Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Pure Red Cell Aplasia: A Review of 2 Cases in Metastatic Melanoma.

BACKGROUND Immunotherapy is a novel treatment offering an alternative to traditional chemotherapeutic agents for different malignancies. Hematologic adverse reactions (HARs) related to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are uncommon. Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare hematologic complication of ICI therapy in metastatic melanoma with significant mortality risk despite treatment with steroids or immunosuppressive therapy. For unexplained acute anemia after exclusion of other causes, performing bone marrow biopsy is imperative to diagnose PRCA and rule out involvement of bone marrow by primary tumor. HARs can occur during ICI therapy or even after ICI therapy is stopped. ICI rechallenge, even after the development of HARs, is considered in some patients with good response to treatment of HARs from ICIs. Recurrence of HARs with the same or different type of reaction is seen in some patients. CASE REPORT Two cases of ICI-induced PRCA were confirmed on bone marrow biopsy after dual ICI treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab in metastatic melanoma. In case 2, PRCA was successfully treated with steroids and later rechallenged with single-agent nivolumab, causing mild ICI-induced immune thrombocytopenia, which did not require treatment with steroids. CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to increase clinician awareness of the possibility of PRCA development not only during treatment with ICI but also after finishing treatment with ICI; there is high mortality associated with missing an opportunity to diagnose and treat PRCA on time with favorable results. ICI rechallenge can be considered in patients who showed response to immunotherapy, especially those with limited alternative therapeutic options.

Adherencia al tratamiento anticoagulante oral por fibrilación auricular no valvular en personas mayores de 65 años / Adherence to oral anticoagulation in non-valvular atrial fibrillation in patients over 65 years

Resumen Introducción: la fibrilación auricular no valvular es la arritmia cardiaca más frecuente en las personas mayores que se ha relacionado con diferentes desenlaces adversos, como el ataque cerebrovascular, el cual en el 80% de los casos se puede prevenir con anticoagulantes orales, beneficio que está condicionado por una adecuada adherencia terapéutica. Objetivo: determinar la adherencia al tratamiento anticoagulante en pacientes mayores de 65 años con fibrilación auricular no valvular y factores asociados. Método: estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal, realizado en la clínica de anticoagulación de la Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, en el que se evaluó la adherencia terapéutica por la escala de Morisky 8 en 102 pacientes, con un promedio de edad de 76 años. Se analizaron variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, síndromes geriátricos y relacionadas con el sistema de salud, luego se realizó un análisis bivariado. Se aceptó como significancia estadística un valor de p < 0.05. Resultados: se encontró adherencia farmacológica baja en el 42,1%; el olvido en la toma de su medicamento (50%) fue el factor más frecuente. Aspectos relacionados con el sistema de salud, como la inconformidad con el despacho del medicamento anticoagulante (OR: 2,97; IC 95%: 1.1-8.2; p = 0,02) y el despacho inoportuno (OR: 5.85; IC 95%: 1.5-32.8; p = 0,005) fueron variables asociadas a baja adherencia terapéutica. La toma de antiagregantes plaquetarios (p = 0,04) y la polifarmacia (p = 0,04) se asociaron con adherencia farmacológica moderada y alta. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de baja adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico es significativa. Es necesario conocer algunos aspectos del sistema de salud que limitan la adherencia dado que impactan en la efectividad de los anticoagulantes orales en población mayor.

Abstract Introduction: non-valvular atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly and has been related to different adverse outcomes such as stroke, which in 80% of cases can be prevented with oral anticoagulants, a benefit that is conditioned by an adequate therapeutic adherence. Objective: to determine adherence to anticoagulant treatment in patients older than 65 years with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and associated factors. Methodology: cross-sectional analytical observational study conducted at the FOSCAL anticoagulation clinic. Therapeutic adherence was evaluated using the Morisky 8 scale in 102 patients, with an average age of 76 years. Sociodemographic, clinical, geriatric syndrome and health system-related variables were analyzed, then a bivariate analysis was performed. A value of p < 0.05 was accepted as statistical significance. Results: Low pharmacological adherence was found in 42.1%, whose main cause was forgetting to take their medication (50%), likewise, the variables associated with the health system with low adherence were disagreement with the dispatch of the anticoagulant medication (OR: 2.97; 95% CI: 1.1-8.2; p = 0,02) and untimely dispatch (OR: 5.85; CI 95% 1.5-32.8; p = 0,005). Taking antiplatelet agents (p = 0.04) and the presence of polypharmacy (p = 0.04) were associated with moderate and high pharmacological adherence. Conclusions: the prevalence of low adherence to pharmacological treatment is significant. It is necessary to know some aspects of the health system that limit adherence since they impact the effectiveness of oral antiocogulants in the elderly population.

Enfermedades autoinmunes en población geriátrica en un Hospital Universitario de Santander / Autoimmune diseases in geriatric population at a University Hospital of Santander

Introducción y Objetivo: La enfermedades autoinmunes están relacionadas con alteraciones en la inmunidad que se presentan con mayor frecuencia en población joven, no existe evidencia clara sobre las enfermedades autoinmunes en los adultos mayores, debido a que prevalecen otras enfermedades que pudieran estar relacionadas con el proceso de envejecimiento. Nuestro objetivo es realizar una descripción de las enfermedades autoinmunes en pacientes geriátricos del Hospital Universitario de Santander, Colombia.