[Effect of pamidronate on hypercalcemia, BUN and Cr in patients with malignancy]

Introduction and Aims: Bone metastases have bad potential effects on the individual life period. One of these complications is hypercalcemia that cause dizziness, nausea, constipation and azotemia. Pamidronate reduces skeletal complications in patients with bone metastases. This study evaluated effect of Pamidronate on hypercalcemia BUN and Cr in cancer patients

Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 41 patients with malignancy referring to Ramsar Imam Sajjad hospital were selected by convenience sampling. In this study 90 mg of Pamidronate was injected intravenously monthly for 3 months. Data collection was done through demographic and clinical data questionnaire and blood samples. Data of before and after intervention were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t tests, chi-square, Friedman and Wilcoxon tests with SPSS v.11.5 and P<0.05 was considered as significant

Results: The most common cancer was breast [43.9%] and bone metastasis point in most patients [65.9%] was diffuse. The results of this study indicated that there was significant difference between serum Ca [calcium] [P=0.015], BUN [Blood Urea Nitrogen] [P=0.031], ALKP [Alkalin Phosphatase] [P=0.002] before and after treatment, but there was no significant difference between Cr [Creatinine] concentration before and after treatment [P=0.41]

Conclusion: Pamidronate is effective in prevention of hypercalcemia and decrease BUN and Cr. So, it can be used as main and routine treatment

[Incidence of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea in non-menopausal women with breast cancer]

Although adjunct chemotherapy may increase life in non-menopausal breast cancer patients, however, it may cause short-term complications such as nausea, vomiting, alopecia, as well as long-term complications in ovarian failure and premature menopausal. The objective of this study was to investigate chemotherapy-induced secondary amenorrhea in non-menopausal women with breast cancer. A descriptive design [case series] was preformed on fifty breast cancer patients, non-menopausal [normal mense] and chemotherapy in Ramsar Emam Sajad Hospital Oncology unit from 2007 to 2008. Sampling was consecutive. Data gathering method was questionnaire and blood sampling [FSH and Progesterone] for prior and 12 months after the end of chemotherapy. Data was analyzed by paired-t, independent-t and one-way ANOVA tests. Results showed that 62% of patients were amenorrhea 12 months after the end of chemotherapy. Results showed that there was no meaningful relationship between age, hormone therapy, disease stage, node-positive and ER and PR status to amenorrhea; however, there was a meaningful relationship between duration of treatment, type and dose of chemotherapy to amenorrhea. In pre-menopausal patients with breast cancer, receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy against tumor cells, amenorrhea may occur do to ovarian failure

[Comparison the efficacy of ceftazidime and imipenem in treatment of neutropenic febrile due to chemotherapy in cancer patients]

In cancer patients various infections were developed due to severe neutropenia resulted from chemotherapy. There is controversy between initial monotherapy or multidrug prescription. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of ceftazidime and imipenem in control of fever in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. 40 patients with cancer, fever and neutropenia [PMN<500], without recognized source of infection, were selected using the convenience and consecutive method. Using a random sampling, twenty patients were treated with imipenem [500mg Iv/Q8hr] and others with ceftazidime [2mg Iv/Q8hr]. The criteria for positive response to the drugs were: fever disappearance during maximally 72 hours lasted for up to 24 hours, and increased neutrophil counts more than 500/ml. Our results show that 60% and 55% patients with ceftazidime and imipenem were cured, respectively. 40% patients treated with ceftazidime and 45% patients treated with imipenem needed another antibiotic therapy at the same time. No significant relationship was found between different types of drug regime among the groups. Findings of this study indicate that ceftazidime and imipenem have similar efficacy in treatment of febrile neutropenic patients. Due to more availability and lower cost of ceftazidime than imipenem, ceftazidime is suggested as first line treatment in febrile neutropenia