Imatinib Long Term Effects (ILTE) Study: An International Study to Evaluate Long-Term Effects in CML Patients.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2199-2199
Author(s):  
Dong-Wook Kim ◽  
Laura Antolini ◽  
François-Xavier Mahon ◽  
Francois Guilhot ◽  
Michael Deininger ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2199 Poster Board II-176 Imatinib is an effective first line therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and has substantially changed its biological and clinical behavior. Durable complete cytogenetic responses (CCyR) were reported in the majority of patients, with a rather benign side effect profile, despite the ‘off target’ inhibition of several other kinases, including Kit, PDGFR and Lck. Since available information is largely based on sponsored trials and long-term field studies are lacking, the ILTE study was conceived as an independent, academic, multicenter trial supported by the Italian Drug Safety Agency (AIFA) and Regione Lombardia. ILTE is an international study on a retrospective cohort and includes 31 centers in Europe, North/South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia; therefore it is uniquely positioned to present a global picture of imatinib long-term effects. Consecutive patients with Ph+ CML who started imatinib between 01 September 1999 and 31 December 2004 were eligible if they were in CCyR after two years of imatinib treatment. Study endpoints were (a) survival, (b), serious adverse events (SAE, including second cancers), (c) toxicities not qualifying as SAE (NSAE) but judged by the referring physician as substantially impacting quality of life, (d) loss of CCyR, and (e) development of PCR negativity. A total of 948 patients were enrolled, 88% of which met eligibility criteria after centers were visited and monitored. The median age of eligible patients was 51 (range 18-92) years; 59% of patients were males and the median follow-up was 4.0 years (excluding the first 2 years of treatment). As of Dec. 31 2008, 3255 person years were available for analysis. Twenty one deaths were observed (only 6 of them [28%] caused by relapsed CML), with a standardized rate of 0.6/100 person years and an observed/expected ratio of 0.7 (95% CI = 0.43-1.07, p=ns). A total of 138 SAE were recorded (rate 4.2/100 person years, most frequent type “heart failure”), with 19.5% being considered related to imatinib. Second cancers were documented in 29 patients (rate 0.9/100 person years), with an observed/expected ratio of 1.02. Among the 761 NSAE recorded (rate 23.4/100 person years) the most frequent types were cramps, asthenia,edema, skin fragility, diarrhea; 69% of them were considered related to imatinib. A total of 18 patients (2.2 %) discontinued imatinib because of toxicities during the period of observation. Forty patients lost CCyR, corresponding to a rate of 1.3/100 person years (1.0 in patients with imatinib as first-line treatment, 1.4 in patients who were treated with imatinib >6 months after diagnosis), with stable or increasing rates over time. Finally, 256 patients (36.0 %) developed durable (> 1 year) PCR negativity. In conclusion, this report from ILTE shows that CML patients on imatinib die unfrequently of CML related causes, do not appear to have substantially higher second cancer rates than the general population, have mortality rates similar to an age/sex matched population and do not show new types of imatinib-related adverse events. They also experience a low but steady rate of loss of CCyR and develop PCR negativity in approximately 1/3 of cases. Follow-up and further analysis are ongoing. (Presented on behalf ofthe ILTE Investigators group) Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1099-1099
Author(s):  
Carlo Gambacorti-Passerini ◽  
Dong-Wook Kim ◽  
François-Xavier Mahon ◽  
Giuseppe Saglio ◽  
Fabrizio Pane ◽  
...  

Abstract Imatinib is an effective first line therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and has substantially changed its biological and clinical behavior. Durable complete cytogenetic responses (CCyR) were reported in the majority of patients, with a rather benign side effect profile, despite the ‘off target’ inhibition of several other kinases, including Kit, PDGFR and Lck. Since available information is largely based on industry-sponsored trials and long-term field studies are lacking, the ILTE study was conceived as an industryindependent, academic, multicenter trial supported by the Italian Drug Safety Agency (AIFA). ILTE is an international study on a retrospective cohort and includes 31 centers in Europe, North/South America, Africa and Asia; therefore it is uniquely positioned to present a global picture of imatinib long-term effects. Consecutive patients with Ph+ CML who started imatinib between 01 September 1999 and 31 December 2004 were eligible if they were in Complete Cytogenetic Response (CCyR) after two years of imatinib treatment. Study endpoints were survival, serious adverse events (SAE, including second cancers), toxicities not qualifying as SAE (NSAE) but judged by the referring physician as substantially impacting quality of life, loss of CCyR, and development of PCR negativity. A total of 957 patients were enrolled, 92% of which met eligibility criteria. The median age of eligible patients was 50 (range 15–92) years; 59% of patients were males and the median follow-up was 3.1 years (excluding the first 2 years of treatment). As of Dec. 31 2007, 2564 person years were available for analysis. Eleven deaths were observed (only 3 of them caused by relapsed CML), with a standardized rate of 0.4/100 person years and an observed/expected ratio of 0.48 (95% CI = 0.24–0.85). One-hundred SAE were recorded (rate 3.9/100 person years, most frequent type “heart failure”), with 21% being considered related to imatinib. Second cancers were documented in 28 patients (rate 1.1/100 person years), with an observed/expected ratio of 1.27 (95% CI = 0.84–1.84). Among the 576 NSAE recorded (0.65/patient) the most frequent types were “edema, cramps, skin fragility, diarrhea”; 71% of them were related to imatinib. A total of 12 patients (1.4 %) discontinued imatinib because of toxicities during the period of observation. Thirty-four patients lost CCyR, corresponding to a rate of 1.4/100 person years (1.0 in patients with imatinib as first-line treatment, 1.5 in patients who were treated with imatinib >6 months after diagnosis), with stable or increasing rates over time. Finally, 214 patients (24.5%) developed durable (> 1 year) PCR negativity. In conclusion, the first report from ILTE shows that CML patients on imatinib die unfrequently of CML related causes, do not appear to have substantially higher second cancer rates than the general population, have mortality rates lower than expected in an age/sex matched population and do not show new types of imatinib-related adverse events. They also experience a low but steady rate of loss of CCyR and develop PCR negativity in approximately ¼ of cases. Follow-up and further analysis are ongoing. (Presented on behalf of the ILTE Investigators group)


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4980-4980
Author(s):  
Josep-Maria Ribera ◽  
Mireia Morgades ◽  
Albert Oriol ◽  
Eva González-Barca ◽  
Pilar Miralles ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4980 Background and objective. In the highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) era R-CHOP based chemotherapy has proven to be feasible and effective in HIV-related DLBCL. However, the available information on long-term follow-up of patients in remission of lymphoma is scarce. In addition, solid tumors constitute an emerging cause of cancer in HIV-infected patients under HAART. The follow-up of patients in complete response (CR) included in a phase II clinical trial of R-CHOP every 21 days conducted by the Spanish PETHEMA, GESIDA, GELTAMO and GELCAB groups (Ribera JM et al. Br J Haematol 2007; 140: 411–419) has been analyzed. Patients and methods. Out of 81 patients included in the trial 55 patients were in CR. The following data were recorded in these patients: NHL relapse, opportunistic infections (OI) and other cancers. Cumulative probabilities of OI and second cancers, as well as overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were calculated. Results. Median follow-up of alive patients was 6.4 yr (range: 4.6–9.5). One patient was lost of follow-up in CR, 8 relapsed, 5 had OI (meningoencephalitis [2], Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia [1], varicella pneumonia [1], pneumoccal pneumonia [1], esophageal candidiasis [1], and CMV colitis [1]; 2 patients suffered 2 OI during their evolution) and 5 developed a second cancer (invasive carcinoma of cervix [1], squamous lung cancer [1], lung adenocarcinoma [1], pancreatic adenocarcinoma [1], and metastatic sarcoma of unknown origin [1]). Eight-year cumulative probability for OI was 15% (95%CI: 7%-23%) and for second cancer was 12% (95%CI: 2%-22%). Fourteen patients have died: 5 due to lymphoma relapse, 3 due to OI, 4 due to second cancer and 2 due to other reasons (sudden death and assassinate). Eight-year OS probability for the 55 patients in first CR of the lymphoma was 67% (95%CI: 48%-86%) and EFS probability was 59% (95%CI: 42%-76%). Conclusions. HIV-infected patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP and HAART followed for long-time have a significant frequency of OI and second cancers, with impact on their survival probability. Supported in part with grants RD06/0020/1056 from RTICC, Instituto Carlos III, 36606/06 from FIPSE and P-EF/10 from FJC. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 635-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
F H M Prince ◽  
M Twilt ◽  
R ten Cate ◽  
M A J van Rossum ◽  
W Armbrust ◽  
...  

Objective:We undertook an observational study to obtain a complete overview of the long-term effectiveness and safety of etanercept in patients with different juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) subtypes.Methods:At baseline we collected patient and disease characteristics of all Dutch patients with JIA who started treatment with etanercept. Disease activity was evaluated (at start of the study, after 3 months and then yearly) according to the JIA core set of the American College of Rheumatology paediatric definition for 30, 50 and 70% improvement (ACR Pedi 30, 50 and 70). Use of etanercept and concomitant drugs was monitored. Adverse events were recorded.Results:We included 146 patients with JIA with a median follow-up of 2.5 years per patient (range 0.3–7.3). JIA subtypes represented: 27% systemic, 8% polyarticular rheumatoid factor positive, 38% polyarticular rheumatoid factor negative, 19% oligoarticular extended, 3% enthesitis-related and 5% psoriatica. Most patients (77%) met the criteria of the ACR Pedi 30 in the first 3 months of treatment. For the majority of patients this improvement was sustained; 53 (36%) of all patients met the remission criteria. No other second-line agents were needed in 43 patients. Although patients with systemic JIA responded initially less to etanercept therapy than patients from other subtypes, those who did respond showed equal effectiveness in the long term. Serious adverse events rate was low (0.029 per patient year).Conclusions:Etanercept is effective and safe in JIA, even for a large proportion of the patients with systemic JIA. The greatest improvement occurred in the first 3 months of treatment, and was sustained for a long time in most patients (up to 75 months).


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 924-924
Author(s):  
Mitchell R Smith ◽  
Donna Neuberg ◽  
Ian W. Flinn ◽  
Michael R. Grever ◽  
John M. Bennett ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 924 Background: Therapy-related myeloid neoplasia (t-MN), including myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia, has been reported at a higher frequency with chlorambucil + fludarabine as compared to fludarabine alone, but has not been rigorously studied in the context of cyclophosphamide as an alkylator agent. The intergroup prospective randomized Phase 3 trial, E2997, compared FC with F alone as initial therapy for patients (pt) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). FC therapy led to higher complete and overall response rates and longer progression-free survival at the initial analysis (Flinn et al JCO 2007). One rationale for combining F with C is that F can inhibit repair of DNA damage induced by C. FC did cause more myelosuppression that could lead to more long-term effects on myeloid hematopoietic function, including t-MN. Methods: E2997 enrolled 278 pts, 141 on FC and 137 on F. These cases were assessed for t-MN by required reporting of these events. Baseline genetic and molecular features of CLL were available through a companion lab correlative trial for 235 pts, 122 on FC and 113 on F. Results: With median follow-up of 6.4 yrs, there have been 13 (4.7%) reported cases of t-MN, 9 after FC and 4 after F. By cumulative incidence methodology, adjusting for the competing risk of death, the rates of t-MN at 7 yr are 8.2% after FC and 4.6% after F (p=0.18 by the Gray test). Median age at study entry of the t-MN pts was 60 (range 45–80) yrs vs 61 (range 33–86) yrs among those not reported to have t-MN. Median time from initial therapy to diagnosis of t-MN was 5 (range 0.7–8) yrs and did not differ between FC and F. Ten of 13 affected pts received 6 chemotherapy cycles. Additional therapy prior to occurrence of t-MN was given to only 2 of 9 FC pts, in contrast to 3 of 4 F pts. Thus, t-MN occurred in only 1 pt treated with F and no further therapy vs 7 who received FC and no further therapy. Ten of 12 pts with available cytogenetics at diagnosis of t-MN had an abnormality of chromosome 5 and/or 7, common to alkylating agent-induced t-MN, usually (n=8) with complex karyotype. Of the 9 pts with t-MN after FC, all 7 with available CLL data had lower risk IgVH mutated disease, in contrast to 1 of 4 with t-MN after F and 44% in the entire cohort. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that a higher incidence of t-MN has occurred after FC than after F. t-MN after FC occurred most often without additional therapy and in IgVH mutated CLL which is associated with more favorable outcome. The increased incidence of t-MN after FC in this study, usually in the absence of additional treatment, suggests that FC is more leukemogenic than F. This finding emphasizes a need for longer follow-up of toxicity and survival before concluding that FC is preferable to F as the chemotherapy backbone for initial therapy of both low and high risk CLL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1618-1622
Author(s):  
François Raffi ◽  
Aurélie Gaultier ◽  
Anton Pozniak ◽  
Jean-Michel Molina ◽  
Heiko Jessen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Few long-term data are available in subjects having initiated ART with an NRTI-sparing regimen. Objectives Outcomes of subjects enrolled in the NEAT 001/ANRS 143 randomized clinical trial (comparing ritonavir-boosted darunavir + raltegravir versus ritonavir-boosted darunavir + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine) were retrospectively collected, through anonymized electronic case report forms, up to 6 years post-enrolment. Methods The last NEAT 001 visit (Week 96) was conducted in 745/805 randomized subjects (363/401 ritonavir-boosted darunavir + raltegravir and 382/404 ritonavir-boosted darunavir + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine). Of these, 430 were enrolled in NEAT 001/ANRS 143 LONG TERM (NLT) study (201 raltegravir, 229 tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine), with a median follow-up of 44.4 months. Results During NLT follow-up, the proportion of AIDS, non-AIDS events, virological rebound and serious adverse events, discontinuation for virological failure and for adverse events did not differ between groups; discontinuations for virological failure since NEAT 001 inclusion were more frequent in subjects with baseline CD4 <200 cells/mm3 (11.9% versus 5.3%; P = 0.077). At last follow-up, a quarter of subjects (22.2% for ritonavir-boosted darunavir + raltegravir and 29.7% for ritonavir-boosted darunavir + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine) were still receiving their initial regimen. Integrase inhibitor exposure was not associated with weight gain (P = 0.48), while tenofovir disoproxil fumarate exposure was associated with a trend to higher creatinine increase (P = 0.067). Conclusions After a median of 5.6 years, subjects initiating ritonavir-boosted darunavir + raltegravir or ritonavir-boosted darunavir + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine experienced few serious clinical adverse events. Most discontinuations were for reasons unrelated to adverse events or virological failure.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3585-3585
Author(s):  
Sudeep Karve ◽  
Joanna C Huang ◽  
Nikhil Ranade ◽  
Sanchita Porwal ◽  
Monali Desai ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a myeloproliferative neoplasm is primarily treated using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Several next-generation TKIs (dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib) have been approved since the first approval of imatinib in 2002. With varying safety profiles, data on non-trial long-term TKI use and associated adverse events (AE) can aid in clinical decision making. Using population based data sources the current study assessed treatment patterns and AEs in a non-trial setting among TKI users with CML. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using MarketScan Commercial, and Supplemental Medicare databases (2012-2016). Data includes details on medical (e.g., date of diagnosis, diagnosis codes, procedures) and pharmacy (e.g., drug dose, duration, strength) utilization for over 90 million individuals enrolled in employer-sponsored health-plans in the US. Patients with a prescription claim for TKI along with at least 2 medical claims on separate dates with a diagnosis code for CML (ICD-9-CM: 205.10 - 205.12; ICD-10: C92.10-C92.12) were selected. Patients were aged ≥18 years at TKI initiation and had continuous health plan enrollment ≥6 months before and ≥6 months after TKI initiation. Patients were followed from TKI initiation until health plan disenrollment or end of database, whichever occurred earlier (defines follow-up period). TKI treatment patterns including initial dose, initial and total TKI treatment duration, treatment switching and discontinuation were assessed. Frequency and proportion for incident (i.e. newly observed conditions) AEs including rash, bleeding, gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), tumor lysis syndrome and cardiovascular events (CHF, arrhythmia, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, cerebrovascular events) and post-AE outcomes (switching, discontinuation, dose reduction) were assessed. AE list was developed based on commonly reported events in clinical trials involving TKIs for CML and clinical judgement. All analyses were descriptive in nature. RESULTS: Study included 2,213 CML patients with mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of 55 (15) years, of which 55% were male and 55% had ≥2 co-morbid conditions. Post CML diagnosis, first-line of TKI initiated was imatinib (41%), dasatinib (36%), nilotinib (22%), and bosutinib and ponatinib (1% each). The average (SD) follow-up duration post TKI initiation was 607 (442) days. Mean (SD) duration of first-line TKI prescription was 392 (383) days. 61% of patients continued initial TKI during the follow-up period, 7% discontinued and 32% switched/re-initiated TKI (Figure 1). 39.2% patients had at least 1 incident AE while on index TKI therapy. GI disorders (20.4%) were the most commonly observed AE, followed by cardiovascular events (14.6%), rash (8.4%), bleeding (8.0%), and TLS (0.2%). The average (SD) time to GI disorders, bleeding, cardiovascular event, rash, and TLS was 242 (274) days, 238 (272) days, 219 (261) days, 222 (255) days, and 223 (285) days, respectively. The rates of discontinuation, treatment switch or dose reduction were largely similar across all AEs (Figure 2). The mean duration on any TKI (all-lines of therapy) was 561 (438) days. The most commonly observed AEs on while of TKI therapy (irrespective of line of therapy) were GI disorders (24.7%), followed by cardiovascular events (17.3%), rash (11.5%), bleeding (10.1%) and TLS (0.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The study helps address the current literature gap of long-term treatment patterns and AE among patients with CML using TKIs in a non-clinical trial setting. During follow-up 46% patients experienced at least 1 incident AE while on TKI therapy. Majority of patients (61%) continued same TKI therapy following AE. The type and rate of AE were similar following first-line therapy and anytime on TKI (any-line) during the follow-up period. Study results may not be comparable to clinical trial findings due to certain limitations; e.g., this study did not capture all adverse events but assessed incident AE based on a pre-specified list. Also, due to limitations of administrative claims data, assessment of AE grade was not feasible. However, findings from this study can complement clinical trial data in selection of TKIs for long-term use in real-world setting and can also be of value in selecting TKIs for future clinical studies involving novel combinations in CML. Disclosures Karve: AbbVie: Employment, Equity Ownership. Huang:ZS Associates: Employment; Novo Nordisk Inc: Equity Ownership; AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Ranade:ZS Associates: Employment. Porwal:ZS Associates: Employment. Desai:AbbVie: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rosenberg:AbbVie: Employment, Equity Ownership.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratyusha Gaonkar

The therapeutic potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is greatly proved worldwide in the recent years. The use of FMT is now an accepted treatment modality and effective standard of care for some patients owing to its success in treating recurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection (rCDI). However, it is still evolving and longer term follow-up data regarding safety are required. Post-FMT serious adverse events (SAEs) have been varied between studies, however have included significant morbidity necessitating hospital admission and mortality in the follow-up period. The follow-up of FMT recipients should be long enough to completely establish efficacy/adverse events. Furthermore, it is recommended that FMT should be offered with caution to immunosuppressed patients, in whom FMT appears efficacious without significant additional adverse effects. In the wake of COVID-19 situation, stringent policies in screening the FMT donors have to be put forth to ensure patient safety. There is a need for high-quality, large, prospective, randomized controlled trials and long-term follow-up investigating screened donors and recipients to evaluate the long term safety and the risk–benefit profile of this promising therapy.


Author(s):  
Sabine Moehner ◽  
Kerstin Becker ◽  
Jens A Lange ◽  
Sophia von Stockum ◽  
Marco Serrani ◽  
...  

Introduction: The Visanne Post-approval Observational Study (VIPOS) was designed to assess the safety of dienogest 2 mg (DNG, Visanne) compared to other hormonal endometriosis treatments. Methods: Large, prospective, non-interventional, active surveillance study in six European countries (Germany, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, and Ukraine). Women with a new hormonal therapy for endometriosis were enrolled by gynecologists and specialized centers between 2010 and 2016 and observed for up to 7 years. Self-administered questionnaires during study entry and follow-up collected information on baseline characteristics, health status and endometriosis treatment. Self-reported clinical outcomes of interest were validated by health care professionals. Results: Among the >27,000 enrolled participants, 3262 women started DNG use either at study entry or during follow-up. A total of 798 study participants used DNG during follow-up continuously for 15 months or longer (DNG long-term users). When comparing the occurrence of serious adverse events (SAE) in users treated with DNG, no safety signal emerged for long-term users; the SAE incidence rate per 10,000 women-years was 367.7 (95% CI: 274.1–481.9) in DNG long-term users and 416.4 (349.1–492.5) in short-term users (treated with DNG for less than 15 months). Conclusions: Previous data on DNG long-term safety were derived from studies with relatively low numbers of patients and limited follow-up time. VIPOS provided valuable real-world data on the long-term use of DNG 2 mg in around 800 women treated in Europe and observed no safety signal regarding serious adverse events.


Rheumatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Sapart ◽  
Tatiana Sokolova ◽  
Stéphanie de Montjoye ◽  
Stéphanie Dierckx ◽  
Adrien Nzeusseu ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the proportion of patients with ERA who have initiated or not GC, to analyse the baseline characteristics, and to assess the clinical benefit and side effects of GC during 5 years of follow-up. Methods We included patients with ERA from the UCLouvain Brussels cohort who met the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria and were naïve to cDMARDs. We retrospectively collected patient characteristics prior to the introduction of cDMARDs with or without GC. Efficiency and serious adverse events were analysed at 6, 12, 36 and 60 months. Results Data from 474 eligible ERA patients were collected. 180 patients initiated GC compared with 294 who did not. At baseline, the increased CRP is the main factor that favors the initiation of GC followed by smoking, absence of ACPA, prescription of methotrexate as a monotherapy and age. 5 years follow-up of DAS28-CRP, HAQ or VAS pain values did not differ between the two groups. We also analysed a subgroup of 139 patients who received >1 g of prednisolone during the 5 years period. We confirmed the same baseline differences and observed in addition more males and higher DAS-28CRP values. During the 5 years follow up, DAS-28CRP, VAS pain and HAQ remained significantly higher in this subgroup. More severe infections were also reported. Conclusion In our ERA cohort, the initiation of GC treatment does not bring additional benefit for the short and long-term control of the disease. GC was more prescribed in seronegative RA patients with a higher level of inflammation. Disclosure statement the authors declare no conflicts of interest. Ethics statement authors declare that the study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dena Zeraatkar ◽  
Matthew Cooper ◽  
Arnav Agarwal ◽  
Robin Vernooij ◽  
Gareth Leung ◽  
...  

Objective: To establish the risk and prevalence of long-term and serious harms of medical cannabis and cannabinoids for chronic pain. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to April 1, 2020. Study selection: Non-randomized studies reporting on harms of medical cannabis or cannabinoids in people living with chronic pain with ≥4 weeks of follow-up. Data extraction and synthesis: A parallel guideline panel provided input on the design and interpretation of the systematic review, including selection of adverse events for consideration. Two reviewers, working independently and in duplicate, screened the search results, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We used random-effects models for all meta-analyses and the GRADE approach to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Results: We identified 39 eligible studies that enrolled 12,143 patients with chronic pain. Very low certainty evidence suggests that adverse events are common (prevalence: 26.0%; 95% CI 13.2 to 41.2) among users of medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain, particularly any psychiatric adverse events (prevalence: 13.5%; 95% CI 2.6 to 30.6). However, very low certainty evidence indicates serious adverse events, adverse events leading to discontinuation, cognitive adverse events, accidents and injuries, and dependence and withdrawal syndrome are uncommon and typically occur in fewer than one in 20 patients. We compared studies with <24 weeks and ≥ 24 weeks cannabis use and found more adverse events reported among studies with longer follow-up (test of interaction p < 0.01). Palmitoylethanolamide was usually associated with few to no adverse events. We found insufficient evidence addressing the harms of medical cannabis compared to other pain management options, such as opioids. Conclusions: There is very low certainty evidence that adverse events are common among people living with chronic pain who use medical cannabis or cannabinoids, but that few patients experience serious adverse events. Future research should compare long-term and serious harms of medical cannabis with other management options for chronic pain, including opioids.


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