ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Trastuzumab emtansine is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 use in recurrent metastatic breast cancer. Cases of trastuzumab emtansine-induced nodular regenerative hyperplasia are often reported as overt noncirrhotic portal hypertension with ascites and variceal bleeding. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 61-year-old woman who present multiple stellate angiomas with gradual increased liver transaminases and reduced platelet count during a 27-months course on trastuzumab emtansine therapy for recurrent metastatic breast cancer. After the nodular regenerative hyperplasia was histologically confirmed, the trastuzumab emtansine was stopped. After two months, trastuzumab was restarted together with exemestane. During trastuzumab therapy, the patient had a normalization of liver transaminases, platelet count and a gradual improvement of her stellate angiomas. Trastuzumab was continued for 15 months without any reoccurrence of nodular regenerative hyperplasia. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Nodular regenerative hyperplasia should be suspected after one year of trastuzumab emtansine treatment in patients with signs of portal hypertension without cirrhosis. Definitive cessation of trastuzumab emtansine is required after a diagnosis of nodular regenerative hyperplasia and complete resolution of symptoms generally takes several months. DISCUSSION: Based on fundamental studies, nodular regenerative hyperplasia is probably caused by the emtansine (DM1) part of the trastuzumab emtansine. It is still unclear if trastuzumab therapy can be reintroduced after nodular regenerative hyperplasia induced by trastuzumab emtansine, depriving the patient of a HER2-targeted therapy. Only one case reported having given trastuzumab in this situation over one month. In our case, trastuzumab was reintroduced without any complications for a long extent following TDM1-associated nodular regenerative hyperplasia.
Subject(s)
Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine/adverse effects , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Hyperplasia/chemically induced , Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Esophageal and Gastric Varices/chemically induced , Female , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Humans , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The pharmacist's role within the multidisciplinary team is often poorly understood. Various interventions can be put into place to promote the role of the pharmacist in the hospital setting with families, patients, and other health care professionals. Few studies have described the feasibility and assessed the impact of such interventions, particularly in pediatrics. OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation of a 3-part intervention aimed at increasing the visibility of pharmacists and their role on the treatment team, with the goal of optimizing the pharmaceutical care of hospitalized patients in the general pediatric units of CHU Sainte-Justine, in Montréal, Quebec, and to compare the perceptions and satisfaction of patients' parents and of health care professionals with exposure to either usual pharmaceutical care or to pharmaceutical care incorporating the intervention. METHODS: This single-blind, randomized, controlled experimental study involved patients admitted to general pediatric units between March 5 and August 8, 2019. In addition to usual care, the intervention included delivery of an information brochure about pharmaceutical services and care, access to a telephone line (which allowed families and patients to contact a pharmacy resident during their stay in hospital and up to 1 month after discharge), and completion of a standardized discharge form by the pharmacist responsible for the patient. The participants and health professionals concerned were surveyed to determine their perceptions and level of satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 641 participants were included in the study, 321 in the intervention group and 320 in the control group. The brochure was given to all parents in the intervention group. Twelve phone calls were made through the dedicated telephone line. The standardized discharge form was completed for 46.7% (150/321) of the participants in the intervention group. Most of the parents and patients who responded to the survey, in either group (81.2%, 298/367), reported satisfaction with the pharmaceutical services and care received. Of participants in the intervention group, 83.9% were satisfied with the pharmaceutical care and services received, compared with 78.5% of those in the control group (p = 0.18). In addition, 60.3% (111/184) of participants in the intervention group said that the information about medications that was provided during the hospital stay gave them new knowledge, compared with 48.1% (87/181) of those in the control group (p = 0.019). The results of the survey showed that care providers were in agreement with the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The 3 components of the intervention were implemented in the pediatric units over a period of 5 months. The intervention was perceived as positive by the parents and care providers concerned, and the respondents were mostly satisfied with the services and pharmaceutical care offered.