In this last of four interviews from Barcelona, 2018 with Dr. Stamatopolous of ERIC, explains the importance of testing of IgHV.
Takeaways:
- Unlike other prognostic and predictive factors, doesn’t change over time.
- iwCLL guidelines state the IgHV testing must be done before the first treatment.
- This isn’t just interesting or desirable, it is critical.
- It does not need to be repeated as it very rarely, if ever, changes.
- The first treatment for our CLL or SLL can have a significant long-term domino effect on disease management, so it is critical to have the correct lab testing to inform this decision.
- Sadly, there is much evidence that this is not happening:
- Mato’s ConnectCLL data presented at ASH 2018 showed only 6% of patients had IgHV testing before their first treatment.
- Until recently, the test was difficult to reliably perform. But now it is easier to do, and ERIC has set up standards for both this test and TP53 testing.
Here is a fun and helpful explanation of IgHV and why it is important by our laboratory scientist, Dr. Susan LeClair.
Just to confuse things, you will see this testing referred to IgHV and IgVH. There is no difference.
Here is my overview of the basics of what testing is needed before treatment.
Please enjoy my brief interview with Dr. Kostas Stamatopolous, one of the CLL community’s strongest allies.
Stay strong. We are all in this together.
Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), MS Ed
