The cost-effectiveness of isavuconazole compared to voriconazole, the standard of care in the treatment of patients with invasive mould diseases, prior to differential pathogen diagnosis in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Invasive mould diseases are associated with high morbidity, mortality and economic impact. Its treatment is often started prior to differential pathogen diagnosis. Isavuconazole is approved for treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and invasive mucormycosis (IM) when amphotericin-B is not indicated. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of isavuconazole vs voriconazole for the treatment of adult patients with possible IA prior to differential pathogen diagnosis, in Spain. METHODS: A decision tree analysis was performed using the Spanish Healthcare System perspective. Among all patients with possible IA, it was considered that 7.81% actually had IM. Costs for laboratory analysis, management of adverse events, hospitalisation and drugs per patient, deaths and long-term effects in life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted LYs (QALYs) were considered. Efficacy data were obtained from clinical trials and utilities from the literature. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were conducted. RESULTS: In patients with possible IA and when compared to voricanozole, isavuconazole showed an incremental cost of 4758.53€, besides an incremental effectiveness of +0.49 LYs and +0.41 QALYs per patient. The Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio was 9622.52€ per LY gained and 11,734.79€ per QALY gained. The higher cost of isavuconazole was due to drug acquisition. Main parameters influencing results were mortality, treatment duration and hospitalisation days. The PSA results showed that isavuconazole has a probability of being cost-effective of 67.34%, being dominant in 24.00% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Isavuconazole is a cost-effective treatment compared to voriconazole for patients with possible IA for a willingness to pay threshold of 25,000€ per additional QALY.

[Dalbavancin: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters]. / Dalbavancina: parámetros farmacocinéticos y farmacodinámicos.

Dalbavancin is a new lipoglycopeptide antibiotic whose structure influences its pharmacokinetic profile. It is not absorbed after oral administration and is therefore administered intravenously. It is distributed through intracellular fluid, reaching adequate concentrations in the skin, bone, blister fluid and synovial fluid. Plasma protein binding is very high. Concentrations in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are inadequate. Excretion is through non-microsomal metabolism with inactive metabolites and through the kidneys by glomerular filtration. Dalbavancin is eliminated slowly, as shown by its clearance value and its terminal elimination half-life, which exceeds 300 hours. This means that adequate concentrations of the drug remain in plasma and tissues for a prolonged period and explains the dosing regimen: a first dose of 1g followed 7 days later by a 500mg dose. The pharmacokinetics are linear and show little intra- and interindividual variability. There are no pharmacokinetic interactions. Dose adjustment is not required for patients with mild or moderate renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance ≥ 30 to 79ml/min). Dosage adjustment is not required in patients regularly receiving elective haemodialysis (3 times/week) and the drug can be administered without consideration of haemodialysis times. In patients with chronic renal insufficiency, whose creatinine clearance is < 30ml/min and who are not regularly receiving elective haemodialysis, the recommended dose should be reduced to 750mg per week, followed 1 week later by 375mg. Dosage adjustment does not seem necessary in patients with liver failure or in older patients. There is no information on the most appropriate dosage in children. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics parameter that best describes the effectiveness of dalbavancin is the ratio between the area under the curve and the minimum inhibitory concentration.

Monitoring of trough plasma ganciclovir levels and peripheral blood cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8+ T cells to predict CMV DNAemia clearance in preemptively treated allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients.

It is uncertain whether monitoring plasma ganciclovir (GCV) levels is useful in predicting cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia clearance in preemptively treated allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. In this observational study, including 13 episodes of CMV DNAemia treated with intravenous (i.v.) GCV or oral valganciclovir, we showed that monitoring trough plasma GCV levels does not reliably predict response to therapy. Rather, immunological monitoring (pp65 and immediate-early [IE]-1-specific gamma interferon [IFN-γ]-producing CD8+ T cells) appeared to perform better for this purpose.

Anidulafungin dosing in critically ill patients with continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration.

BACKGROUND: Anidulafungin is indicated as a first-line treatment for invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients. In the intensive care unit, sepsis is the main cause of acute renal failure, and treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has increased in recent years. Antimicrobial pharmacokinetics is affected by CRRT, but few studies have addressed the optimal dosage for anidulafungin during CRRT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 12 critically ill patients who received continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration to treat acute renal failure. Anidulafungin was infused on 3 consecutive days, starting with a loading dose (200 mg) on Day 1, and doses of 100 mg on Days 2 and 3. Blood and ultradiafiltrate samples were collected on Day 3 (during steady-state) before, and at regular intervals after, the infusion had started. Anidulafungin concentrations were determined with HPLC. RESULTS: On Day 3, peak plasma concentrations with the 100 mg dose were 6.2 ±â€Š1.7 mg/L and 7.1 ±â€Š1.9 mg/L in the arterial and venous samples, respectively. The mean, pre-filter trough concentration was 3.0 ±â€Š0.6 mg/L. The mean AUC0-24 values for plasma anidulafungin were 93.9 ±â€Š19.4 and 104.1 ±â€Š20.3mg·h/L in the arterial and venous samples, respectively. There was no adsorption to synthetic surfaces, and the anidulafungin concentration in the ultradiafiltrate was below the limit of detection. CONCLUSION: The influence of CRRT on anidulafungin elimination appeared to be negligible. Therefore, we recommend no adjustments to the anidulafungin dose for patients receiving CRRT.

Update on fungemia in oncology and hematology.

The present article is an update of the literature on fungemia in onco-hematologic patients. A multidisciplinary group of Spanish physicians with an interest in this field selected the most important papers published lately. Papers from the fields of epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, outcome, prevention and treatment are discussed. Important aspects of these studies include the assessment of different strategies in the management of fever in neutropenic patients. Moreover, early identification of patients at risk of fungal infections, as well as identification of patients at risk for fluconazole-resistant strains are topics of increasing interest.

Bioequivalence Evaluation of Three Pediatric Oral Formulations of Bilastine in Healthy Subjects: Results from a Randomized, Open Label, Crossover Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bilastine is a non-sedating H1 antihistamine indicated for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria. The aim of this trial was to assess the bioequivalence of three novel pediatric oral formulations of bilastine. METHODS: An open label, randomized, four-treatment-period, four-sequence, crossover, single-center study was conducted in 23 healthy volunteers. Each subject received four single doses of bilastine under fasting conditions: a 10-mg orodispersible tablet (DT1), a 10-mg oral solution (SOL), a 10-mg orodispersible tablet without water (DT2dry), and a 10-mg orodispersible tablet with water (DT2water, reference formulation). Blood samples were collected during 72 h with a washout period of at least 7 days. Bilastine maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve between 0 to t time (AUC0-t) were calculated to assess bioequivalence. Tolerability was evaluated throughout the study. RESULTS: The three oral pediatric formulations tested were bioequivalent to the reference formulation as determined by the ratio test/reference of the geometric mean and their 90% confidence intervals (between 0.80 and 1.25) for the Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞. Bilastine was well tolerated when administered indistinctly as an orodispersible tablet or as an oral solution. CONCLUSION: The three oral pediatric formulations tested were found to be bioequivalent to the reference formulation. All formulations were well tolerated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Spanish Clinical Studies Registry (REEC) number 2014-000786-41.

The SARS-CoV-2 Ivermectin Navarra-ISGlobal Trial (SAINT) to Evaluate the Potential of Ivermectin to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission in low risk, non-severe COVID-19 patients in the first 48 hours after symptoms onset: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized control pilot trial.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to determine the efficacy of a single dose of ivermectin, administered to low risk, non-severe COVID-19 patients in the first 48 hours after symptom onset to reduce the proportion of patients with detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test from nasopharyngeal swab at day 7 post-treatment. The secondary objectives are: 1.To assess the efficacy of ivermectin to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the nasopharyngeal swab at day 7 post treatment.2.To assess the efficacy of ivermectin to improve symptom progression in treated patients.3.To assess the proportion of seroconversions in treated patients at day 21.4.To assess the safety of ivermectin at the proposed dose.5.To determine the magnitude of immune response against SARS-CoV-2.6.To assess the early kinetics of immunity against SARS-CoV-2. TRIAL DESIGN: SAINT is a single centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, superiority trial with two parallel arms. Participants will be randomized to receive a single dose of 400 µg/kg ivermectin or placebo, and the number of patients in the treatment and placebo groups will be the same (1:1 ratio). PARTICIPANTS: The population for the study will be patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, with non-severe COVID-19 disease, and no risk factors for progression to severity. Vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, minors (i.e.; under 18 years old), and seniors (i.e.; over 60 years old) will be excluded. Inclusion criteria 1. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the emergency room of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR. 2. Residents of the Pamplona basin ("Cuenca de Pamplona"). 3. The patient must be between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age. 4. Negative pregnancy test for women of child bearing age*. 5. The patient or his/her representative, has given informed consent to participate in the study. 6. The patient should, in the PI's opinion, be able to comply with all the requirements of the clinical trial (including home follow up during isolation). Exclusion criteria 1. Known history of ivermectin allergy. 2. Hypersensitivity to any component of ivermectin. 3. COVID-19 pneumonia. Diagnosed by the attending physician.Identified in a chest X-ray. 4. Fever or cough present for more than 48 hours. 5. Positive IgG against SARS-CoV-2 by rapid diagnostic test. 6. Age under 18 or over 60 years. 7. The following co-morbidities (or any other disease that might interfere with the study in the eyes of the PI): Immunosuppression.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Diabetes.Hypertension.Obesity.Acute or chronic renal failure.History of coronary disease.History of cerebrovascular disease.Current neoplasm. 8. Recent travel history to countries that are endemic for Loa loa (Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Equatorial, Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sudan). 9. Current use of CYP 3A4 or P-gp inhibitor drugs such as quinidine, amiodarone, diltiazem, spironolactone, verapamil, clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, indinavir, ritonavir or cobicistat. Use of critical CYP3A4 substrate drugs such as warfarin. *Women of child bearing age may participate if they use a safe contraceptive method for the entire period of the study and at least one month afterwards. A woman is considered to not have childbearing capacity if she is post-menopausal (minimum of 2 years without menstruation) or has undergone surgical sterilization (at least one month before the study). The trial is currently planned at a single center, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, in Navarra (Spain), and the immunology samples will be analyzed at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), in Barcelona (Spain). Participants will be recruited by the investigators at the emergency room and/or COVID-19 area of the CUN. They will remain in the trial for a period of 28 days at their homes since they will be patients with mild disease. In the interest of public health and to contain transmission of infection, follow-up visits will be conducted in the participant's home by a clinical trial team comprising nursing and medical members. Home visits will assess clinical and laboratory parameters of the patients. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Ivermectin will be administered to the treatment group at a 400µg/Kg dose (included in the EU approved label of Stromectol and Scabioral). The control group will receive placebo. There is no current data on the efficacy of ivermectin against the virus in vivo, therefore the use of placebo in the control group is ethically justified. MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary Proportion of patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab at day 7 post-treatment. Secondary 1.Mean viral load as determined by PCR cycle threshold (Ct) at baseline and on days 4, 7, 14, and 21.2.Proportion of patients with fever and cough at days 4, 7, 14, and 21 as well as proportion of patients progressing to severe disease or death during the trial.3.Proportion of patients with seroconversion at day 21.4.Proportion of drug-related adverse events during the trial.5.Median levels of IgG, IgM, IgA measured by Luminex, frequencies of innate and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells assessed by flow cytometry, median levels of inflammatory and activation markers measured by Luminex and transcriptomics.6.Median kinetics of IgG, IgM, IgA levels during the trial, until day 28. RANDOMISATION: Eligible patients will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio using a randomization list generated by the trial statistician using blocks of four to ensure balance between the groups. A study identification code with the format "SAINT-##" (##: from 01 to 24) will be generated using a sequence of random numbers so that the randomization number does not match the subject identifier. The sequence and code used will be kept in an encrypted file accessible only to the trial statistician. A physical copy will be kept in a locked cabinet at the CUN, accessible only to the person administering the drug who will not enrol or attend to patient care. A separate set of 24 envelopes for emergency unblinding will be kept in the study file. BLINDING (MASKING): The clinical trial team and the patients will be blinded. The placebo will not be visibly identical, but it will be administered by staff not involved in the clinical care or participant follow up. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): The sample size is 24 patients: 12 participants will be randomised to the treatment group and 12 participants to the control group. TRIAL STATUS: Current protocol version: 1.0 dated 16 of April 2020. Recruitment is envisioned to begin by May 14th and end by June 14th. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT number: 2020-001474-29, registered April 1st. Clinicaltrials.gov: submitted, pending number FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Executive summary of the consensus document of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI) and the Spanish Society of Haematology and Haemotherapy (SEHH) on the management of febrile neutropenia in patients with hematological malignancies.

Febrile neutropenia is a very common complication in patients with hematological malignancies receiving chemotherapy, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have become a therapeutic challenge in this high-risk patient population, since inadequate initial empirical treatment can seriously compromise prognosis. However, reducing antimicrobial exposure is one of the most significant cornerstones in the fight against resistance. The objective of these new guidelines is to update recommendations for the initial management of hematological patients who develop febrile neutropenia in this scenario of multidrug resistance. The two participating Societies (the Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica [Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology] and the Sociedad Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia [Spanish Society of Haematology and Haemotherapy]), designated a panel of experts in the field to provide evidence-based recommendations in response to common clinical questions. This document is primarily focused on bacterial infections. Other aspects related to opportunistic infections, such as those caused by fungi or other microorganisms, especially in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, are also touched upon.

A long-term retrospective review of 5 cases using daptomycin for prosthetic device infections after surgery.

PURPOSE: To review the antimicrobial possibilities for limb-sparing due to infectious complications after surgery in patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma and with implantation of prosthetic devices. PATIENTS AND PROGRESS: After several episodes of relapsing infection or even re-infection and failure of previous therapies, 5 patients (2 young, female / 1 young, male / 2 middle-aged, female) were subject to a long-term ambulatory regimen consisting of intravenous administration of daptomycin. RESULTS: Showed improved outcome with preservation of the limbs or devices involved. CONCLUSION: Five patients with post-operative gram-positive suspected infections of prosthetic devices that were unresponsive to a variety of other antibiotics and combinations appeared to respond to compassionate use of daptomycin. its effectiveness is probably due to its activity against biofilmproducing microorganisms. Controlled, double-blind randomized trials are needed to confirm the potential of daptomycin in such patients.

Granulicatella adiacens breast implant-associated infection.

The 1st reported case of breast implant-associated infection due to Granulicatella adiacens, formerly known as nutritionally variant streptococci, Streptococcus adiacens, and Abiotrophia adiacens is presented. Microbiology and previously reported cases of infections by this organism are reviewed.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling of arterial haemodynamic effects of terazosin in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate, in healthy volunteers, the relationship between the plasma concentrations of the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin and its effects on arterial blood pressure after a single oral administration of terazosin 2 mg. M ethods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers participated in this study. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling were performed subject by subject. First, plasma concentrations were fitted according to a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and monoexponential elimination. Then the maximum drug-induced decrease (E(max)) effect compartment-model was developed to describe the pharmacodynamic relationships between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and plasma concentrations using the pharmacokinetic parameters that were previously estimated. RESULTS: For systolic blood pressure, E(max) was 29.9 +/- 10.6 mmHg. The corresponding value for decrease in diastolic blood pressure was 39.7 +/- 8.6 mmHg. The effects of terazosin on systolic and diastolic blood pressure could be quantified by an inhibitory E(max) effect compartment model. The obtained first-order rate constant values (0.40 +/- 0.006 h(-)(1) for systolic blood pressure and 0.47 +/- 0.012 h(-)(1) for diastolic blood pressure) were consistent with the rapid development of pharmacological effect. EC(50) (concentration of terazosin that induces an effect at 50% of E(max) values) values were similar for systolic (29.9 +/- 4.3 microg/L) and diastolic (28.7 +/- 4.0 microg/L) blood pressure. A decrease in diastolic blood pressure was the most sensitive response after oral administration of a single dose of terazosin. CONCLUSION: The direct haemodynamic effects of terazosin can be characterized by an E(max) effect compartment model.

[Pharmacology of azoles]. / Farmacología de los azoles.

Azole antifungals have different pharmacokinetic characteristics: complete oral absorption for Voriconazole, and to a lesser extent for fluconazole. The absorption of posaconazole and itraconazole increases with food intake. All of them have high tissue distribution with low plasma concentrations, especially low in the case of posaconazole and itraconazole. Posaconazole and itraconazole have high plasmatic protein binding and consequently both have a very low free fraction. Elimination of azole antifungals is through a metabolic pathway with CYP450 isoenzymes, and has a non linear pharmacokinetics with a high risk of interation with other drugs since azoles have the ability of CYP450 isoenzymes inhibition. Possibly the parameter that defines more precisely their efficacy is AUIC with an optimum value near 20, although cut-off values must be defined since some azoles may have difficulty to reach this value.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of combination antifungal therapy with voriconazole and anidulafungin versus voriconazole monotherapy for primary treatment of invasive aspergillosis in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: According to a recent randomized, double-blind clinical trial comparing the combination of voriconazole and anidulafungin (VOR+ANI) with VOR monotherapy for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with hematologic disease or with hematopoietic stem cell transplant, mortality was lower after 6 weeks with VOR+ANI than with VOR monotherapy in a post hoc analysis of patients with galactomannan-based IA. The objective of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of VOR+ANI with VOR, from the perspective of hospitals in the Spanish National Health System. METHODS: An economic model with deterministic and probabilistic analyses was used to determine costs per life-year gained (LYG) for VOR+ANI versus VOR in patients with galactomannan-based IA. Mortality, adverse event rates, and life expectancy were obtained from clinical trial data. The costs (in 2015 euros [€]) of the drugs and the adverse event-related costs were obtained from Spanish sources. A Tornado plot and a Monte Carlo simulation (1,000 iterations) were used to assess uncertainty of all model variables. RESULTS: According to the deterministic analysis, for each patient treated with VOR+ANI compared with VOR monotherapy, there would be a total of 0.348 LYG (2.529 vs 2.181 years, respectively) at an incremental cost of €5,493 (€17,902 vs €12,409, respectively). Consequently, the additional cost per LYG with VOR+ANI compared with VOR would be €15,785. Deterministic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. In the probabilistic analysis, the cost per LYG with VOR+ANI was €15,774 (95% confidence interval: €15,763-16,692). The probability of VOR+ANI being cost-effective compared with VOR was estimated at 82.5% and 91.9%, based on local cost-effectiveness thresholds of €30,000 and €45,000, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the present economic study, combination therapy with VOR+ANI is cost-effective as primary therapy of IA in galactomannan-positive patients in Spain who have hematologic disease or hematopoietic stem cell transplant, compared with VOR monotherapy.

Liposomal formulations of amphotericin B: differences according to the scientific evidence.

This article presents an overview of the characteristics of liposomes as drug carriers, particularly in relation to liposomal formulations of amphotericin B. General features regarding structure, liposome-cell interactions, stability, encapsulation of active substances and elimination of liposomes are described. Up to the present time extensive efforts to produce similar or bioequivalent products of amphotericin B formulations, in particular in the case of liposomal amphotericin B, have been unsuccessful in spite of having a very similar composition and even an apparently identical manufacturing process. Guidelines for the development of generic liposomal formulations developed by the FDA and EMA are also summarized. Based on the available evidence of the composition of liposomes, any differences in the manufacturing process even if the same lipid composition is used may result in different final products. Therefore, it seems unreasonable to infer that all amphotericin B liposomal formulations are equal in efficacy and safety.

Simultaneous stereoselective analysis of tramadol and its primary phase I metabolites in plasma by liquid chromatography. Application to a pharmacokinetic study in humans.

This paper describes a bioanalytical method involving a simple liquid-liquid extraction for the simultaneous HPLC determination of the enantiomers of tramadol, the active metabolite O-desmethyltramadol (M1), and the other main metabolite N-desmethyltramadol (M2) in biological samples. Chromatography was performed at 5 degrees C on a Chiracel OD-R column containing cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) as chiral selector, preceded by a achiral end-capped C8 column (LiChrospher 60-RP-selected B 5 microm, 250 mm x 4 mm). The mobile phase was a mixture of phosphate buffer containing sodium perchlorate (1 M) adjusted to pH 2.5-acetonitrile-N,N-dimethyloctylamine (74.8:25:0.2). The flow rate was 0.5 ml/min. Fluorescence detection (lambda(ex) 200 nm/lambda(em) 301 nm) was used. Fluconazol was selected as internal standard. The limit of quantitation of each enantiomer of tramadol and their metabolites was 0.5 ng/ml (sample size = 0.5 ml). The chiral conditions and the LC optimisation were investigated in order to select the most appropriate operating conditions. The method developed has also been validated. Mean recoveries above of 95% for each enantiomer were obtained. Calibration curves for tramadol enantiomers (range 1-500 ng/ml), M1 enantiomers (range 0.5-100 ng/ml), and M2 enantiomers (range 0.5-250 ng/ml) were linear with coefficients of correlation better than 0.996. Within-day variation determined on four different concentrations showed acceptable values. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was determined to be less than 10%. This method was successfully used to investigate plasma concentration of enantiomers of tramadol, O-desmethyltramadol and N-desmethyltramadol in a pharmacokinetic study.

Therapeutic drug monitoring for sirolimus in whole blood of organ transplants by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

We developed and validated an accurate, sensitive, precise and rapid HPLC method with UV detection for the determination of sirolimus in blood samples from renal, cardiac and hepatic transplants. This method overcomes most of the problems related to previously published assays using a narrow-bore column with base deactivated C18 reversed phase. Whole blood samples were purified by a combination of a precipitating blood matrix with zinc sulphate and a single step liquid-liquid extraction with acetone and 1-chlorobutane. Calibration curves (range 2.5-150 ng/ml), were linear with coefficients of correlation better than 0.996. The relative standard deviation was determined to be less than 8%. The present method has also been validated by a reference laboratory (St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK). More of 300 clinical samples have been analysed with this method.

[Pharmacology of the antifungals used in the treatment of aspergillosis]. / Farmacología de los antifúngicos en el tratamiento de la aspergilosis.

The treatment of invasive aspergillosis requires the use of drugs that characteristically have complex pharmacokinetic properties, the knowledge of which is essential to achieve maximum efficacy with minimal risk to the patient. The lipid-based amphotericin B formulations vary significantly in their pharmacokinetic behaviour, with very high plasma concentrations of the liposomal form, probably related to the presence of cholesterol in their structure. Azoles have a variable absorption profile, particularly in the case of itraconazole and posaconazole, with the latter very dependent on multiple factors. This may also lead to variations in voriconazole, which requires considering the possibility of monitoring plasma concentrations. The aim of this article is to review some of the most relevant aspects of the pharmacology of the antifungals used in the prophylaxis and treatment of the Aspergillus infection. For this reason, it includes the most relevant features of some of the azoles normally prescribed in this infection (itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole) and the amphotericin B formulations.

Randomized pharmacokinetic study comparing subcutaneous and intravenous palonosetron in cancer patients treated with platinum based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Palonosetron is a potent second generation 5- hydroxytryptamine-3 selective antagonist which can be administered by either intravenous (IV) or oral routes, but subcutaneous (SC) administration of palonosetron has never been studied, even though it could have useful clinical applications. In this study, we evaluate the bioavailability of SC palonosetron. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive SC or IV palonosetron, followed by the alternative route in a crossover manner, during the first two cycles of chemotherapy. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 minutes and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 h after palonosetron administration. Urine was collected during 12 hours following palonosetron. We compared pharmacokinetic parameters including AUC0-24h, t1/2, and Cmax observed with each route of administration by analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: From October 2009 to July 2010, 25 evaluable patients were included. AUC0-24h for IV and SC palonosetron were respectively 14.1 and 12.7 ng × h/ml (p=0.160). Bioavalability of SC palonosetron was 118% (95% IC: 69-168). Cmax was lower with SC than with IV route and was reached 15 minutes following SC administration. CONCLUSIONS: Palonosetron bioavailability was similar when administered by either SC or IV route. This new route of administration might be specially useful for outpatient management of emesis and for administration of oral chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01046240.