Cannabis medicinal: riesgos relacionados con la indicación previa a su aprobación / Medical cannabis: Risks related to its indication prior to approval

En los últimos años, se ha observado un incremento significativo en el interés por la prescripción del cannabis medicinal. En el siguiente artículo, se informa acerca de la escasa base científica que avala la prescripción de estos compuestos en un listado amplio y diverso de patologías médicas. Se considera fundamental que cualquier sustancia que vaya a ser utilizada en humanos siga un protocolo de aprobación estricto y científico, que pueda desligarse de modas o de resultados individuales. Es necesario que, antes de la prescripción de una droga en personas, deba tenerse un panorama claro de cuáles son los usos del compuesto en cuestión, pero, sobre todo, de su seguridad, que es prácticamente desconocida en el cannabis medicinal.

In recent years, the interest in medical cannabis prescription has increased significantly. This article provides information about the little scientific basis supporting the prescription of these products for a wide and diverse range of medical conditions. It is critical for any substance to be used in human beings to follow a strict scientific approval protocol, detached from any trend or individual outcome. Before prescribing any drug to human beings, it is necessary to have a clear picture of its uses, especially its safety, which is practically unknown in the case of medical cannabis.

Seguridad y efecto del uso compasivo del anticuerpo monoclonal anti-CD20 CIMABior® / Safety and response to treatment of compassionate use of an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody CIMABior®

Introducción: el uso de anticuerpos monoclonales transformó el tratamiento de los linfomas no hodgkinianos. El Centro de Inmunología Molecular generó un anticuerpo anti-CD20 (CIMABior®) biosimilar del rituximab, que se ha caracterizado desde el punto de vista biológico, pero la seguridad y eficacia aún están en estudio. Objetivo: evaluar la seguridad y la respuesta al tratamiento con CIMABior ®, en pacientes con síndromes linfoproliferativos de células B tratados con intención compasiva. Métodos: estudio multicéntrico, exploratorio, con dos grupos de tratamiento (monoterapia o combinado con quimioterapia) no controlado, ni aleatorizado. Se incluyeron adultos con linfomas no hodgkinianos y leucemia linfocítica crónica, no elegibles para el ensayo clínico en ejecución con este producto. Se determinó la frecuencia de eventos adversos y se caracterizaron. La respuesta al tratamiento se definió como: remisión completa, remisión parcial, enfermedad estable o en progresión. Se calculó la tasa de respuesta objetiva (remisión completa más remisión parcial) con el intervalo de confianza al 95 por ciento, se evaluó la relación de algunas variables con la respuesta y se estimó la razón de Odss. Como medida de balance beneficio-riesgo se estimó el factor de Bayes. Resultados: los eventos adversos más frecuentes fueron: temblor (12,8 por ciento) y fiebre (10,3 por ciento). Los relacionados con el producto (43,4 por ciento) fueron leves o moderados y evolucionaron hacia la recuperación. No se informó muerte asociada directamente al tratamiento. Se constató respuesta objetiva global de 71,2 por ciento (59,6 por ciento de remisiones completas y 11,5 por ciento, parciales). La respuesta objetiva en el grupo de monoterapia fue de 66,7 por ciento y de 73,0 por ciento en el grupo de CIMABior® más quimioterapia, con remisiones completas de 46,7 por ciento y 64,9 por ciento, respectivamente. Conclusiones: el AcM CIMABior® es seguro, bien tolerado y se demostraron evidencias de efecto. El tratamiento aportó un beneficio clínico superior al riesgo de desarrollar algún evento adverso grave(AU)

Introduction : The use of monoclonal antibodies transformed the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The Center of Molecular Immunology created an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (CIMABior®), biosimilar of rituximab, which has been characterized from a biological point of view, but the safety and effectiveness are still being studied. Objective: Evaluate the safety and response to treatment, in patients with B-cell malignancies with compassionate use of CIMABior®. Methods : A multicenter, exploratory, non-controlled, non-randomized study was conducted with two variants of treatments (monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy). Adults with non-Hodgkin lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia not eligible for clinical trial with this product were included. Frequency of adverse events was calculated and those were characterized. The response to treatment was defined as: complete response, partial response, stable disease or progressive disease. Overall response rate (complete plus partial remission) was calculated with 95 percent confidence interval. The relation of some variables with response was estimated per Odss ratio. As a measure of the benefit-risk balance, the Bayes factor was estimated. Results : The more frequent adverse events were: tremors (12.8 percent) and fever (10.3 percent). Those related to the product (43.4 percent) were minor and evolved to recovery. There were no deaths in reference to the treatment. An overall response of 71.2 percent was confirmed (59.6 percent complete remissions and 11.5 percent partial remission). The monotherapy group objective response was 66.7 percent and 73.0 percent in the CIMABior® plus chemotherapy group, with complete remissions of 46.7 percent and 64.9 percent respectively. Conclusions: The monoclonal antibodies CIMABor® is safe, well tolerated and evidences of its effectiveness was demonstrated. The treatment provided a superior clinical benefit to the risk of developing a severe adverse event(AU)

Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir in Mono-and HIV-coinfected Patients with Recurrent Hepatitis C After Liver Transplant

Abstract: Background and aims. Pegylated interferon (Peg-INF) and ribavirin (RBV) based therapy is suboptimal and poorly tolerated. We evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a 24-week course of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir without ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in both HCV-monoinfected and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV coinfected patients. Material and methods. We retrospectively evaluated 22 consecutive adult LT recipients (16 monoinfected and 6 coinfected with HIV) who received a 24-week course of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir treatment under an international compassionate access program. Results. Most patients were male (86%), with a median age of 58 years (r:58-81y). Median time from LT to treatment onset was 70 months (r: 20-116 m). HCV genotype 1b was the most frequent (45%), 55% had not responded to previous treatment with Peg-INF and RBV and 14% to regiments including first generation protease inhibitors. Fifty-six percent of the patients had histologically proven cirrhosis and 6 had ascites at baseline. All patients completed the 24-week treatment course without significant side effects except for one episode of severe bradicardya, with only minor adjustments in immunosuppressive treatment in some cases. Viral suppression was very rapid with undetectable HCV-RNA in all patients at 12 weeks. All 22 patients achieved a sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment completion. Conclusion. The combination of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir without ribavirin is a safe and effective treatment of HCV recurrence after LT in both monoinfected and HIV-coinfected patients, including those with decompensated cirrhosis.

Intestinal Hypoganglionosis Leading to Intestinal Failure and the Compassionate Use of Omegaven™ / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Intestinal hypoganglionosis is a rare innervation disorder that provides numerous nutritional, medical and surgical challenges. In this case report, we present a case of a newborn with intestinal hypoganglionosis leading to intestinal failure and intestinal failure-associated liver disease who responded to Omegaven™, a fat emulsion comprised of omega-3 fatty acids. Omegaven™ has been shown to be beneficial in the management of cholestatic liver injury. Clinical success with Omegaven™ was seen in this patient with a clear decrease in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and complete resolution of cholestasis with a direct bilirubin of zero within two weeks of initiation of Omegaven™. No current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypoganglionosis are available. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach and the use of novel therapies such as fat emulsions composed of omega-3 fatty acids for improved patient outcomes. Appropriate compassionate use protocols should be obtained from the Food and Drug Administration prior to initiation of Omegaven™.

Response to sorafenib treatment in advanced metastatic thyroid cancer / Resposta ao tratamento com sorafenibe em pacientes com carcinoma metastático de tireoide

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of sorafenib in progressive radioiodine resistant metastatic thyroid carcinoma.Subjects and methods: Off-label observational study. Sorafenib 400 mg twice daily was evaluated. Therapy duration was 12 ± 3 months (range 6-16 months).Results: Eight patients were included (seven papillary, one insular variant). The eight patients meeting study criteria received sorafenib 400 mg orally twice a day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity developed. One patient showed a partial response with tumor regression of -35%, six months after the beginning of the treatment; five patients exhibited stable disease and two patients had progressive disease and died. Thyroglobulin decreased within 4 weeks in all patients by 50% ± 23%.Adverse events: one patient had heart failure, and recovered after sorafenib withdrawal. However, she died five months later of sudden death.Conclusion: These data suggest a possible role for sorafenib in the treatment of progressive metastatic DTC. Adverse event are usually manageable, but severe ones may appear and these patients should be strictly controlled.

Objetivo: Investigar a eficácia do sorafenibe no carcinoma de tireoide metastático progressivo e refratário à iodoterapia.Sujeitos e métodos: Estudo observacional do efeito do sorafenibe off-label administrado 400 mg duas vezes ao dia. A duração da terapia foi de 12 ± 3 meses (variação de 6-16 meses).Resultados: Oito pacientes foram incluídos (sete com variante papilífera e um com variante insular). Os oito pacientes que preencheram os critérios do estudo receberam o sorafenibe 400 mg por via oral duas vezes por dia até progressão da doença ou toxicidade inaceitável. Um paciente apresentou uma resposta parcial com regressão tumoral da lesão alvo de 35% seis meses após o início do tratamento; cinco pacientes apresentaram doença estável e dois pacientes progrediram e morreram. A tireoglobulina diminuiu 50% ± 23% em 4 semanas em todos os pacientes.Eventos adversos: um paciente teve insuficiência cardíaca e morreu por morte súbita cinco meses após a retirada do sorafenibe.Conclusão: Esses dados sugerem um possível papel para sorafenibe para o tratamento do CDT metastático progressivo.

Experiencia con el uso compasivo de tigeciclina en pacientes pediátricos infectados por Klebsiella pneumoniae productora de carbapenemasas / Experience with tigecycline compassionate use in pediatric patients infected with carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Introduction: Infections produced by multidrug-resistant pathogens represent a therapeutic challenge because of the few therapeutic options available. Tigecycline is a relatively new antibiotic, with a wide spectrum of activity including some of these resistant bacteria. In adults is prescribed for the treatment of some infections caused by carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae, however it has not been approved in children because of potential adverse effects in the dental enamel. Materials and Methods: Case series study. Medical records were reviewed in all children from 0 to 14 years of age that received tigecycline between January of 2008 and March of 2010. Results: 9 patients received Tigecycline mainly for treatment of peritonitis, bacteremia, pneumonia and sepsis caused by carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae. A dose of 1 mg/kg q 12 hours was administered to all patients. No adverse events were reported and a total of 6 patients had complete resolution of the infection. Conclusions: Tigecycline could be considered a therapeutic option for treating infections produced by multidrug-resistant pathogens in children. The use in children is still compassionate and in this serie of cases Tigecycline was well tolerated and safe.

Introducción: Las infecciones causadas por bacterias multi-resistentes son difíciles de tratar debido a las pocas opciones terapéuticas disponibles. Tigeciclina es un antimicrobiano relativamente nuevo que tiene un amplio espectro de acción, incluyendo algunas de estas bacterias. En adultos se utiliza para el tratamiento de algunas infecciones producidas por Klebsiella pneumoniae productora de carbapenemasas (Kpn KPC). Sin embargo, por pertenecer al grupo de las tetraciclinas, su uso no ha sido aprobado en niños temiendo los posibles efectos adversos sobre el esmalte dental. Material y Métodos: Estudio de serie de casos. Se realizó una revisión de las historias clínicas de todos los niños de 0 a 14 años que recibieron tigeciclina en forma compasiva entre enero de 2008 y marzo de 2010. Resultados: 9 pacientes recibieron tigeciclina para tratamiento de peritonitis, bacteriemia, neumonía y sepsis por Kpn KPC. La dosis utilizada fue de 1 mg/kg/dosis cada 12 horas. No se encontraron efectos adversos importantes. La infección se consideró curada en 6 pacientes. Conclusiones: Tigeciclina puede ser considerada como una alternativa en el tratamiento de infecciones por bacterias multi-resistentes en niños. Su uso en la edad pediátrica sigue siendo compasivo y en esta serie de casos fue seguro.

Quantitative Assessment of Philadelphia Chromosome Using Interphase/Hypermetaphase FISH and Toxicity after STI571 Treatment in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is the first proven disease in which gene abnormality, t(9;22)(q34;q11) can cause the disease to occur in humans. Recently, targeted therapy with STI571 (GleevecTM), signal transduction inhibitor for BCR-ABL kinase was developed and can induce cytogenetic remission in patients with CML. Hypermetaphase-FISH (HMF)/Interphase-FISH (I-FISH, Fluorescence in situ hybridization) aiming specific chromosomal abnormalities are unambiguous quantitative molecular genetic methods for individual Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome positive cells. We evaluated the change of Ph1 chromosome in CML patients during STI571 therapy using HMF/I- FISH. METHODS: Twenty one patients with CML were treated with STI571 which was provided from Norvatis pharmaceutical company as Expanded Access Program for Compassionate Use from May 2001 at the doses of 200-600 mg/day orally. Median age of this cohort was 37 years old and median follow up duration was 113 days (48~165 days). HMF or I-FISH using bone marrow or peripheral blood were performed on the sample at baseline, day 14, day 28 and then monthly. RESULTS: Complete cytogenetic responses which were assessed by HMF/I-FISH counting several hundreds cells were found in 8 of 21 patients. Among them, 4 of 10 chronic phase, 2 of 2 accelerate phase and 2 of 8 blastic crisis patients achieved cytogenetic complete response. One patient with blastic crisis was relapsed after achieving cytogenetic complete response. Grade III-IV thrombocytopenia and neutropenia were noticed in 8 and in 7 patients respectively, but there were no major bleeding episodes nor neutropenic fever. CONCLUSION: BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, STI571 was tolerable for patients with CML. The majority of patients achieved hematologic remission and 8 out of 21 patients achieved complete cytogenetic response regardless of their disease stage. Cytogenetic response of Ph1 chromosome can be quantified accurately with HMF/I-FISH.