During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals looking after myeloma patients face important and difficult decisions about the best way to treat their patients, whilst minimising their risk of infection.
Several myeloma specialists have been sharing their experience as they work together to consider the safest and most effective ways to manage this vulnerable group of patients. Here we have compiled a short list of informative webinars, podcasts and articles to keep you up to date with the current opinions from around the world
Webinar: Management of multiple myeloma during COVID-19: a few practical tips.
International Academy for Clinical Haematology (IACH), presented by Prof Mohamad Mohty and Prof Maria-Victoria Mateos)
This webinar aims to address practical questions that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss how to protect highly immunosuppressed myeloma patients against COVID-19, maintain a high standard of myeloma care during the pandemic and protect healthcare professionals. Timestamps below indicate key discussion points.
03:40: Why are myeloma patients at a higher risk for the COVID-19 infection?
08:00: Should we postpone frontline autologous transplant for myeloma during the pandemic period?
12:30: What should be the attitude towards stem cell mobilization and collection?
15:40: What should be the attitude in patients receiving maintenance therapy after autologous transplant?
20:25: Is there an optimal frontline therapy during the pandemic?
23:10: How to handle the dexamethasone dosage?
26:00: How to handle the use of bisphosphonates?
26:55: Are there any prophylactic measures to prevent COVID-19 infection?
34:15: How to handle myeloma therapy in a patient suffering from a COVID-19 infection?
36:20: How to handle clinical research protocols during the pandemic?
40:00: Conclusions/wrap-up
Webinar series: European Haematology Association
A series of webinars focused on the care of haematology patients during the COVID-19 crisis. Each week, renowned haematology professionals are sharing their experiences from various perspectives and addressing key questions.
Article: Caring for patients with haematological malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations from IACH, EHA, and EBMT.
(Multiple Myeloma Hub)
This short article provides a summary of information from key webinars as well as findings from the first published case study of COVID-19 and myeloma.
Podcast: Managing myeloma in the COVID-19 era
(Prof. Mohamad Mohty)
This 10-minute podcast, outlines the difficulties being faced due to the coronavirus pandemic, risk factors, and how negative outcomes can be minimized. Specifically, it discusses the ways hospital visits can be reduced and treatments amended to reduce risk while still maintaining efficacy.