Utilización de la eritropoyetina en la prevención de transfusiones en radio-quimioterapia concurrente de tumores avanzados de cabeza y cuello / Use of eryihropoietin for the prevention of transfusions in concurrent radio-chemotherapy of advanced head and neck tumors

Propósito: valorar si la utilización de eritropoyetina es capaz de evitar las transfusiones en nuestro protocolo de radioquimioterapia concurrente en tumores avanzados de cabeza y cuello. Material y métodos: en 1996 iniciamos un esquema de radioquimioterapia concurrente con inhalación de carbogeno en tumores avanzados de cabeza y cuello. Inicialmente decidimos transfundir si el nivel de hemoglobina bajaba de 11 gr/dl. Tras tratar a los primeros 21 pacientes y debido al alto número de transfusiones requeridas, comenzamos a utilizar eritropoyetina cuando el nivel de hemoglobina caía por debajo de 13 gr/dl. (10.000U, 3 veces por semana).Resultados: tras evaluar 56 pacientes se constató que fue preciso transfundir a 5 de los primeros 21 pacientes (anemia tratada con transfusiones). En los siguientes 36 pacientes (anemia tratada con eritropoyetina) no fue necesario transfundir a ninguno. Conclusiones: la utilización de la eritropoyetina según describimos es capaz de evitar las transfusiones en nuestro esquema de radioquimioterapia concurrente (AU)

Spectrofluorometric determination of ibuprofen in pharmaceutical formulations.

The spectrofluorometric determination of ibuprofen in pharmaceutical tablets, creams and syrup is described. It involves excitation at 263 nm and emission at 288 nm. the linear range is 2-73 mg L(-1). Other drugs or excipients present in the different formulations do not interfere, except in the case of chlorzoxazone containing tablets. Due to its strong absorbance in the spectral range the chlorzoxazone does interfere, so that in this case the proposed method can't be applied.

Hyperfractionated chemoradiation with carbogen breathing, with or without erythropoietin: a stepwise developed treatment schedule for advanced head-and-neck cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of carbogen breathing on chemoradiation and the effects of erythropoietin on transfusions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From March 1996 to April 2000, 42 (4 Stage III and 38 Stage IV) patients with head and neck cancer were treated with a twice-a-day hyperfractionated schedule. Each fraction consisted of 5 mg/m(2) of carboplatin plus 115 cGy with carbogen breathing. Treatment was given 5 days per week up to total doses of 350 mg/m(2) of carboplatin plus 8050 cGy in 7 weeks. Anemia was treated either by transfusion or by erythropoietin. RESULTS: Forty-one patients tolerated the treatment as scheduled. All patients tolerated the planned radiation dose. Five transfusions were given in the first group, but no transfusion was needed in the erythropoietin group. Local toxicities remained at the level expected with irradiation alone. Chemotherapy toxicity was moderate. Forty-two complete responses were achieved. At two years actuarial local control, cause-specific survival and overall survival are respectively 85%, 69%, and 68%. At four years estimated probabilities of local control, cause-specific survival and overall survival are also 85%, 69%, and 68%. CONCLUSIONS: These results compare favorably with those of most reported studies. The addition of carbogen breathing appears to improve the results of chemoradiation alone. Erythropoietin therapy avoided transfusions.