Outcomes of the implementation of the computer-assisted HBView system for the prevention of hepatitis B virus reactivation in chemotherapy patients: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: Screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is recommended worldwide for patients receiving systemic chemotherapy in accordance with clinical guidelines, but compliance varies by country and facility. Alert systems may be useful for promoting screening, but it is unclear how effective such systems are. In this study, we investigated HBV screening procedures and their incorporation into treatment regimens following the implementation of an alert system. METHODS: An alert system was introduced at our hospital in April 2012. The rates of HBV screening in the periods before and after the introduction of the alert system (September 2010 to March 2012 and April 2012 to October 2013, respectively) were investigated. We collected data on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), and HBV-DNA testing in patients. As a result of this analysis, we developed a system in which pharmacists would intervene to check and confirm whether HBV screening had occurred in patients scheduled to begin treatment with chemotherapy. We named our project the “HBView” project, and the rate of HBV screening and the number of times pharmacists intervened was studied during specific time periods before and after the HBView project commenced (July 2013 to December 2013 and January 2014 to June 2014, respectively). RESULTS: After introducing the alert system, the percentage of patients tested for HBsAb/HBcAb and HBV-DNA increased significantly, from 71.6 % to 84.9 % and from 44.5 % to 69.7 %, respectively. However, the rate of compliance with HBV testing guidelines was not 100 % after interventions. The numbers of patients who were not screened but should have been before and after the introduction of HBView were 6 and 17, respectively. Two patients at risk of HBV reactivation were identified after intervention by pharmacists; their intervention thus prevented HBV reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with clinical HBV screening guidelines was not sufficiently improved after the introduction of the automatic alert system; however, the HBView project proved useful in reinforcing the automatic alert system

Effects of Body Mass Index on Hypertriglyceridemia Associated with Oral Bexarotene Therapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of an Open-Label Comparative Clinical Study of Combined Bexarotene and Phototherapy Versus Bexarotene Monotherapy for Japanese Patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Background Bexarotene, which has been approved for use in Japan since 2016, is an effective drug for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; however, careful management is imperative because of its adverse events. We previously demonstrated the severity of bexarotene-associated hypertriglyceridemia and the need for bexarotene dose reduction for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and high body mass index (BMI); however, high BMI does not affect the efficacy of combined bexarotene and phototherapy treatment. Objective This study aimed to verify the effects of BMI on hypertriglyceridemia associated with oral bexarotene therapy. Methods We conducted a post hoc analysis of data from a previous randomized, open-label clinical study that compared combined bexarotene–phototherapy treatment with bexarotene monotherapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma by dividing patients into two groups based on BMI (<23 kg/m2 and ≥23 kg/m2). Results No statistically significant association was observed between patients with BMI ≥23 kg/m2 and severe hypertriglyceridemia; however, there was a significant association between BMI ≥23 kg/m2 and severe hypertriglyceridemia for patients who received bexarotene monotherapy, but not for those who received combined bexarotene–phototherapy treatment. The exact reasons for the discrepancies between the results of this thorough analysis and those of our past research are unclear. However, high BMI may be a risk factor for hypertriglyceridemia. Additional unidentified risk factors could also affect treatment outcomes. Conclusion High BMI is the primary reason for hypertriglyceridemia-associated bexarotene dose reduction; however, unexplored risk factors other than high BMI could exist

Bortezomib administration is a risk factor associated with the development of tumor lysis syndrome in male patients with multiple myeloma: A retrospective study

Abstract Background: Novel agents such as proteasome inhibitors have been developed for several years to treat multiple myeloma. Although multiple myeloma is a low-risk disease for developing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), treatment with these novel therapies might increase TLS risk. Previous studies, mostly case reports or case series, have reported bortezomib-induced TLS in patients with multiple myeloma. This study aimed to investigate risk factors associated with TLS development in multiple myeloma patients.Methods: We retrospectively investigated incidences of laboratory and clinical TLS (LTLS and CTLS, respectively) in patients who received primary therapy for treatment-naive, symptomatic multiple myeloma between May 2007 and January 2018. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to evaluate the associations between TLS and several parameters previously reported to be associated with increased risk.Results: This study included 210 patients with multiple myeloma, of which ten (4.8%) had LTLS and seven (3.3%) had CTLS. The characteristics of the administered anticancer or prophylactic antihyperuricemic agents were similar between patients with and without TLS. Multivariate analyses revealed that TLS was most strongly associated with bortezomib-containing therapy (odds ratio = 3.40, P = 0.069), followed by male sex (odds ratio = 2.29, P = 0.153). In a subgroup analysis focused on men, treatment with bortezomib-containing therapy was significantly associated with increased risk of TLS (odds ratio = 8.51, P = 0.046).Conclusion: In the present study, we investigated the risk factors associated with TLS development in 210 multiple myeloma patients, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the largest number of patients reported to date. Furthermore, this study is the first to evaluate TLS risk factors in MM by adjusting for the effects of potential confounding factors in patients’ backgrounds. Consequently, we found that bortezomib-containing therapy increases the risk of TLS in male patients with multiple myeloma. TLS risk should be evaluated further in low-risk diseases such as multiple myeloma, since a significant number of novel therapies can achieve high antitumor responses.</jats:p

Bortezomib administration is a risk factor associated with the development of tumor lysis syndrome in male patients with multiple myeloma: A retrospective study

Abstract Background Many novel medicines such as proteasome inhibitors have been developed during the last decade to treat multiple myeloma. Although multiple myeloma is defined as a low-risk disease for developing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), treatment with these novel therapies might increase TLS risk. In fact, there have been some prior reports of bortezomib-induced TLS in patients with multiple myeloma. However, almost all of them have been case reports or case series. Thus, we investigated the risk factors for TLS in multiple myeloma patients. Methods We retrospectively investigated incidences of laboratory and clinical TLS (LTLS and CTLS, respectively) in patients who received primary therapy for treatment-naive, symptomatic multiple myeloma between May 2007 and January 2018. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to evaluate the associations between LTLS and several parameters previously reported to be associated with increased risk. Results This study included 210 patients, seventeen (8.1%) and seven (3.3%) patients with LTLS and CTLS, respectively. The characteristics of the administered anticancer or prophylactic antihyperuricemic agents were similar between the patients with and without LTLS. Multivariate analyses revealed that LTLS was most strongly associated with bortezomib-containing therapy (odds ratio = 3.40, P = 0.069), followed by male sex (odds ratio = 2.29, P = 0.153). In a subgroup analysis focused on men, treatment with bortezomib-containing therapy was significantly associated with increased risk of LTLS (odds ratio = 8.51, P = 0.046). Conclusion In the present study, we investigated the risk factors for developing TLS in 210 multiple myeloma patients, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the largest number of patients reported to date. Furthermore, this study is the first to evaluate TLS risk factors in MM by adjusting for the effects of potential confounding factors in patients’ backgrounds. Consequently, we found that bortezomib-containing therapy increases the risk of TLS in male multiple myeloma patients. TLS risk should be evaluated further in low-risk diseases such as multiple myeloma, as an increasing number of novel therapies can achieve high antitumor responses.</jats:p