Thyroid abnormalities in patients treated with lenalidomide for hematological malignancies: results of a retrospective case review.

Lenalidomide is an antiangiogenic drug associated with hypothyroidism. We describe a case-series of lenalidomide use in hematological cancers and the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities. We reviewed medical records of patients treated with lenalidomide at a single center form 2005 to 2010 and extracted demographic, clinical, and laboratory data. Of 170 patients with confirmed lenalidomide use (age 64.9 ± 15 years), 148 were treated for multiple myeloma and 6% had thyroid abnormalities attributable only to lenalidomide. In patients with a previous diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction, the addition of lenalidomide therapy was associated with a higher incidence of subsequent TFTF abnormality (17%) as compared to patients with no previous diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction (6%) (P=0.0001). Many patients (44%) with pre-existing disease and a change in thyroid function before or while on lenalidomide had no further follow-up of their thyroid abnormalities, Of 20 patients who did not undergo any thyroid function testing either before starting or while on lenalidomide for a median of 9.4 months (± 6.5), 35% developed new symptoms compatible with hypothyroidism, including worsened fating, constipation or cold intolerance. Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction overlap with side effects of lenalidomide. Thyroid hormone levels are not regularly evaluated in patients on lenalidomide. While on this treatment, thyroid abnormalities can occur in patients with no previous diagnoses and in patients with pre-existing abnormalities. Because symptoms of thyroid dysfunction could be alleviated by appropriate treatment, thyroid function should be evaluated during the course of lenalidomide to improve patients quality of life.

Clinical markers implying the need for treatment in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of the point-of-care hemoglobin A1c (POC A1C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and BMI with fetal macrosomia and the need for medication in women with gestational diabetes (GDM). METHODS: POC A1C, FBG, and BMI values at GDM diagnosis and fetal weight at delivery were obtained for women identified from a prospective patient registry. These outcomes were compared between women who did not require medication for GDM and women who did require medication. RESULTS: Mean values of POC A1C, FBG, and BMI in 67 patients who required medication were higher than those in 71 patients who did not require medication (POC A1C: 5.72 ± 0.45% vs 5.35 ± 0.46% [P<.001]; FBG: 97.4 ± 12.3 mg/dL vs 86.4 ± 9.5 mg/dL [P<.001]; BMI: 35.4 ± 6.4 kg/m2 vs 30.4 ± 6.2 kg/m(2) [P<.001]). There was a modest correlation between POC A1C and FBG (Spearman rho 0.4, P<.001) and between POC A1C and BMI (Spearman rho 0.366, P<.001). Maternal POC A1C was not correlated with fetal weight at delivery (Spearman rho -0.010, P = .915). CONCLUSIONS: Higher POC A1C, FBG, and BMI values were associated with the need for medication in women with GDM. The use of clinical markers to assess glycemic control sooner in pregnancy may lead to the earlier identification of women at risk for GDM and earlier intervention to decrease the risk for complications.

Type 2 diabetes risk forecasting from EMR data using machine learning.

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of using data collected in electronic medical records for development of effective models for diabetes risk forecasting. METHODS: Using available demographic, clinical and lab parameters of more than two thousand patients from Electronic medical records, we applied different machine learning algorithms to assess the risk of development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) six months to one year later. RESULTS: We achieved an AUC greater than 0.8 for predicting type 2 diabetes 365 days and 180 days prior to diagnosis of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Diabetes risk forecasting using data from EMR is innovative and has the potential to identify, automatically, high-risk populations for early intervention with life style modifications such as diet and exercise to prevent or delay the development of T2D. Our study shows that T2D risk forecasting from EMR data is feasible.

Orally delivered baclofen to control spastic hypertonia in acquired brain injury.

To determine if oral/systemic delivery of baclofen can effectively decrease spastic hypertonia due to acquired brain injury (traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxia, or encephalopathy). Tertiary care outpatient rehabilitation center directly attached to a university hospital. Patients were a convenience sample recruited consecutively who had been referred for treatment of their spastic hypertonia to our spasticity clinic over a 5-year period. The spastic hypertonia was due to an acquired brain injury by either traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, or anoxic brain injury. All patients were more than 6 months postinjury or illness. Retrospective review of patients before and after initiation of treatment with oral baclofen, per standardized clinical data sheets. Thirty-five patients (22 TBI patients) were started on oral baclofen and were reevaluated between 1 to 3 months after initiation of treatment. Data for motor tone (Ashworth scores), spasm scores (Penn spasm frequency score), and deep tendon reflex scores were collected on the affected upper extremity (UE) and lower extremity (LE) side(s). Normal extremities were not assessed. Differences over time were assessed via descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank. After 1 to 3 months of treatment when subjects had reached their maximal tolerated dosage, the average LE Ashworth score in the affected lower extremities (LEs) decreased from 3.5 to 3.2 (P =.0003), the reflex score decreased from 2.5 to 2.2 (P =.0274), and there was no statistical difference in the spasm score (P >.05). When the 22 TBI patients are analyzed separately, the average LE Ashworth score decreased from 3.5 to 3.2 (P =.0044) and the reflex score decreased from 2.7 to 2.0 (P =.0003). There was no statistically significant change in UE tone, spasm frequency, or reflexes after 1 to 3 months of treatment (P >.05). The average dosage at follow-up was 57 mg/day of baclofen (range 15-120 mg/day). There was a 17% incidence of somnolence that limited the maximum daily dosage of the medication. The oral delivery of baclofen is capable of reducing LE spastic hypertonia resulting from acquired brain injury. The lack of effect upon the upper extremities may be due to receptor specificity issues. GABA-B receptors may be less involved in the modulation of UE spastic hypertonia.