Don't Just Read the Abstract

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!

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)

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!

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.

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.

Pip and Rich discuss the happenings from day 2 of the British Society of Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting

On this show, Pip and Rich discuss the first day of BSH, focusing on medical haematology.

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.

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.