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Article History

Received: 7 February 2020

Revised: 12 June 2020

Accepted: 23 June 2020

First Online: 31 August 2020

Compliance with ethical standards

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: This study was funded by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, USA. Ken Ishiyama has received research funding from Alexion Pharma G. K. Shinji Nakao has received honoraria from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Kensuke Usuki has received honoraria and speakers bureau fees from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Yuji Yonemura has received honoraria and research funding from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shin-ichiro Fujiwara has received personal fees from Alexion Pharma G. K. Scott Rottinghaus and Rasha Aguzzi are employees and stockholders of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Jun Yokosawa is an employee of Alexion Pharma G. K. and owns stock/stock options in the company. Jun-Ichi Nishimura has received grants and personal fees from Alexion Pharma G. K. Yuzuru Kanakura has received grants from Astellas Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Janssen Pharmaceuticals K. K., the Japan Blood Products Organization, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharmaceuticals, Nippon Shinyaku, Novartis Pharma K. K., Ono Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Shionogi Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Teijin Pharma. Shinichiro Okamoto has received honoraria and research funding from Alexion Pharma G. K. Takayuki Ikezoe, Michihiro Uchiyama, Yasuo Mori, Tetsuya Fukuda, Masaya Okada, and Hideyoshi Noji have nothing to disclose.

: Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

: The protocol was approved by the institutional review board and the designs of both studies were approved by local ethics committees and trials were conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences International Ethical Guidelines.