scholarly journals The design and analysis of non-randomized studies: a case study of off-label use of hydroxychloroquine in the COVID-19 pandemic

Author(s):  
Derek Shyr ◽  
Yu Shyr
2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 406-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zane Schnurman ◽  
Michael L. Smith ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka

OBJECTIVE Off-label therapies are widely used in clinical practice by spinal surgeons. Some patients and practitioners have advocated for increased regulation of their use, and payers have increasingly questioned reimbursment for off-label therapies. In this study, the authors applied a model that quantifies publication data to analyze the developmental process from initial on-label use to off-label innovation, using as an example recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) because of its wide off-label use. METHODS As a case study of off-label innovation, the developmental patterns of rhBMP-2 from FDA-approved use for anterior lumbar interbody fusion to several of its off-label uses, including posterolateral lumbar fusion, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and posterior lumbar interbody fusion/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, were evaluated using the “progressive scholarly acceptance” (PSA) model. In this model, PSA is used as an end point indicating acceptance of a therapy or procedure by the relevant scientific community and is reached when the total number of peer-reviewed studies devoted to refinement or improvement of a therapy surpasses the total number assessing initial efficacy. Report characteristics, including the number of patients studied and study design, were assessed in addition to the time to and pattern of community acceptance, and results compared with previous developmental study findings. Disclosures and reported conflicts of interest for all articles were reviewed, and these data were also used in the analysis. RESULTS Publication data indicated that the acceptance of rhBMP-2 off-label therapies occurred more rapidly and with less evidence than previously studied on-label therapies. Additionally, the community appeared to respond more robustly (by rapidly changing publication patterns) to reports of adverse events than to new questions of efficacy. CONCLUSIONS The development of off-label therapies, including the influence of investigative methods, regulation, and changing perspectives, can be characterized on the basis of publication patterns. The approach and findings in this report could inform future off-label development of therapies and procedures as well as attempts to regulate off-label use.


10.2196/21770 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. e21770
Author(s):  
Katarina Braune ◽  
Mandy Wäldchen ◽  
Klemens Raile ◽  
Sigrid Hahn ◽  
Tebbe Ubben ◽  
...  

Background Use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) systems has been shown to be a low-pain, safe, and effective method of preventing hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in people with diabetes of various age groups. Evidence on rtCGM use in infants and in patients with conditions other than diabetes remains limited. Objective This case study describes the off-label use of rtCGM and the use of an open-source app for glucose monitoring in a newborn with prolonged hypoglycemia secondary to transient congenital hyperinsulinism during the perinatal period. Methods The Dexcom G6 rtCGM system (Dexcom, Inc) was introduced at 39 hours of age. Capillary blood glucose checks were performed regularly. In order to benefit from customizable alert settings and detect hypoglycemic episodes, the open-source rtCGM app xDrip+ was introduced at 9 days of age. Results Time in range (45-180 mg/dL) for interstitial glucose remained consistently above 90%, whereas time in hypoglycemia (<45 mg/dL) decreased. Mean glucose was maintained above 70 mg/dL at 72 hours of life and thereafter. Daily sensor glucose profiles showed cyclic fluctuations that were less pronounced over time. Conclusions While off-label use of medication is both common practice and a necessity in newborn infants, there are few examples of off-label uses of medical devices, rtCGM being a notable exception. Real-time information allowed us to better understand glycemic patterns and to improve the quality of glycemic control accordingly. Severe hypoglycemia was prevented, and measurement of serum levels of insulin and further lab diagnostics were performed much faster, while the patient’s individual burden caused by invasive procedures was reduced. Greater customizability of threshold and alert settings would be beneficial for user groups with glycemic instability other than people with diabetes, and for hospitalized newborn infants in particular. Further research in the field of personal and off-label rtCGM use, efficacy studies evaluating the accuracy of low glucose readings, and studies on the differences between algorithms in translating raw sensor data, as well as customization of commercially available rtCGM systems, is needed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Braune ◽  
Mandy Wäldchen ◽  
Klemens Raile ◽  
Sigrid Hahn ◽  
Tebbe Ubben ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) systems has been shown to be a low-pain, safe, and effective method of preventing hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in people with diabetes of various age groups. Evidence on rtCGM use in infants and in patients with conditions other than diabetes remains limited. OBJECTIVE This case study describes the off-label use of rtCGM and the use of an open-source app for glucose monitoring in a newborn with prolonged hypoglycemia secondary to transient congenital hyperinsulinism during the perinatal period. METHODS The Dexcom G6 rtCGM system (Dexcom, Inc) was introduced at 39 hours of age. Capillary blood glucose checks were performed regularly. In order to benefit from customizable alert settings and detect hypoglycemic episodes, the open-source rtCGM app xDrip+ was introduced at 9 days of age. RESULTS Time in range (45-180 mg/dL) for interstitial glucose remained consistently above 90%, whereas time in hypoglycemia (&lt;45 mg/dL) decreased. Mean glucose was maintained above 70 mg/dL at 72 hours of life and thereafter. Daily sensor glucose profiles showed cyclic fluctuations that were less pronounced over time. CONCLUSIONS While off-label use of medication is both common practice and a necessity in newborn infants, there are few examples of off-label uses of medical devices, rtCGM being a notable exception. Real-time information allowed us to better understand glycemic patterns and to improve the quality of glycemic control accordingly. Severe hypoglycemia was prevented, and measurement of serum levels of insulin and further lab diagnostics were performed much faster, while the patient’s individual burden caused by invasive procedures was reduced. Greater customizability of threshold and alert settings would be beneficial for user groups with glycemic instability other than people with diabetes, and for hospitalized newborn infants in particular. Further research in the field of personal and off-label rtCGM use, efficacy studies evaluating the accuracy of low glucose readings, and studies on the differences between algorithms in translating raw sensor data, as well as customization of commercially available rtCGM systems, is needed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (04) ◽  
pp. 361-371
Author(s):  
Karl Peter Ittner ◽  
Joachim Koppenberg ◽  
Ute Walter
Keyword(s):  

ZusammenfassungWenn zugelassene Arzneimittel außerhalb der in der entsprechenden Fachinformation dargelegten Beschreibungen angewendet werden, dann spricht man von einer nicht zulassungskonformen Anwendung oder von einem Off-Label-Use. Wie in fast allen medizinischen Fachgebieten gibt es auch im Rettungsdienst sogenannte Off-Label-Use-Pharmakotherapien. Sofern evidenzbasierte Informationen zu einer nicht zulassungskonformen Anwendung vorliegen, und insbesondere im konkreten Notfall keine zulassungskonforme Möglichkeit besteht, dann ist diese gerechtfertigt. Verwendet ein Notarzt aber ein Medizinprodukt außerhalb der Zulassung, dann stellt er ein neues Produkt her und haftet persönlich bei einem Patientenschaden.


2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (09) ◽  
pp. 551-555
Author(s):  
W. N. Vance ◽  
J. Wissel

ZusammenfassungAlle Indikationen zur Anwendung von Botulinumtoxin A (BoNT A) in der Urologie befinden sich im Status des sogenannten off label use, entsprechend sind Kernfragen wie z. B. die Kostenübernahme nicht geklärt. Erst 20 Jahre nach der ersten Anwendung in der Urologie werden Zulassungsstudien durchgeführt. Andererseits sind insbesondere die Behandlungsmöglichkeiten im Bereich der neurogenen Harnblase so etabliert, dass sie bereits in die urologischen Leitlinien Einzug gefunden haben. Hinsichtlich der Dosierung von BoNT A und der optimalen Anwendungstechnik bestehen weder allgemein anerkannte Handlungsanweisungen noch offizielle Empfehlungen. Dies gilt auch im Bereich der Anästhesie zur Injektion von BoNT A im urologischen Gebiet. Nicht wenige Patienten schrecken davor zurück, sich regelmäßig, zum Teil jährlich, einer Allgemeinanästhesie zu unterziehen. Ein besonderer Hoffnungsschimmer stellt für multimorbide Patienten mit hohem OP-Risiko die sich entwickelnde Behandlung der Prostatahyperplasie mittels BoNT A dar, insbesondere da in allen Studien die Lokalanästhesie angewandt wurde und nur wenige Nebenwirkungen auftraten.


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