discussed by Escobar et al. [Citation2], in which they demonstrate no significant reduction in bleeding rates suggesting that switching from FVIII to emicizumab may not deliver incremental benefits to PwH A receiving prophylaxis. Joint bleeding remains the most important consequence of bleeding in PwH despite prophylaxis. Management of problematic joints in PwH is discussed by Rodriguez-Merchan [Citation3] who focuses on the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections into painful joints of PwH and argues that there is currently insufficient evidence to support the practice. A fourth article focused on hemophilia examines new directions for therapies for PwH. Gogia et al. [Citation4] discuss the technological advances to make treatments more convenient, but stress the imperative for clinicians to be aware of the potential adverse effects of novel agents and the importance to engage people living with these diseases and their families in informed decision-making. Turing to von Willebrand disease (VWD), Kalvehalli Kashinath and Kouides [Citation5] discuss the diagnosis, natural history, and management of VWD in women with particular focus on the recently published guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of VWD [Citation6,Citation7]. This is particularly important given the recent research state of the science (RSOS) publications of Sidonio, et al. [Citation8] and Baldwin [Citation9] in which research priorities are presented for VWD and women, girls, and people with the propensity to menstruate, respectively. Finally, Pruthi [Citation10] focuses on the testing strategies to be used in the diagnosis of rare inherited bleeding disorders in line with the RSOS on the same topic from Nugent et al. [Citation11]. I hope that you will enjoy reading this special focus issue of Expert Review of Hematology as much as I did.
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The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
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References
- Doria AS. Applications of artificial intelligence in clinical management, research, and health administration: imaging perspectives with a focus on hemophilia. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Apr;11:1–15.
- Escobar M, Bullano M, Mokdad AG, et al. A real-world evidence analysis of the impact of switching from factor VIII to emicizumab prophylaxis in patients with hemophilia a without inhibitors. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Apr 28;1–8. DOI:10.1080/17474086.2023.2198207
- Rodriguez-Merchan EC. Synovitis in hemophilia: preventing, detecting, and treating joint bleeds. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 May;3:1–10.
- Gogia P, Tarantino M, Schramm W, et al. New directions to develop therapies for people with hemophilia. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Mar;8:1–17.
- Kalvehalli Kashinath S, Kouides PA. The diagnosis, natural history, and management of von Willebrand disease in women in the age of guidelines. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Jan;12:1–16.
- Connell NT, Flood VH, Brignardello-Petersen R, et al. ASH ISTH NHF WFH 2021 guidelines on the management of von Willebrand disease. Blood Adv. 2021 Jan 12;5(1):301–325. DOI:10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003264
- James PD, Connell NT, Ameer B, et al. ASH ISTH NHF WFH 2021 guidelines on the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease. Blood Adv. 2021 Jan 12;5(1):280–300. DOI:10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003265
- Sidonio RF Jr., Bryant PC, Di Paola J, et al. Building the foundation for a community-generated national research blueprint for inherited bleeding disorders: research priorities for mucocutaneous bleeding disorders. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Mar;16(sup1):39–54.
- Baldwin MK, Ahmadzia HK, Bartlett DL, et al. Building the foundation for a community-generated national research blueprint for inherited bleeding disorders: research to advance the health of people with inherited bleeding disorders with the potential to menstruate. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Mar;16(sup1):71–86.
- Pruthi RK. Testing strategies used in the diagnosis of rare inherited bleeding disorders. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 May;8:1–15.
- Nugent D, Acharya SS, Baumann KJ, et al. Building the foundation for a community-generated national research blueprint for inherited bleeding disorders: research priorities for ultra-rare inherited bleeding disorders. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Mar;16(sup1):55–70.