TIF Position Statement on COVID-19 and Thalassemia Published in the European Journal of Hematology
June 25, 2020 – The Thalassaemia International Federation’s (TIF’s) position statement on COVID-19 and Thalassemia has just been published in the European Journal of Haematology. You can access the position statement here: https://www.thalassemia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/COVID-19-and-Thalassaemia-A-Position-Statement-of-the-Thalassaemia-Int….pdf
The article notes that “The optimization of blood use will help safeguard blood supplies during the pandemic…One particular aspect of optimizing blood usage could be to the use of erythropoiesis stimulants, with a view to reducing transfusion requirements. Currently this is possible through various approaches with varying levels of success, including the use of hydroxyurea, enhancers of fetal hemoglobin production, and the newer approaches using red cell maturation modifiers such as the recently approved luspatercept.”
The position statement also proposes 3 risk categories for thalassemia patients (moderate risk, high risk, and highest risk), along with recommended guidance for each risk category, as outlined below:
