Precautions for Patients Taking Aromatase Inhibitors.

Aromatase inhibitors are the drug of choice for the treatment of estrogen receptor- or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Aromatase is an enzyme that catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of estrogen. Inhibitors of this enzyme are an effective therapy for breast cancer. The benefits of these agents have been clearly shown through various clinical trials, yet adherence may be challenging for some patients due to issues of drug interactions, proper first dose education, and adverse effects. Education to prevent and treat adverse effects is of the utmost importance to promote adherence.

Anti-John Cunningham virus antibody index levels in multiple sclerosis patients treated with rituximab, fingolimod, and dimethyl fumarate.

BACKGROUND: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a potentially fatal demyelinating disease caused by the John Cunningham virus (JCV), can occur as a complication of treatment with rituximab, fingolimod, and dimethyl fumarate. The primary objective of this study was to determine changes in anti-JCV antibody index values in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with these three medications. Second, we explored the relationship between absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), anti-JCV antibody index values, and various patient characteristics. METHODS: In this retrospective chart review, we evaluated changes in JCV serology and ALC in 172 MS patients treated with fingolimod, rituximab, or dimethyl fumarate (2013-2016). Only those with known anti-JCV antibody and ALC values before starting the study medications were included. Subsequent values were obtained on an ad hoc basis throughout the study. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in anti-JCV antibody index values in patients treated with fingolimod and rituximab (P = 0.03 and P = 0.014, respectively). A non-significant decreasing trend in anti-JCV antibody index values occurred in patients treated with dimethyl fumarate. Notably, there was no relationship between ALC and anti-JCV antibody index values for patients treated with rituximab, fingolimod, or dimethyl fumarate. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-JCV antibody index values significantly decreased in MS patients treated with fingolimod and rituximab; however, this did not occur with dimethyl fumarate. Fingolimod and rituximab may impair the humoral response to the JCV. Nevertheless, a declining anti-JCV antibody index in MS patients treated with fingolimod or rituximab should not necessarily be interpreted as correlating with a decreased risk for PML.

Prevalence and Overtesting of True Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in a 591-Bed Tertiary Care, Teaching Hospital.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II (HIT) is a rare but potentially fatal antibody-mediated reaction to all forms of heparin (unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, heparin flushes, and heparin-coated catheters), which can lead to HIT with thrombosis. Two tests commonly used to screen for HIT include the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serotonin release assay (SRA). This is a retrospective chart review study conducted from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2014, to estimate the rate of true HIT in critical care patients at Winthrop-University Hospital, located in Mineola, New York. Patients are classified as positive for HIT if both ELISA and SRA immunoassays are positive. We reviewed 507 heparin immunoassays, excluding 64 who had an inappropriate ELISA test sent due to no administration of heparin, enoxaparin, or heparin lock flush at this or previous hospital stays at Winthrop. Of the 443 heparin immunoassays, ELISA results were positive for 66 patients (15.1%), and only 11 (2.5%) patients had true cases of HIT with a 95% confidence interval of 1.3% to 4.4%. The 4T score for those with true HIT (median: 5.0) was statistically higher compared to those without true HIT (median: 2.0; P < .001). Despite guidelines in place, overtesting for HIT is still a prevalent issue.

Assessment of phosphate binding by sevelamer carbonate powder for oral suspension mixed in foods.

This study investigated mixing sevelamer carbonate powder with foods and beverages other than water. Food samples, including applesauce, oatmeal, chicken, protein powder, scrambled eggs, ginger ale, and diet ginger ale, were subjected to an in vitro assay, and the difference in the amount of phosphate bound between samples pre-exposed to foods and samples where the drug was exposed to foods concurrently was determined Under these assay conditions, pre-exposure to sevelamer carbonate powder had no effect on the ability to bind phosphate. Clinical testing is needed to further evaluate this finding.