Successful Use of Targeted HIF‐2α Inhibition in <i>EPAS1</i>‐Mutated Congenital Erythrocytosis
We describe the case of an 11-year-old female with significant polycythemia and pulmonary hypertension with resultant ischemic stroke. She was identified to have a likely pathogenic germline endothelial PAS-domain containing protein-1 (EPAS1) variant, which encodes hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2α). Following variant identification, she started novel therapy with belzutifan, a small molecule inhibitor of HIF-2α, to target her underlying disease pathophysiology. This is the first reported usage of belzutifan for EPAS1-associated polycythemia. The therapy has been well tolerated, and her hemoglobin was restored to normal levels without the need for additional phlebotomy. Thus, belzutifan represents a novel strategy for addressing EPAS1-variant driven polycythemia.
Authors
- Tobias Else (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2262-0011)
- Thomas F. Michniacki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8919-5243)
- Lauren Frazier
- Mary K. Olive (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6095-4701)
- Mark Hannibal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9077-3837)
- Elliot Ensink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9620-5622)
Institutions
- University of Michigan (US)
- Michigan Medicine (US)
- Michigan State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Blood & Cancer
- Published
- 2025-08-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.31966
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.16