scholarly journals Reduced dose folinic acid rescue after rapid high-dose methotrexate clearance is not associated with increased toxicity in a pediatric cohort

Author(s):  
Riitta Niinimäki ◽  
Henri Aarnivala ◽  
Joanna Banerjee ◽  
Tytti Pokka ◽  
Kaisa Vepsäläinen ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Low doses of folinic acid (FA) rescue after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) have been associated with increased toxicity, whereas high doses may be related to a decreased antileukemic effect. The optimal dosage and duration of FA rescue remain controversial. This study was designed to investigate, whether a shorter duration of FA rescue in the setting of rapid HD-MTX clearance is associated with increased toxicity. Methods We reviewed the files of 44 children receiving a total of 350 HD-MTX courses during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia according to the NOPHO ALL-2000 protocol. Following a 5 g/m2 HD-MTX infusion, pharmacokinetically guided FA rescue commenced at hour 42. As per local guidelines, the patients received only one or two 15 mg/m2 doses of FA in the case of rapid MTX clearance (serum MTX ≤ 0.2 μmol/L at hour 42 or hour 48, respectively). Data on MTX clearance, FA dosing, inpatient time, and toxicities were collected. Results Rapid MTX clearance was observed in 181 courses (51.7%). There was no difference in the steady-state MTX concentration, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neutropenic fever, or neurotoxicity between courses followed by rapid MTX clearance and those without. One or two doses of FA after rapid MTX clearance resulted in a 7.8-h shorter inpatient time than if a minimum of three doses of FA would have been given. Conclusion A pharmacokinetically guided FA rescue of one or two 15 mg/m2 doses of FA following HD-MTX courses with rapid MTX clearance results in a shorter hospitalization without an increase in toxic effects.

1982 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Leahy ◽  
Hulbert K. B. Silver ◽  
Paul Klimo ◽  
Thomas C. Hall

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 17-17
Author(s):  
Sanjeeva Gunasekera ◽  
Geeth Vindula ◽  
Ryan Combs ◽  
Scott C. Howard

17 Background: In Sri Lanka, children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are treated on the UKALL 2011 protocol, which includes high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) in high risk patients. Safe delivery of HDMTX is challenging in low resource settings, where deviation from accepted guidelines can occur frequently and result in toxicity, subsequent treatment delays, and in extreme cases, death. The goal of this study was to compare current practices to the treatment and supportive care details described in the protocol to identify the incidence and impact of guideline-discordant care to deliver HDMTX more safely children with cancer in Sri Lanka. Methods: We reviewed medical records to assess guideline concordance in 4 critical aspects of HDMTX delivery: 2 consecutive alkaline urine pH readings in the 2-hour period before starting HDMTX, 24-hour duration of MTX infusion (as opposed to early stop), the first dose of folinic acid administered later than 36 hours from start of HDMTX infusion (no inappropriately early rescue), and the administration of at least 3 folinic acid doses per course (appropriate duration of rescue). We analyzed how each deviation influenced AKI (creatinine increase of 0.3 mg/dL or more), infection, and treatment delays (defined as recovery delayed 7 days or longer from the 14 days expected between courses of HDMTX). Results: We analyzed 309 HDMTX courses in 91 patients younger than 20 years, including 105 girls (34%). In 83 courses (27%) alkaline urine was not documented prior to the start of MTX. Infusion time was less than 24 hours in 239 courses (77%), most of which finished 20-21 hours. In 37 courses (12%), the first folinic acid dose was given inappropriately early, and in 25 courses (8%) less than 3 doses of folinic acid were given. There were 2 episodes of AKI, 43 infections, 11 treatment delays and one death. None of the 4 guideline deviations were significantly associated with AKI or treatment delays. Patient sex was also not associated with any difference in guideline discordance or outcome (p>0.1 in all cases). Conclusions: Significant deviations from HDMTX administration guidelines were common, especially early completion of infusion. However, outcomes were not impacted so quality standards may require adjustment to focus only on extreme deviations likely to impact patient outcomes.


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