scholarly journals Treatment of Polycythemia Vera: Use of 32P Alone or in Combination With Maintenance Therapy Using Hydroxyurea in 461 Patients Greater Than 65 Years of Age

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 2319-2327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Najean ◽  
Jean-Didier Rain

Abstract Despite myelosuppression, polycythemic (PV) patients greater than 65 years of age have a high risk of vascular complications, and the leukemic risk exceeds 15% after 12 years. Is the addition of low-dose maintenance treatment with hydroxyurea (HU) after radiophosphorus (32P) myelosuppression able to decrease these complications? Since the end of 1979, 461 patients were randomized to receive (or not) low-dose HU (5 to 10 mg/kg/d), after the first 32P-induced remission, and were observed until death or June 1996. Maintenance treatment very significantly prolonged the duration of 32P-induced remissions and reduced the annual mean dose received to one-third. However, despite this maintenance, 25% of the patients had an excessive platelet count and the rate of serious vascular complications was not decreased, except in the most severe cases with short-term relapse of polycythemia. Furthermore, the leukemia rate was significantly increased beyond 8 years and a significant excess of carcinomas was also observed. The continuous use of HU did not decrease the risk of progression to myelofibrosis (incidence of 20% after 15 years). Life expectancy was shorter (a median of 9.3 years v 10.9 years with 32P alone), except in the most severe cases (initial 32P-induced remission lasting <2 years) in which maintenance treatment moderately prolonged the survival by reducing the vascular risk. In most cases of PV, in which the duration of the first 32P-induced remission exceeded 2 years, the introduction of HU maintenance did not reduce the vascular risk. Although it considerably decreased the mean dose of 32P received, HU maintenance therapy significantly increased the leukemia and cancer risks and reduced the mean life expectancy by 15%. However, in cases with more rapid recurrence, the introduction of maintenance treatment reduced the vascular risks and moderately prolonged survival. The use of HU as a maintenance therapy is therefore only justified in this situation.

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 1892-1898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jintanat Ananworanich ◽  
Meena Gorowara ◽  
Anchalee Avihingsanon ◽  
Stephen J. Kerr ◽  
Nadine van Heesch ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBecause studies showed similar viral suppression with lower raltegravir doses and because Asians usually have high antiretroviral concentrations, we explored low-dose raltegravir therapy in Thais. Nineteen adults on raltegravir at 400 mg twice daily (BID) with HIV RNA loads of <50 copies/ml were randomized to receive 400 mg once daily (QD) or 800 mg QD for 2 weeks, followed by the other dosing for 2 weeks. Intensive pharmacokinetic analyses were performed, and HIV RNA was monitored. Two patients were excluded from the 400-mg QD analysis due to inevaluable pharmacokinetic data. The mean patient weight was 58 kg. Mean pharmacokinetic values were as follows: for raltegravir given at 400 mg BID, the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC0-12) was 15.6 mg/liter-h and the minimum plasma drug concentration (Ctrough) was 0.22 mg/liter; for raltegravir given at 800 mg QD, the AUC0-24was 33.6 mg/liter-h and theCtroughwas 0.06 mg/liter; and for raltegravir given at 400 mg QD, the AUC0-24was 18.6 mg/liter-h and theCtroughwas 0.08 mg/liter. The HIV RNA load was <50 copies/ml at each dose level. Compared to the adjusted AUC0-24for Westerners on raltegravir at 400 mg BID, Thais on the same dose had double the AUC0-24and those on raltegravir at 400 mg QD had a similar AUC0-24. More patients had aCtroughof <0.021 mg/liter on raltegravir at 400 mg QD (9/17 patients) than on raltegravir at 800 mg QD (1/19 patients) or 400 mg BID (0/19 patients). Seventeen patients used raltegravir at 400 mg QD for a median of 35 weeks; two had confirmed HIV RNA loads between 50 and 200 copies/ml, and both had lowCtroughvalues. Low-dose raltegravir could be a cost-saving option for maintenance therapy in Asians or persons with low body weight. However, raltegravir at 400 mg QD was associated with a lowCtroughand with a risk for HIV viremia. Raltegravir at 200 or 300 mg BID should be studied, but new raltegravir formulations will be needed.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 4614-4614
Author(s):  
Dario Ferrero ◽  
Chiara Dellacasa ◽  
Margherita Bonferroni ◽  
Mariella Grasso ◽  
Elisabetta Campa ◽  
...  

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients above the age of 60 or with secondary AML generally have an unfavourable outcome. The same is true for high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients ineligible to bone marrow transplantation. Indeed, in spite of an improved CR rate after intensive chemotherapy (about 60–65%), median CR duration and survival remain short (9–12 months in most studies), due to early relapses. (Sekeres MA et al.: Curr Opin Oncol2002;14:24–30. Verbeek W et al.: Ann Hematol2001;80:499–509). On the basis of our previous clinical trials with differentiative agents + low dose chemotherapy in MDS/AML patients unsuitable to intensive treatments, (Ferrero D et al.: Leuk Res1996;20:867–876; Haematologica2004;89:619–620), we adopted the same strategy as a post-remission maintenance therapy to patients with AML or MDS at high risk of relapse and ineligible to allogeneic transplant. Thirty-six patients (27 AML and 9 high risk MDS) who had obtained a CR after different schemes of intensive chemotherapy were scheduled to receive the maintenance treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid (20–40 mg/day) + 1,25-di-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (1 microgram /day) in association to intermittent, low dose chemotherapy: 6-thioguanine 40 mg/day x 21 days every 5 weeks, alternated every 2–3 months, in 24 patients, to a 14 day course of ARA-C 8 mg/m2 s.c. x 2/day + 6-mercaptopurine 50 mg/day. Patients’ median age was 64 years (range 27–76), with only 9 below the age of 60. Cytogenetic analysis was performed successfully in 27 cases, and an unfavourable karyotype was found in 10. All patients presented at least one poor prognosis determinant, including age >60 (27), previous AML relapse after autologous BMT (1), therapy-related disease (5), AML secondary to MDS (7), resistance to 1st induction therapy (4), hyperleukocytosis (8), RAEB-2 (8), abnormal karyotype (10). Twenty six had received 1 - 4 courses of consolidation treatment, including autologous stem cell transplantation in 2 MDS patients, before starting the maintenance program. Three patients underwent a very early relapse before maintenance start and 1 patient refused to prosecute the therapy after the first 2 months. The other 32 patients received the treatment as outpatients, with good tolerance and no major toxicity, until relapse, death or 4 years of continuous CR. After a median follow up for alive patients of 23 months (6–76), median disease-free (dfs) and overall survival, based on "intention to treat analysis" are 22 (1–74+) and 23 (5–76+) months, respectively, with a 28% 4 year actuarial survival. Inclusion of ARA-C in the maintenance treatment did not significantly prolong CR duration. The 17 patients with a normal karyotype enjoyed better median dfs (43 months) and overall survival (50,5 months) compared to the 10 patients with abnormal cytogenetics (12,5 and 15,5 months respectively); however, the differences are not significant, probably due to sample exiguity. In conclusion, our patients evidenced quite longer dfs and overall survival than expected from literature data on AML/MDS patients with similar features. However some late relapses (after 3–4 years) occurred. Therefore, our maintenance program seems worthy to be evaluated on larger casistics in randomised trials.


2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 2774-2782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Perel ◽  
Anne Auvrignon ◽  
Thierry Leblanc ◽  
Jean-Pierre Vannier ◽  
Gerard Michel ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To determine whether the use of maintenance therapy (MT) delivered after intensive induction and consolidation therapy confers any advantage in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 268 children with AML were registered in the Leucámie Aiquë Myéloïde Enfant (LAME) 89/91 protocol. This regimen included an intensive induction phase (mitoxantrone plus cytarabine) and, for patients without allograft, two consolidation courses, one containing timed-sequential high-dose cytarabine, asparaginase, and amsacrine. In the LAME 89 pilot study, patients were given an additional MT consisting of mercaptopurine and cytarabine for 18 months. In the LAME 91 trial, patients were randomized to receive or not receive MT. RESULTS: A total of 241 (90%) of 268 patients achieved a complete remission. The overall survival and event-free survival at 6 years were 60% ± 6% and 48% ± 6%, respectively. For the complete responders after consolidation therapy, the 5-year disease-free survival was not significantly different in MT-negative and in MT-positive randomized patients (respectively, 60% ± 19% v 50% ± 15%; P = .25), whereas the 5-year overall survival was significantly better in MT-negative randomized patients (81% ± 13% v 58% ± 15%; P = .04) due to a higher salvage rate after relapse. CONCLUSION: More than 50% of patients can be cured of AML in childhood. Either drug intensity or each of the induction and postremission phases may have contributed to the outstanding improvement in outcome. Low-dose MT is not recommended. Exposure to this low-dose MT may contribute to clinical drug resistance and treatment failure in patients who experience relapse.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 934-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie H. Sehn ◽  
Sarit E. Assouline ◽  
Douglas A. Stewart ◽  
Joy Mangel ◽  
Pavel Pisa ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 934 Background: GA101 (RO5072759) is the first humanized glycoengineered type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody to enter clinical trials. Preclinical studies have shown superior efficacy compared to rituximab and an initial phase I trial with 3-weekly dosing (Salles, ASH 2008) has demonstrated promising activity. The current phase I study has investigated the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of escalating doses of GA101 administered on a weekly x 4 schedule followed by maintenance therapy. Methods: Patients with relapsed/refractory CD20+ malignant disease for whom no therapy of higher priority was available were treated with GA101 monotherapy administered as a flat dose on days 1, 8,15 and 22 (with first infusion administered at 50% of cohort dose). Cohort doses were escalated based on safety in a 3+3 design. Tumor response was assessed at 3 months. Patients achieving a CR or PR were eligible to receive 3-monthly maintenance GA101 × 2 years. Select patients with stable disease (SD) and major clinical benefit were also permitted to receive maintenance therapy. Results: Since January 2008, 22 patients at 5 Canadian sites have been treated with GA101 at doses ranging from 100 mg to 2000 mg. Safety data is available on all patients, 20 of whom are evaluable for response following induction. The median age was 59 yrs (47-77). Histologies included follicular lymphoma (10), CLL (5), DLBCL (3), SLL (2), MCL (1) and MZL with high-grade transformation (1). Patients were highly pretreated, receiving a median of 4 (1-7) prior therapies: 19/22 (86%) had been treated with rituximab at least once, median was twice (1-4). 11/22 patients (50%) were refractory to rituximab. GA101 was well tolerated with no dose limiting toxicities observed across the escalating dose cohorts. The most common adverse events were grade 1/2 infusion-related reactions (IRRs), characterized by fever, chills, hypo/hypertension, nausea and vomiting. IRRs were mainly associated with the first infusion (16 events), with decreased frequency in subsequent infusions (only 8 events for all subsequent infusions). There were 4 grade 3 IRRs (one associated with tumour lysis syndrome) and one grade 4 IRR (with hypoxia) on day 1, the grade 4 event leading to the only permanent discontinuation from the protocol. During the induction period, a total of 6 minor infections and one episode of febrile neutropenia were reported in 4 patients. Five cases of grade 3/4 neutropenia (1 febrile) were reported in 4 patients and 1 case of grade 3 thrombocytopenia. To date, 8 serious adverse events have been reported in 7 patients (two of which were IRRs). Two patients have died, one with DLBCL who completed induction but progressed and died prior to efficacy assessment and one with follicular lymphoma who progressed and died on day 133. Measurement of plasma cytokines during and immediately after the first infusion showed an increase in IL6 and IL8 with a smaller increase in IL10 and TNF , a pattern of change that is broadly similar to other anti-CD20 antibodies. Minimal change in complement fractions was observed, which is in keeping with the known pre-clinical profile of GA101. GA101 pharmacokinetics in this study was characterized by two clearance components, one linear and one saturable, consistent with target-mediated disposition. Peak serum concentration levels were achieved by the third dose with significant inter-patient variability in peak levels noted. The overall response rate was 25% (5 pts, all PRs) with 13 patients having SD and 2 progressing. Of those patients with SD, 6/13 had objective evidence of tumour shrinkage, with one consolidating to a PR with maintenance treatment. Clinical benefit was seen across all dosing cohorts, including rituximab-refractory patients. The overall (best) response rate in patients with lymphoma was 38% (6 PRs). In all, 8 patients have continued on to maintenance treatment following induction, 3 of whom have subsequently progressed (2 aggressive lymphoma, 1 CLL). 5 patients remain on maintenance therapy; 4 in remission with durations ranging from 73 to 258 days and one patient with SD. Conclusion: GA101 is a novel type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that appears to have a safety profile similar to rituximab with promising efficacy in a clinically heterogeneous, heavily pretreated, end-stage patient population. Following review of pharmacokinetic and efficacy data, a dose of 1000 mg has been selected for ongoing phase II trials. Disclosures: Sehn: Roche, Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Stewart:Roche, Inc: Honoraria, Research Funding. Pisa:F Hoffman La Roche: Employment. Kothari:Roche Products Limited : Employment. Crump:Roche, Inc: Honoraria.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8509-8509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Boccadoro ◽  
Federica Cavallo ◽  
Francesca Maria Gay ◽  
Francesco Di Raimondo ◽  
Arnon Nagler ◽  
...  

8509 Background: The incorporation of new drugs into induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy is changing the treatment paradigm of MM. Methods: At diagnosis, 402 pts (< 65 years) were randomly assigned to receive six MPR cycles (N=202) or tandem MEL200 (N=200). After MPR or MEL200, pts were further randomized, within each group, for no maintenance (N=204) or lenalidomide maintenance (N=198). A 2x2 factorial randomized trial was designed. The primary end point was PFS. An enrolment of 170 pts/arm was required to demonstrate a 15% improvement of PFS at 2 years (2-sides a = 0.05, 1- β 80%). Results: After a median follow-up of 45 mos from diagnosis, the median PFS was 25 mos with MPR and 39 mos with MEL200 (p=.0002). Median PFS were 37.5 mos for maintenance and 25.7 mos for no maintenance (p=.0008). The 4-year OS from diagnosis was 71% with MPR and 72% with MEL200 (p=0.71), 76% for maintenance and 68% for no maintenance (p=.08). After a median follow-up of 32 mos from start of maintenance, the median PFS was for 41 mos for maintenance and 18 mos for no maintenance (p<.0001). The 3-year OS from start of maintenance was 81% for maintenance and 72% for no maintenance (p=.04). Conclusions: MEL200 significantly prolonged PFS in comparison with MPR. Lenalidomide maintenance significantly reduced the risk of progression independently from the previous treatment. OS is similar between MPR and MEL200, with a trend for an improved OS in pts receiving lenalidomide as maintenance therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT00551928. [Table: see text]


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-109
Author(s):  
Seyed Majid Mousavi Movahed ◽  
Gholamreza Alizadeh Attar ◽  
Fatemeh Hayati ◽  
Shahla Ahmadi Halili ◽  
Leila Sabetnia ◽  
...  

Introduction: Unfortunately the restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neglected issue among hemodialysis (HD) centers. Objectives: The aim of our study was to find the efficacy of gabapentin at a low dose of 100 mg three times a week among HD patients with RLS. Patients and Methods: Around 21 patients with fulfilled the criteria of RLS were randomized to receive either gabapentin (100 mg) or placebo after HD session for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout period, the patients were switched from gabapentin to placebo or placebo to gabapentin for another 4 weeks. Severity of RLS symptoms before and after management with medication or placebo was evaluated with standardized questionnaire. Results: Twenty-one patients (10 females and 11 males with mean age of 58 years) were enrolled to the study. Before the study, all patients had questionnaire scores of 16 or greater and the mean score was 24.19± 7.96. After gabapentin administration (before or after crossover), the mean score significantly decreased from 24.19± 7.96 to 19.24± 9.87 (P=0.04). The mean score before and after placebo administration (before or after crossover) were 24.19± 7.96 and 18.89± 11.15 with no significant difference (P=0.09). Conclusion: According to the results of the study gabapentin at a dose of 100 mg at the end of HD is a safe effective therapy for RLS. It can significantly reduce the intensity of RLS among these patients.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1274-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Jafarian ◽  
F Gorouhi ◽  
S Salimi ◽  
J Lotfi

Headache is the most prevalent symptom of acute mountain sickness. We conducted a pilot clinical trial at an altitude of 3500 m to evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin in treatment of high-altitude headache (HAH). Twenty-four adult HAH patients (10 female, 14 male; age 18–50 years) were randomly assigned to receive either 300 mg of gabapentin capsule or identical placebo. After 1 h the presence of HAH and need to receive supplementary analgesic were assessed. The duration of the HAH-free phase after taking additional analgesic was also registered. Four patients in the gabapentin group asked for additional analgesics, whereas nine placebo recipients did not find primary medication satisfactory after the first hour of treatment ( P = 0.04). The mean HAH-free period was 17.10 h in the gabapentin group, which was significantly higher than in the placebo group with a mean of 10.08 h ( P = 0.02). This preliminary observation indicates that gabapentin is effective in treatment and alleviation of HAH.


2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gadi Maoz ◽  
Daniel Stein ◽  
Sorin Meged ◽  
Larisa Kurzman ◽  
Joseph Levine ◽  
...  

Psychopharmacological interventions for managing aggression in schizophrenia have thus far yielded inconsistent results. This study evaluates the antiaggressive efficacy of combined haloperidol-propranolol treatment. Thirty-four newly admitted schizophrenic patients were studied in a controlled double-blind trial. Following a 3-day drug-free period and 7 days of haloperidol treatment, patients were randomly assigned to receive either haloperidol-propranolol or haloperidol-placebo for eight consecutive weeks. Doses of medications were adjusted as necessary; biperiden was administered if required. Rating scales were applied to assess aggression, anger, psychosis, depression, anxiety and extrapyramidal symptoms. The mean daily dose of haloperidol was 21 mg (SD = 6.4) in the research group and 29 mg (SD = 6.9) in the controls. Mean and maximal daily doses of propranolol were 159 mg (SD = 61) and 192 mg (SD = 83), and of placebo, 145 mg (SD = 50) and 180 mg (SD = 70), respectively. Compared with the controls, the scores for the research patients decreased significantly from baseline, particularly after 4 weeks of treatment, for some dimensions of anger, psychosis, anxiety, and neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism. A tendency for reduced aggression was shown in the combined haloperidol-propranolol group for some dimensions but not others. These patients also required significantly less biperiden. The tendency toward elevated antiaggressive effect of combined haloperidol-propranolol treatment compared to haloperidol alone may be explained by a simultaneous decrease in aggression, psychotic symptomatology, and anxiety.


2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (04) ◽  
pp. 107-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Roßmüller ◽  
S. Alalp ◽  
S. Fischer ◽  
S. Dresel ◽  
K. Hahn ◽  
...  

SummaryFor assessment of differential renal function (PF) by means of static renal scintigraphy with Tc-99m-dimer-captosuccinic acid (DMSA) the calculation of the geometric mean of counts from the anterior and posterior view is recommended. Aim of this retrospective study was to find out, if the anterior view is necessary to receive an accurate differential renal function by calculating the geometric mean compared to calculating PF using the counts of the posterior view only. Methods: 164 DMSA-scans of 151 children (86 f, 65 m) aged 16 d to 16 a (4.7 ± 3.9 a) were reviewed. The scans were performed using a dual head gamma camera (Picker Prism 2000 XP, low energy ultra high resolution collimator, matrix 256 x 256,300 kcts/view, Zoom: 1.6-2.0). Background corrected values from both kidneys anterior and posterior were obtained. Using region of interest technique PF was calculated using the counts of the dorsal view and compared with the calculated geometric mean [SQR(Ctsdors x Ctsventr]. Results: The differential function of the right kidney was significantly less when compared to the calculation of the geometric mean (p<0.01). The mean difference between the PFgeom and the PFdors was 1.5 ± 1.4%. A difference > 5% (5.0-9.5%) was obtained in only 6/164 scans (3.7%). Three of 6 patients presented with an underestimated PFdors due to dystopic kidneys on the left side in 2 patients and on the right side in one patient. The other 3 patients with a difference >5% did not show any renal abnormality. Conclusion: The calculation of the PF from the posterior view only will give an underestimated value of the right kidney compared to the calculation of the geometric mean. This effect is not relevant for the calculation of the differntial renal function in orthotopic kidneys, so that in these cases the anterior view is not necesssary. However, geometric mean calculation to obtain reliable values for differential renal function should be applied in cases with an obvious anatomical abnormality.


Author(s):  
Ab Rahman A F ◽  
Md Sahak N. ◽  
Ali A. M.

Objective: Once daily dosing (ODD) aminoglycoside is gaining wide acceptance as an alternative way of dosing. In our setting it is the regimen of choice whenever gentamicin is indicated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the practice of gentamicin ODD in a public hospital in Malaysia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients on gentamicin ODD who were admitted to Hospital Melaka during January 2002 until March 2010. All adult patients who were on ODD gentamicin with various level of renal function were included in the study. Patients on gentamicin less than 72 hours and pregnant women were excluded. Results: From 110 patients, 75 (68.2%) were male and 35 (31.8%) were female. Indications for ODD gentamicin included pneumonia, 34 (31.0%) neutropenic sepsis, 27 (24.5%) and sepsis, 11 (10.0%). The mean dose and duration of gentamicin was 3.2 mg/kg/day and 7 days, respectively. Almost all patients were on gentamicin combined with other antibiotics. Clinical cure based on fever resolution was found in 89.1% of patients treated with ODD. Resolution of fever took an average of 48 hours after initiation of therapy. The evaluation for bacteriologic cure could not be performed because of insufficient data on culture and sensitivity. Out of 38 patients with analyzable serum creatinine data, four patients might have developed nephrotoxicity. Conclusion: In our setting, lower dosages of ODD gentamicin when used in combination with other antibiotics seemed to be effective and safe in treating most gram negative infections.


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