Table 7.

Proposed recommendations for benign hematologic disorders in COVID afflicted areas/hospitals

Aplastic anemia	High priority	Refer patients with severe aplastic anemia to non-COVID hospital for ATG/MSD transplant If the same is not feasible: Cyclosporine with TPO agonists/androgens and supportive care for severe aplastic anemia [61] Use more restrictive transfusion thresholds for blood and platelet transfusion
	Intermediate/ low priority	Decrease follow up for cyclosporine monitoring
Immune thrombocytopenia purpura	High priority	Prefer IVIg or TPO agonists over steroids for treatment of acute ITP with platelet count less than 10,000/ul/bleeding in acute ITP [63]
	Low priority	Reduce follow up visits in non bleeders Postpone splenectomies in chronic refractory ITP Use lower doses of steroids for chronic ITP; transition to oral TPO agonists wherever feasible
Thrombosis	Prefer newer oral anticoagulants (NOACS)/bridge to NOACS wherever feasible
Hemoglobinopathy (thalassemia)	Modify transfusion threshold (< 7 gm/dl) Continue iron chelation as before
Hemophilia	High priority	Continue on-demand therapy; consider giving short term factor prophylaxis at discharge for domestic use
	Intermediate priority	Defer tertiary prophylaxis and prophylaxis in adults, may need to defer immune tolerance induction in patients with inhibitors
	Low priority	Defer all elective surgical and rehabilitation procedures