Rituximab for treating inhibitors in people with inherited severe haemophilia

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
This review did not identify any relevant randomised controlled trials. The research evidence available was limited to case reports and case series therefore no conclusions could be drawn on the efficacy and safety of rituximab for treating inhibitors in people with haemophilia.

Topline Phase III data of avatrombopag for treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia

Biospace Inc.
Though avatrombopag increased platelet counts relative to placebo, the study did not meet the composite primary endpoint of avoiding platelet transfusions, chemotherapy dose reductions by 15% or greater, and chemotherapy dose delays by four days or more.

Cessation of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation

Heart
In 'real world' cohort (n=1415), persistence of DOAC use was found to be high with only 8.8 cessations/100 patient-years follow-up and rate of serious adverse events rate was low at 1.6/100 patient-years; most common cause of cessation of index DOAC (53.1%) was patient choice.

Microbleeds and the Effect of Anticoagulation in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: An Exploratory Analysis of the NAVIGATE ESUS Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Neurology
Analysis (n=3699) found those with cerebral microbleeds had higher rates of recurrent stroke, ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, and mortality during 11 months of follow-up, but this did not appear to influence the effects of rivaroxaban (15mg) on clinical outcomes.

Lifelong Aspirin for All in the Secondary Prevention of Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Still Sacrosanct or Is Reappraisal Warranted?

Circulation
This narrative review discusses recent trials that inform the current use of aspirin in the secondary prevention of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), a new term for stable coronary artery disease defined in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines.

Revised SPC: Praxbind (idarucizumab) 2.5 g/50 mL solution for injection/infusion

electronic Medicines compendium
Section 5.1 has been updated with information on a paediatric patient (between 16-<18 years old) treated with idarucizumab during an open-label safety trial.

The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:

http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services