In this first of a two-part episode, Pip and Rich discuss their highlights of 2025. They discuss a wide range of developments across medical haematology with a focus on bleeding disorders and immuno-haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss two of their recent publications on idiopathic and secondary polycythaemia. The first is an audit across two large hospitals in the Midlands. The team screened over 2000 patients who had had a JAK2 mutation screen performed, eventually finding 266 with confirmed idiopathic or secondary polycythaemia. By the time patients were seen, the haematocrit was already dropping. 60% were never venesected and venesection seemed to make no difference to haematocrits and had no association with thrombotic events. In the second paper which was a survey of clinicans, practice was, as expected, shown to be variable. 85% responded to say that they would be willing to randomise patients to a clinical trial of venesection vs no venesection.This is an interesting discussion on a common situation for which there is almost no academic interest whatsoever. However, it is a big clinical problem - there is a lot of work for haematologists here. The evidence does not support treating this group of patients in any way shape or form and a trial to prove non-inferiority of no venesection is very much needed.Here are the links to the papers: Maybury et al. Venesection and resolution of erythrocytosis are not associated with reduced thrombotic risk in secondary and idiopathic polycythaemia: Results from a dual centre, 5-year retrospective study. Br J Haematol . 2025 Sep;207(3):1127-1132. doi: 10.1111/bjh.20235Nicolson et al. Common Themes and Uncertainties in Management of Secondary Polycythaemia: An International Clinician Survey of Practice. EJHaem . 2025 Oct 27;6(6):e70171. doi: 10.1002/jha2.70171 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss the BASIS trial which investigated the efficacy of the rebalancing agent marstacimab in people living with haemophilia. Marstacimab is an inhibitor of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and works by tipping the balance of clotting towards coagulation and away from bleeding. The trial showed that marstacimab works but is not randomised and there are some very interesting critical appraisal points in here even if you are not hugely interested in haemophilia.Matino et al. Marstacimab prophylaxis in hemophilia A/B without inhibitors: results from the phase 3 BASIS trial. Blood (2025) 146 (14): 1654–1663.Want a free monthly newsletter on medical haematology? Sign up at www.dontjustreadtheabstract.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Pip and Rich chat to Dr Sue Pavord, current President of the British Society of Haematology. Over the last 18 months Dr Pavord has led from the front with serious work on defining liaison haematology, paving the way for this to be formally incorporated into haematologists' job plans. They also discuss Dr Pavord's pivotal role as a clinical leader in the UK's response to Vaccine Induced Immune Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia (VITT). Her insight into medicine, politics, and strategy are invaluable and this is a wide ranging interview. Give it a listen, and give it a like! You can read the recent publication on Liaison Haematology, recently published in BMJ Open, here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pip and Rich preview their second Don't Just Read the Abstract newsletter. This week, the newsletter focuses on the work that the British Society for Haematology have being doing on workforce planning and liaison haematology in particular. If you would like to read Dr Sue Pavord's BSH message you can find it here.The paper we mention: Ransome et al. Defining ‘liaison haematology’ in the UK: a modified Delphi study. BMJ Open. 2025. To receive the newsletter, go to www.dontjustreadtheabstract.com and sign up. You can also access the newsletter on the website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Dr Peter Douglas listened to our episode on the PEERLESS trial (S1, Ep12), he began to develop a funny sensation in his chest.Emailing us he wrote:"Your commentary on this paper lead me to develop the signs and symptoms of submassive PE. I am an interventional radiologist who has spent the last 3-4 years setting up a PERT and catheter based therapy service for PE and would love to speak to you further about this. In a nutshell... you missed the point. But the point is not something the authors or sponsoring company were trying to prove, so you won't find it in the results section."Happily, he was joking (sort of), but it did make us want to get him on and ask him all about something we have limited personal experience of. So, we did! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this 5 minute episode, Pip and Rich introduce the brand new Don't Just Read the Abstract Newsletter, a twice monthly update on all things medical haematology. Covering latest developments and publications in haemostasis, thrombosis, transfusion, immunohaematology, and red cell haematology, the newsletter will keep you up-to-date on what matters to patients.Sign up at www.dontjustreadtheabstract.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss Piazza et al. Apixaban for Extended Treatment of Provoked Venous Thromboembolism, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in August 2025. This trial randomised 600 patients with VTE provoked by a transient risk factor but who also had at least one enduring risk factor, after completing 3 months of anticoagulation, to receive either apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily or placebo for 12 months. Extended apixaban reduced recurrent VTE from 10.0% to 1.3% (HR 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.36) with very low rates of major bleeding, though clinically relevant non-major bleeding was more frequent.The caveat to these findings is the definition of "provoked" used in the trial, which is wide-ranging. This is an insightful discussion and is highly relevant to clinical practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Prof. Isabelle Mahé is a cardiologist, triallist, and Professor of Internal Medicine Paris Cité University, France. She recently led the API-CAT study, a randomised controlled trial of apixaban 2.5 mg BD vs 5 mg BD for treatment of patients with cancer associated venous thromboembolism after 6 months of therapy. Pip and Rich discussed API-CAT in detail in episode 20 and now seize the opportunity to speak to an international expert and leader in the field about the art of the trial. API-CAT was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Pip and Rich go beyond the abstract of the API-CAT study, a randomised controlled trial of apixaban 5 mg BD vs 2.5 mg BD in patients with cancer-associated PE or DVT who have completed 6 months of anticoagulation. The study reported non-inferiority for low-dose apixaban in terms of VTE recurrence with a reduction in clinical relevant bleeding. This is an interesting, practice-changing study but there is plenty of nuance and a lot to discuss. Don't miss this one!HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Don't Just Read the Abstract, Pip and Rich critically appraise LUNA3, a 2:1 randomised controlled trial of rilzabrutinib vs placebo in adults with persistent or chronic ITP. This is the first therapy to prove an improvement in fatigue in ITP, but does it live up to expectation? Listen to this episode and find out.Do you like our show? Please share with friends, colleagues, and the wider world on social media.ReferencesKuter et al. 2025 - LUNA-3 TrialQuality of Life Outcomes in Luna-3 (ASH Poster)HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr Megan Kell is a UK haematologist, currently practising in Sheffield. She is the Chair of the British Society of Haematology's Global Haematology Specialist Interest Group and has a long standing interest in Global Health. She recently returned from over two years working as one of only two haematologists in the small, west African nation of The Gambia. This is an eye-opening interview which makes you realise what we take for granted. There are some great stories in here about how to improvise, how to acquire what you need in a resource poor setting, and what's truly important in medicine. This is a must listen!HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Pip interviews Dr Susie Shapiro, consultant haematologist in Oxford, UK, about the recent UK approval of efanesoctocog alfa, a very long half-life factor VIII product for severe haemophilia. To find out more about this treatment, listen to our first episode on the subject (Efanesoctocog alfa - a very long half life factor VIII) where we discuss the evidence.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Rich and Pip discuss the very long half life factor VIII product efanesoctocog alfa (trade names Altuvoct and Altuviiio). They discuss the 2023 NEJM paper that has recently prompted its approval for use in the UK NHS. This is the first of two episodes on this subject.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pip and Rich discuss the happenings from day 2 of the British Society of Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this show, Pip and Rich discuss the first day of BSH, focusing on medical haematology.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Rich and Pip review the programme for BSH 2025 and discuss the non-malignant haematology sessions not to miss. This is your go to guide for Glasgow 2025 beginning on 27th April.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss Jaber et al. Large-Bore Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in the Management of Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: Primary Results of the PEERLESS Randomized Controlled Trial. PEERLESS was a trial that enrolled patients with intermediate-risk (sub-massive) PE and randomised them to either large-bore mechanical thrombectomy or catheter directed thrombolysis. The headline finding from PEERLESS is that mechanical thrombectomy is superior to catheter directed thrombolysis but as ever, if you read beyond the abstract, you will find that it is much more complex than that. The study used an interesting primary endpoint called "win ratio" and the show includes a detailed explanation and analysis of what this is, its benefits, and its drawbacks.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology.This episode was sponsored by Sobi as a hands-off educational grant. Sobi had no editorial input whatsoever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode, Pip and Rich chat to Fouad Al Noor, CEO of ThinkSono. ThinkSono have developed an AI-powered handheld scanning tool for DVT that enables anyone to perform a diagnostic quality ultrasound scan for the diagnosis of DVT. The images are then reviewed by a radiologist, providing a rapid answer for most patients. The tool is entering use within the NHS and in this podcast, Pip and Rich discuss the story and the evidence behind ThinkSono as well as the challenges and opportunities that the tool provides.For more information, visit www.thinksono.com and to access the evidence, head to www.thinksono.com/research.Pip and Rich have no relevant conflicts of interest for this episode. The podcast was initially started thanks to a hands off grant from Sobi who have had no editorial input into the show.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology.This episode was sponsored by Sobi as a hands-off educational grant. Sobi had no editorial input whatsoever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Rich and Pip discuss de Latour et al. Oral Iptacopan Monotherapy in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. NEJM 2024. Iptacopan is a proximal complement inhibitor and the first oral treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.The study randomised patients to either continuation of a C5 inhibitor or switch to ictacopan and found that a significant proportion of patients achieved hemoglobin levels of 120 g/L or higher without the need for transfusions. The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous studies, suggesting that iptacopan is a viable alternative to existing therapies.Join us as we delve into the study's methodology, results, and implications for the future management of PNH.HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. Our focus is on collaborative projects across haemostasis & thrombosis, transfusion, general haematology, and obstetric haematology.This episode was sponsored by Sobi as a hands-off educational grant. Sobi had no editorial input whatsoever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.