[Review of the stabitlity of photosensitive medications]. / Revisión de la estabilidad de los medicamentos fotosensibles.

OBJECTIVES: Identify the photosensitive drugs included in the hospital pharmacotherapeutic guide and search for stability data on the storage, reconstitution, and dilution of these compounds. METHODS: The data were obtained by referencing technical specifications, information provided by drug laboratories, and in some cases, we performed a more extensive bibliographic search (tertiary sources and conference lectures) for each particular medication. We also performed a data search on the PubMed information database (from 2004 to 2009). The drugs were placed in alphabetical order by brand since the stability of each drug when exposed to light does not depend exclusively on the primary active ingredient. Eight columns describe the principal characteristics of the drugs: brand name, active ingredient, laboratory, storage, reconstitution and dilution conditions, observations, and references. RESULTS: The listing was comprised of 139 photosensitive medicines, of the 1,954 included in the pharmacotherapeutical guide (table 1). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of studies published on the stability of photosensitive medications provided the need for an internal review at our hospital. It is important for drug-producing laboratories to perform photo-sensitivity tests on their products, with the results presented in the technical specifications in order to provide more accessible and reliable information. We believe that this should be required by law.

[Observational retrospective study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment schemes with bortezomib for multiple myeloma in our hospital]. / Estudio observacional restrospectivo para evaluar la efectividad y seguridad de esquemas de tratamiento con bortezomib para el mieloma múltiple en nuestro hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse therapeutic regimens including bortezomib used in our centre for the treatment of multiple myeloma, to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in clinical practice in our hospital, and to assess the appropriateness of the indications described in guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the period between January 2008 and December 2009 (24 months) that received treatment with a regimen including bortezomib. We analysed demographic variables (age, sex), disease characteristics (type of multiple myeloma, stage, and clinical cytogenetic abnormalities), concomitant drugs, response, and side effects of the regimen including bortezomib. RESULTS: We included 59 patients who were diagnosed with multiple myeloma (25 males and 34 females) with an average age of 63 years (range 30-82 years). The overall response rate for patients who received first-line regimens with bortezomib ranged between 69% (vincristine, carmustine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan and prednisone/vincristine, carmustine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone plus bortezomib) and 82% (bortezomib, melphalan and oral prednisone). When we analysed the salvage treatment regimens: Bortezomib-Dexamethasone, Bortezomib-Cyclophosphamide-Dexamethasone and bortezomib, doxorubicin, melphalan alternating with thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone achieved overall response rates of 72%, 77% and 89%, respectively. Adverse reactions to bortezomib or a treatment regimen that included it occurred in 32 (54%) patients, highlighting neurotoxicity in 19 patients (32%) and gastrointestinal toxicity in 12 (20%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show the important role of bortezomib in the treatment of multiple myeloma, with response rates and side effects comparable to published data, although the conditions for using it in clinical practice are not yet recognized in the guidelines for use.

[Possible denosumab-induced jaw osteonecrosis in the treatment of osteoporosis. A case report]. / Posible osteonecrosis mandibular inducida por denosumab en el tratamiento de la osteoporosis. A propósito de un caso.

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