Safety and efficacy of personalized versus standard initial dosing of thiopurines: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: Pretherapy assessment of specific genetic polymorphism (TPMT, NUDT15, FTO, RUNX1, etc) or enzyme levels (for TPMT) may help personalize the dose of thiopurines and avoid adverse effects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing personalized versus standard strategy for initial thiopurine dosing was performed. The electronic databases were searched on 27 September 2022. The outcomes were overall adverse effects, myelotoxicity, drug interruptions, and therapeutic efficacy with either strategy. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE methodology. RESULTS: We included six randomized trials, done dominantly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The personalized strategies were genotype testing in 4 trials (TPMT in three trials, NUDT15 in two) and enzyme levels for TPMT in two trials. The pooled risk of myelotoxicity in personalized dosing was lower [RR = 0.72 (95%CI, 0.55-0.94, I2 = 0%)]. The pooled risk of pancreatitis (RR = 1.10I, 0.78-1.56, I2 = 0%), hepatotoxicity (RR = 1.13, 0.69-1.88, I2 = 45), and GI intolerance (RR = 1.01, 0.92-1.10, I2 = 0) were similar in two groups. The pooled risk of drug interruption in individualized dosing was similar to the standard dosing group (RR = 0.97, I2 = 68%). CONCLUSION: Personalized testing-based initial thiopurine dosing is protective against myelotoxicity as compared to standard weight-based dosing.

A lumpy bumpy stomach: The more the murkier.

This report describes the radiological and endoscopic findings in a 54-year-old male who presented with epigastric pain. The patient underwent an upper gastrointestinal (GI) barium study followed by axial imaging, which demonstrated nodular gastric wall thickening. The classic findings of aggressive primary gastric diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma are presented with a brief review differentiating the pathological subtypes, important for patient prognostication and planning of therapy.

Robotic Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy for Corrosive-Induced Esophageal Stricture.

Corrosive-induced stricture of the esophagus is associated with long-standing morbidity. Though required in particular situations, esophagectomy circumvents the long-term complications of the remnant scarred native esophagus. We performed a robotic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for corrosive esophageal stricture and demonstrated its feasibility for the same. A young male patient presented with a history of caustic ingestion, leading to a long segment stricture in the lower third of the esophagus. He developed absolute dysphagia, which was refractory to endoscopic dilatation. A robotic approach was utilized to create a gastric conduit followed by intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis. He had a smooth postprocedure course, was discharged on a soft diet on the seventh postoperative day, and is doing well after six months of follow-up. The robotic Ivor-Lewis approach can be safely performed for corrosive esophageal stricture, akin to esophageal malignancy. Besides the comfort of performing the procedure, especially intra-thoracic anastomosis, it helps alleviate the chances of mucocele formation and sequelae of cervical neck anastomosis.