Bladder tissue permeability and transport modelling of intravesical alum, lidocaine hydrochloride, methylprednisolone hemisuccinate and mitomycin C.

The aims of this study were to assess the tissue permeability of the bladder and to characterize the transport of four drugs displaying different physico-chemical properties and commonly used in intravesical delivery, through porcine bladder. The transport of aluminium through porcine bladder was assessed by using a vertical static diffusion cell. Lidocaine hydrochloride, methylprednisolone hemisuccinate and mitomycin C were tested by using three different experimental setups, including vertical static diffusion cell, microdialyseur and lab-patented device. Penetration results on different experimental setups were homogenous suggesting dependency on physico-chemical characteristics of drug and subsequent interaction with bladder wall structure. Oppositely, permeation varied consistently with experimental setup characteristics (i.e., permeation surface, receptor fluid volume and hydrodynamic). Mathematical modelling of drug transport through bladder wall is proposed considering scarce literature on this route of administration. Practical outcome of this study could drive compounding optimization towards improvement of safety and efficacy in patient undergoing intravesical administration.

Etifoxine-induced acute hepatitis: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: Etifoxine is approved for the treatment of psychosomatic manifestations of anxiety. Several cases of acute hepatitis have been recently notified to the French pharmacovigilance centres. Our aim was to review all relevant cases of etifoxine hepatitis. METHODS: All cases of liver disorders involving etifoxine and reported since November 1995 were extracted from the French pharmacovigilance database. Only cases with suggestive chronological events, no other drug-related or non-drug causes, and sufficient information, were included. RESULTS: Of the 30 selected cases, 18 were retained for further analysis. The median duration of treatment before the onset of symptoms was 18 days (11 to 61 days). The results of liver tests evidenced cytolytic hepatitis in 15 cases and mixed-type hepatitis in 3. One patient also exposed to lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide developed a fulminant hepatitis that required liver transplantation and six other patients had biological signs of severity. Except for the transplanted patient, 15 patients fully recovered within 3 months, and two clearly improved (further outcome unknown) after etifoxine withdrawal. CONCLUSION: One previously published case and our series confirm that etifoxine can cause acute liver injury with a possibly severe outcome. This adverse effect is not mentioned in the summary of the product characteristics.

Predictors of prescription errors involving anticancer chemotherapy agents.

AIM: The majority of medication errors that harm patients relate to the prescribing process. Our study aimed to identify the predictors of prescription errors involving anticancer chemotherapy agents. METHODS: All consecutive antineoplastic prescriptions from June 2006 to May 2008 were analysed, with medication errors being captured. Potential risk factors for medication prescribing errors were defined in relation to the patient, chemotherapy regimen and hospital organisation. The relationship between these risk factors and observed medication errors or dose medication errors was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic-regression analyses. RESULTS: Among the 17,150 chemotherapy prescriptions, 540 contained at least one error (3.15%). The following independent predictors of risk of medication errors were identified: patients with a body surface area >2m(2) (odds ratio (OR): 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.67, p=0.04), protocols with more than three drugs (OR: 1.91, 95%CI 1.59-2.31, p<0.001), protocols involving carboplatin (OR: 2.33, 95%CI 1.85-2.95, p<0.001), protocols requiring at least one modification by the physician (OR: 1.32, 95%CI 1.09-1.61, p=0.005), inpatient care (OR: 1.58, 95%CI 1.28-1.93, p<0.001) and prescriptions by a resident physician (OR: 1.83, 95%CI 1.50-2.22, p<0.001). The risk of medication dose prescribing errors was significantly associated with three independent factors: protocols involving carboplatin (OR: 4.47, 95%CI 3.45-5.79, p<0.001), protocols with more than three drugs (OR: 2.4, 95%CI 1.92-3.00, p<0.001) and protocols requiring at least one modification (OR: 1.33, 95%CI 1.04-1.69, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: In this epidemiologic study, the independent risk factors identified should be targeted for preventive measures in order to improve anticancer agent prescriptions and reduce the risk of medication errors.