ABSTRACT
The FDA has approved brexanolone specifically for treatment of adults with postpartum depression (PPD). Administered I.V., it can relieve severe signs and symptoms of PPD within days rather than weeks. This article discusses the benefits and risks of brexanolone as a treatment for PPD, including nursing considerations and patient teaching.
Subject(s)
Depression, Postpartum/drug therapy , Depression, Postpartum/nursing , Pregnanolone/therapeutic use , beta-Cyclodextrins/therapeutic use , Adult , Drug Approval , Drug Combinations , Female , Humans , Patient Education as Topic , Pregnanolone/adverse effects , Risk Assessment , United States , United States Food and Drug Administration , beta-Cyclodextrins/adverse effectsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe longitudinal retinal fluid dynamics on spectral domain OCT and to identify imaging biomarkers that predict the worsening of DME with interval extension during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. DESIGN: A post hoc sub-analysis of phase III, VISTA-DME study. METHODS: Eyes received either intravitreal aflibercept injection 2 mg every 4 weeks (2q4) or every 8 weeks after 5 initial monthly injections (2q8), and eyes imaged with the Cirrus HD-OCT system were included. The macular cube was analyzed for 10 time-points from baseline through week 100. Retinal OCT images were evaluated using a novel software platform to extract retinal fluid features for calculation of volumetric fluid parameters, including the retinal fluid index (RFI): the percentage of retinal volume that was occupied by intraretinal fluid. RESULTS: Fifty-five eyes were included in the 2q4 group, and 58 eyes were included in the 2q8 group. Early RFI volatility with a central macular RFI increase by ≥5 points from week 4 to 8 (P = .004, odds ratio [OR] 31.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0 to 329) and cumulative RFI volatility with an aggregate increase in macular RFI by ≥10 points from those timepoints with increased RFI between baseline to week 20, P = .005, OR 10.2, 95% CI 2.1 to 51.3) were both significant predictors for the worsening of DME and visual acuity when the treatment interval was extended to 8 weeks in the 2q8 group. CONCLUSIONS: Early fluid dynamics as measured by (1) early RFI volatility and (2) cumulative RFI instability with aggregate increased RFI were associated with intolerance of interval extension.