Carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide clearance measurements during continuous venovenous hemofiltration in a massive overdose.

INTRODUCTION: Carbamazepine (CBZ) overdose can result in significant neurologic and cardiovascular toxicity, and is compounded by the presence of an active metabolite, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZE). Existing publications describing continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) in CBZ overdose are limited in their ability to calculate accurate clearances. We report a case of CBZ overdose treated with CVVH with detailed measurement of CBZ, CBZE and their respective clearances calculated utilizing serial effluent measurements. This was coupled with serum level determinations comparing two analytical methodologies, time-of-flight mass spectroscopy and an immunoassay. CASE DETAILS: A 41-year-old woman presented unresponsive after an overdose of CBZ. Initial CBZ serum levels were markedly elevated (57.8 µg/mL) and continued to rise. Due to continued hemodynamic instability, extracorporeal removal was initiated using CVVH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the first 30 h of CVVH, interval serum samples and all ultrafiltrate bags were collected and analyzed. Serum and effluent levels of CBZ and CBZE were measured using an Agilent 6230 time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). CBZ levels were also obtained utilizing the Microgenics CEDIA Carbamazepine Immunoassay (Thermo Fisher, Waltham, MA) for serum and effluent samples. Immunoassay analysis was performed using Siemens ADVIA 1800 instrument. RESULTS: The clearances achieved for CBZE (mean = 25.2, range 17.7-42.6 mL/min) exceeded that for CBZ (mean = 18.1, range 12.7-28.7 mL/min). CVVH removed a total of 1293 and 1261 mg of CBZ and CBZE, respectively. Serum levels of CBZ measured by immunoassay when compared with TOF-MS indicated cross reactivity of CBZE with the immunoassay. CONCLUSIONS: CVVH removed CBZE with higher clearances than CBZ. However, CVVH clearance rates for both CBZ and CBZE were lower than published clearances of CBZ and CBZE by intermittent hemodialysis. Our methodology allowed for a precise pharmacokinetic assessment of clearance based on total quantity of parent drug and active metabolite removed. Use of an immunoassay to determine CBZ serum levels reflects both parent compound and active metabolite due to cross-reactivity with CBZE.

Recognition and Knowledge of Medications with Black Box Warnings Among Pediatricians and Emergency Physicians.

"Boxed warnings" (BW), sometimes referred to as "black box warnings," are the most serious level of warning provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We aimed to assess physician awareness and knowledge of BW, and to gain a better understanding of where physicians obtain information about serious adverse drug reactions for commonly prescribed medications. A cross-sectional survey instrument was administered to emergency medicine (EM) and pediatrician (Peds) attending and resident physicians. The main outcome measures were physician performance in identifying medications with and without black box warnings and the content of the warnings. The survey response rate was 81/198 (41 %). Respondents correctly identified medications with BW only 36.3 % of the time, but were able to correctly identify medications without such warnings 83.8 % of the time. Attending physicians were better able to identify medications with or without BW when compared with residents (p < 0.05). Among residents, there was a statistically significant increase in the ability to identify medications with or without BW with increasing year of training (p < 0.01). Correct identification of the content of BW was low in both groups (13.3 %). Only 19/50 (37 %) EM physicians and 16/31 (52 %) Peds reported that they consider BW when prescribing medications. 23/81 (29 %) respondents indicated that they did not stay current or had no method of staying current with black box information. EM and Peds attending and resident physicians at a single institution had limited ability to identify medications containing BW or the content of such warnings. A significant number reported that they did not stay current or had no consistent method for staying current with BW.