Retrospective evaluation of sodium acetate use for urine alkalinization in patients receiving high dose methotrexate.

PURPOSE: Methotrexate is an antifolate agent used in treatment of several malignancies. Many toxicities accompany methotrexate that are minimized with urine alkalinization. Parenteral sodium bicarbonate is the historical standard alkalinizing agent, but use has been limited by intermittent shortages. However, intravenous sodium acetate may be considered as a chemically equivalent alternative. The primary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of sodium acetate versus sodium bicarbonate for urine alkalinization for high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study including adults admitted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital to receive HDMTX for lymphoma, breast cancer with leptomeningial spread, or osteosarcoma. Patients must have received intravenous sodium acetate or sodium bicarbonate alkalinization. RESULTS: Of 192 HDMTX encounters, 154 (sodium bicarbonate, n = 86; sodium acetate, n = 68) were evaluated for efficacy and safety. Safety outcomes were not significantly different between groups except for higher peak methotrexate level in the bicarbonate group (2.9 mcmol/L vs. 1.7 mcmol/L, p = 0.023), and increased incidence of grade 3-4 ALT in the sodium bicarbonate group (23.5% vs. 9%, p = 0.02). Time from alkalinizer initiation to pH ≥7 was significantly shorter with sodium bicarbonate (4 vs. 5.15 h, p = 0.021). Nonetheless, outcomes such as length of stay (4.4 vs. 4 days respectively, p = 0.037) and time to methotrexate clearance (3.6 vs. 3.2 days respectively, p = 0.023) reveal that inpatient time was shorter with sodium acetate overall. CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis suggests that sodium acetate has similar efficacy and safety to sodium bicarbonate for alkalinization and may be considered as an alternative in future shortage situations.

The Impact of Health Literacy Level on Inhaler Technique in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled medications are recommended as first-line treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can reduce exacerbations and hospitalizations. Low health literacy is associated with poor inhaler technique. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether handouts written specifically for patients with low health literacy are more effective in showing patients how to use their medications when compared to standard education materials. METHODS: A prospective, experimental study was performed at a community-based hospital. Patients included in the study were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of COPD, taking at least 1 inhaled medication and identified as having low health literacy based on a Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form. Low health literacy handouts were compared against the standard hospital educational materials for inhalers. Correct technique during each demonstration was evaluated using a standardized checklist. RESULTS: Mean baseline scores for inhaler technique were 12.2 ± 2.2 steps correct for the control group and 13.4 ± 1.3 for the low health-literacy group of the 18 maximum points ( P = nonsignificant). The mean change in inhaler technique score for the control group was 1.0 ± 1.8, while the mean change in inhaler technique score for the low health-literacy group was 2.1 ± 2.7 ( P = .03).