Erlotinib and pantoprazole: a relevant interaction or not?

AIMS: There is increasing evidence that erlotinib exposure correlates well with treatment outcome. In this report we present a case of therapeutic drug monitoring of erlotinib in a patient with a gastric ulcer, treated with the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole. This agent may cause an unwanted, but not always unavoidable, interaction since absorption of erlotinib is pH dependent. METHODS: Erlotinib trough concentrations were monitored in a patient during treatment with orally and intravenously administered pantoprazole. RESULTS: Erlotinib trough concentrations were diminished during high dose intravenously administered pantoprazole, but returned to normal when the dose was reduced and pantoprazole was administered orally. CONCLUSIONS: More studies are needed to assess the dose dependency of the interaction between pantoprazole and erlotinib. Furthermore, we advise to monitor closely erlotinib plasma concentrations and adjust the erlotinib dose accordingly when a clinically relevant interaction is suspected and no proper dosing guidelines are available.

Safety and efficacy of drug-eluting balloons in percutaneous treatment of bifurcation lesions: the DEBIUT (drug-eluting balloon in bifurcation Utrecht) registry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting balloon catheter (paclitaxel-coated) in patients with coronary artery bifurcation lesions. BACKGROUND: The current practice of provisional stenting of the main branch (MB) is reasonable; however, long-term results of side-branch (SB) treatment are suboptimal. The use of drug-eluting stents has not improved these results, regardless of the implantation technique, and could potentially lead to a significant increase in (late) thrombotic events. To evaluate short-term safety and efficacy of a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) in patients with bifurcation lesions followed by provisional stenting of the main branch, we set up the DEBIUT Registry. METHODS: This registry enrolled 20 eligible patients with coronary artery bifurcation lesions. Patients received a PCI with a paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter, followed by provisional stenting of the MB with a bare-metal stent. Acute angiographic and clinical follow-up were performed after 1 and 4 months. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in all patients. The use of sequential predilatation with DEB was safe and well tolerated. No acute or subacute closure of side branches occurred after treating with DEB. All patients were treated according to the provisional stenting technique; no stents were placed in the SB. At 4-month follow-up no major acute coronary events and no subacute vessel closure were reported. CONCLUSION: The use of a drug-eluting balloon in patients with bifurcation lesions was effective and safe up to 4 months following PCI in patients with coronary artery bifurcation lesions.