ASH Meeting 2016: developments in hemostaseology

During the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Diego/California, novel developments in the field of hemostaseology were presented. Alternative treatment strategies besides factor replacement were discussed for patients with hemophilia. One of the highlights of the meeting in this year’s plenary session was the presentation of successful adeno-associated virus mediated gene transfer in patients with hemophilia B leading to sustained elevation of factor IX:C (FIX:c). Other alternative treatment approaches in patients with hemophilia A may include bispecific antibodies mimicking factor VIIIa (FVIIIa) activity or disrupting anticoagulant proteins. Focusing on anticoagulation, data on the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in cancer patients with atrial fibrillation as well as treatment of superficial vein thrombosis with rivaroxaban were presented. In this short review, we try to highlight the most important presentations during the ASH meeting 2016.