Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may be associated with serious hemorrhage. We describe 2 patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin given as a 24-hr continuous infusion with a concomitant continuous infusion of platelets. This regimen was rapidly effective in increasing platelet counts in both patients. Am. J. Hematol. 65:85-86, 2000.

1) Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome may be associated with unusual sites of thrombosis. 2) Laboratory evaluation involves testing for antiphospholipid antibodies: lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies. 3) Acute management of thrombosis involves immediate anticoagulation. Low-molecular-weight heparins are as safe and effective as unfractionated heparin in this setting. Arterial events may require emergent thrombolytic therapy. Monitoring of the APTT with unfractionated heparin in the presence of a lupus anticoagulant is ineffective; these patients require monitoring of antifactor Xa levels or the use of LMWH, which does not require monitoring. 4) The pharmacokinetics of LMWH change in pregnancy, resulting in a shorter plasma half-life and larger volume of distribution. Monitoring of antifactor Xa levels is necessary. 5) Chronic anticoagulation is best achieved with warfarin, with significantly decreased rates of recurrent events when the INR is > or = 3.0. Long-term, if not life-long, anticoagulation is often necessary. Warfarin is teratogenic, and individuals desiring pregnancy will need to convert to therapeutic, not prophylactic, doses of either unfractionated heparin or LMWH. 6) As part of optimal management of thrombosis in APS, additional risk factors for thrombosis should be eliminated or reduced. These include comorbid illnesses such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, as well as smoking. 7) Tamoxifen, raloxifene, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy are all associated with an increased risk of DVT in the general population. In APS patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation, the addition of these drugs should not increase thrombosis risk. In APS patients not receiving anticoagulant therapy, these hormonal therapies may increase the thrombosis risk.

TPS2103 Background: EGFRvIII is a constitutively active tumorigenic deletion mutation of EGFR. It is expressed in ~30% of primary GB where it is linked to poor long-term survival (Pelloski 2007). The investigational vaccine rindopepimut consists of the unique EGFRvIII peptide sequence conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), delivered intradermally (500ug with 150ug GM-CSF as an adjuvant). Remarkably consistent and promising results across 3 phase II studies in newly diagnosed, resected EGFRvIII+ GB (Lai 2011) represent a statistically significant improvement over a historical control cohort matched for major eligibility criteria (median overall survival [OS] = 24.4 - 24.6 vs. 15.2 months from diagnosis [m] and median progression-free survival [PFS] = 12.3 - 15.3 vs. 6.4 m). ACT IV, a phase III trial in this population, is ongoing. The immunosuppressive influence of residual/advanced GB presents a challenge to activation of efficacious antitumor immune responses. Anecdotal evidence (compassionate use cases, Sampson 2008) suggests that rindopepimut may induce specific immune responses and regression in multifocal and bulky residual tumors. Rindopepimut with BV, which inhibits VEGF and its immunosuppressive properties (including impaired maturation of dendritic cells and disruption of tumoral T cell infiltration [Johnson 2007, Shrimali 2010]) may further optimize EGFRvIII-specific immune response and antitumor activity. Methods: ReACT is a Phase II study of rindopepimut plus BV in patients (pts) with 1st or 2nd relapse of EGFRvIII+ GB. BV-naïve pts will be enrolled to Group 1 (n=70: randomized 1:1 to BV plus either rindopepimut/GM-CSF or control injection [low-dose KLH]) while BV-refractory patients will enter Group 2 (n=25: to receive BV plus open-label rindopepimut/GM-CSF). Concurrent with BV (10 mg/kg, q 2 wks), blinded treatment or open-label vaccine is given in priming phase (days 1, 15 and 29), then monthly until PD. Tumor response is assessed every 8 weeks, and patients are followed for survival after PD. Objectives are PFS at 6 months (primary), objective response rate, PFS, OS, safety, immunogenicity and elimination of EGFRvIII. ReACT opened to accrual in December 2011 (NCT01498328).