Scientific publications
Managing hematological cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: an ESMO-EHA Interdisciplinary Expert Consensus. Scientific Publication
C Buske 1 , M Dreyling 2 , A Alvarez-Larrán 3 , J Apperley 4 , L Arcaini 5 , C Besson 6 , L Bullinger 7 , P Corradini 8 , M Giovanni Della Porta 9 , M Dimopoulos 10 , S D'Sa 11 , H T Eich 12 , R Foà 13 , P Ghia 14 , M G da Silva 15 , J Gribben 16 , R Hajek 17 , C Harrison 18 , M Heuser 19 , B Kiesewetter 20 , J J Kiladjian 21 , N Kröger 22 , P Moreau 23 , J R Passweg 24 , F Peyvandi 25 , D Rea 26 , J-M Ribera 27 , T Robak 28 , J F San-Miguel 29 , V Santini 30 , G Sanz 31 , P Sonneveld 32 , M von Lilienfeld-Toal 33 , C Wendtner 34 , G Pentheroudakis 35 , F Passamonti 36
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created enormous challenges for the clinical management of patients with hematological malignancies (HMs), raising questions about the optimal care of this patient group.
Methods: This consensus manuscript aims at discussing clinical evidence and providing expert advice on statements related to the management of HMs in the COVID-19 pandemic.
For this purpose, an international consortium was established including a steering committee, which prepared six working packages addressing significant clinical questions from the COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, and mitigation strategies to specific HMs management in the pandemic.
During a virtual consensus meeting, including global experts and lead by the European Society for Medical Oncology and the European Hematology Association, statements were discussed and voted upon. When a consensus could not be reached, the panel revised statements to develop consensual clinical guidance.
Results and conclusion: The expert panel agreed on 33 statements, reflecting a consensus, which will guide clinical decision making for patients with hematological neoplasms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CITATION ESMO Open. 2022 Apr;7(2):100403. doi: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100403. Epub 2022 Jan 28.