ASH 2020 | Crizanlizumab decreases opioid use for management of vaso-occlusive crises in SCD
Wally Smith, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, outlines the findings of a post hoc analysis of length of opioid use in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients enrolled in the SUSTAIN trial (NCT01895361). Vaso-occlusion is characteristic of SCD, and the acute pain episodes it causes can have a significant impact on daily life and are managed with hospital-administered and prescribed opioids. The SUSTAIN trial evaluated the use of crizanlizumab for reduction of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). To assess the impact this had on opioid requirements, the number of days of opioid use was reported in the crizanlizumab and placebo arms were analyzed. The results showed that the median annual number of days of opioid use was lower in the treatment arm compared to the placebo arm, consistent for both parenteral and oral opioids. This data suggests crizanlizumab use to have positive clinical and patient-relevant outcomes. This interview took place during the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020.
