Anti-interleukin-17 therapies for moderate/severe psoriasis in clinical practice: effectiveness, safety and association with clinical patient factors.

OBJECTIVES: Interleukin-17 (IL-17) contributes to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Secukinumab, ixekizumab, and brodalumab are monoclonal antibodies anti-IL-17 antibodies, approved for the treatment of moderate/severe plaque psoriasis.The aim of the study was to describe the effectiveness and safety of anti-IL-17 agents in moderate/severe plaque psoriasis in clinical practice. We also analysed anti-IL-17 therapies' survival, dose adjustment, and clinical patients' factors associated with their effectiveness and safety. METHODS: A retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted at a tertiary hospital. We included patients with moderate/severe psoriasis treated with anti-IL-17 agents. The effectiveness was evaluated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and safety through the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) collected. RESULTS: 38 patients were studied (median age=47.4 years, 71.0% male). The mean number of biological therapies that patients received was 2.6, and anti-IL-17 therapy was the first biological therapy for 36.8% of patients. The median years in treatment were 2.5 (95% CI 1.95 to 2.98) for secukinumab, 1.2 (95% CI 0.36 to 1.47) for ixekizumab, and 0.7 (IQR 0.71) for brodalumab. The median PASI score after 6 months of treatment was 0 (IQR 0) and 85.3% of patients achieved a PASI of 90 (84.0% with secukinumab, 87.5% with ixekizumab, and 100% with brodalumab). Dose adjustment was associated with the line of treatment (p=0.034 for naïve patients), age (p=0.044 for younger patients), and concomitant pathologies (p=0.015 without more diseases).24 patients suffered from ADRs, mainly infections of the upper respiratory tract, and there were no statistically significant differences between the three therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-IL-17 agents constitute an effective treatment for patients with moderate/severe plaque psoriasis and for longer. Dose reductions were associated with fewer lines of treatment, younger patients and absence of concomitant pathologies. ADR were minor and similar among the anti-IL-17.

[Translated article] Biological and immunosuppressive medications in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility in immune mediated diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to gather the available evidence on the different drugs used in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in pregnancy, lactation, their influence on female and male fertility, advice on discontinuation before conception and to help in routine clinical practice for better patient advice on family planning. METHODS: A bibliographic search was carried out, where published articles (review studies, observational studies and case series) in English or Spanish until April 2020 that analyzed the management of pregnancy, lactation and/or fertility in patients on treatment in immune-mediated diseases were selected. RESULTS: A total of 95 references were selected and the information on each drug was synthesized in tables. Drugs contraindicated in pregnancy are topical retinoids, pimecrolimus, cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide, acitretin, and thiopurines. The lack of data advises against the use of apremilast, tofacitinib, baricitinib, anakinra, abatacept, tocilizumab and the new biologicals. Topical salicylates, paracetamol, ultraviolet therapy and hydroxychloroquine treatment are safe, and anti-TNF biological therapy are considered low risk, with certolizumab being the drug of choice throughout pregnancy and lactation. Most are compatible with paternal exposure except for sulfasalazine, mycophenolate and leflunomide, for which suspension of treatment prior to conception is recommended, and cyclosporine with dose requirements of less than 2 mg/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS: In this context of chronic treatments with teratogenic potential, it is necessary to highlight the importance of pregnancy planning to select the safest drug. Given the quality of the available data, it is still necessary to continuously update the information, as well as to promote observational studies of cohorts of pregnant patients and men of childbearing age, including prospective studies, in order to generate more scientific evidence.

Biological and immunosuppressive medications in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility in immune mediated diseases. / Medicamentos inmunosupresores y biológicos en el embarazo, la lactancia y la fertilidad en enfermedades inmunomediadas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to gather the available evidence on the different drugs used in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in pregnancy, lactation, their influence on female and male fertility, advice on discontinuation before conception and to help in routine clinical practice for better patient advice on family planning. METHODS: A bibliographic search was carried out, where published articles (review studies, observational studies and case series) in English or Spanish until April 2020 that analyzed the management of pregnancy, lactation and/or fertility in patients on treatment in immune-mediated diseases were selected. RESULTS: A total of 95 references were selected and the information on each drug was synthesized in tables. Drugs contraindicated in pregnancy are topical retinoids, pimecrolimus, cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide, acitretin, and thiopurines. The lack of data advises against the use of apremilast, tofacitinib, baricitinib, anakinra, abatacept, tocilizumab and the new biologicals. Topical salicylates, paracetamol, ultraviolet therapy and hydroxychloroquine treatment are safe, and anti-TNF biological therapy are considered low risk, with certolizumab being the drug of choice throughout pregnancy and lactation. Most are compatible with paternal exposure except for sulfasalazine, mycophenolate and leflunomide, for which suspension of treatment prior to conception is recommended, and cyclosporine with dose requirements of less than 2mg/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS: In this context of chronic treatments with teratogenic potential, it is necessary to highlight the importance of pregnancy planning to select the safest drug. Given the quality of the available data, it is still necessary to continuously update the information, as well as to promote observational studies of cohorts of pregnant patients and men of childbearing age, including prospective studies, in order to generate more scientific evidence.

Medicamentos inmunosupresores y biológicos en el embarazo, la lactancia y la fertilidad en enfermedades inmunomediadas / Biological and immunosuppressive medications in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility in immune mediated diseases

Objetivo: El objetivo de esta revisión es reunir la evidencia disponible de los diferentes medicamentos utilizados en las enfermedades inflamatorias inmunomediadas en la gestación y lactancia, su influencia en la fertilidad femenina y masculina, consejos sobre su suspensión antes de la concepción y servir de ayuda en la práctica clínica habitual para un mejor consejo al paciente en la planificación familiar.Métodose realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica, donde se seleccionaron los artículos publicados (estudios de revisión, observacionales y series de casos) en lengua inglesa o española hasta abril de 2020 que analizaban el manejo del embarazo, la lactancia y/o la fertilidad en pacientes con tratamientos utilizados en las enfermedades inflamatorias inmunomediadas de dermatología, reumatología y digestivas.Resultadosse seleccionaron un total de 95 referencias y se sintetizó la información de cada medicamento en tablas. Los fármacos contraindicados en el embarazo son los retinoides tópicos, pimecrolimus, inhibidores de la ciclooxigenasa 2, metotrexato, micofenolato de mofetilo, leflunomida, acitretina y tiopurinas. La falta de datos desaconseja el uso de apremilast, tofacitinib, baricitinib, anakinra, abatacept, tocilizumab y los nuevos biológicos. Mientras que son seguros los salicilatos y los emolientes tópicos, el paracetamol, la terapia ultravioleta, la hidroxicloroquina y en la terapia biológica los anti-TNF se consideran de bajo riesgo, siendo el certolizumab el de elección durante todo el embarazo y la lactancia. La mayoría son compatibles con la exposición paterna, excepto algunos como la sulfasalazina, micofenolato y leflunomida, que se recomienda la suspensión del tratamiento previa a la concepción, y la ciclosporina con requerimientos de dosis inferiores a 2 mg/kg/día. (AU)

Objective: The objective of this review is to gather the available evidence on the different drugs used in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in pregnancy, lactation, their influence on female and male fertility, advice on discontinuation before conception and to help in routine clinical practice for better patient advice on family planning.MethodsA bibliographic search was carried out, where published articles (review studies, observational studies and case series) in English or Spanish until April 2020 that analyzed the management of pregnancy, lactation and/or fertility in patients on treatment in immune-mediated diseases were selected.ResultsA total of 95 references were selected and the information on each drug was synthesized in tables. Drugs contraindicated in pregnancy are topical retinoids, pimecrolimus, cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide, acitretin, and thiopurines. The lack of data advises against the use of apremilast, tofacitinib, baricitinib, anakinra, abatacept, tocilizumab and the new biologicals. Topical salicylates, paracetamol, ultraviolet therapy and hydroxychloroquine treatment are safe, and anti-TNF biological therapy are considered low risk, with certolizumab being the drug of choice throughout pregnancy and lactation.Most are compatible with paternal exposure except for sulfasalazine, mycophenolate and leflunomide, for which suspension of treatment prior to conception is recommended, and cyclosporine with dose requirements of less than 2mg/kg/day. (AU)

Aggressiveness of end-of-life cancer care: what happens in clinical practice?

PURPOSE: End-of-life cancer care varies widely, and very few centers evaluate it systematically. Our objective was to assess indicators of the aggressiveness of end-of-life cancer care in clinical practice. METHODS: An observational, longitudinal, and retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital. Eligible patients were at least 18 years old, had a solid tumor, were followed up by the Oncology Department, and had died because of cancer or associated complications during 2017. We used the criteria of Earle et al. (J Clin Oncol 21(6):1133-1138, 2003) to assess the aggressiveness of care. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to characterize factors associated with aggressiveness of therapy. RESULTS: The study population comprised 684 patients. Eighty-eight patients (12.9%) received anti-cancer treatment during the last 14 days of their lives, and 62 patients (9.1%) started a new treatment line in the last 30 days. During the last month of life, 102 patients (14.9%) visited the ER, 80 patients (11.7%) were hospitalized more than once, and 26 (3.8%) were admitted to the ICU. A total of 326 patients (47.7%) died in the acute care unit. A total of 417 patients (61.0%) were followed by the Palliative Care Unit, and in 54 cases (13.0%), this care started during the last 3 days of life. CONCLUSIONS: The use of anti-cancer therapies and health care services in our clinical practice, except for the ICU, did not meet the Earle criteria for high-quality care. Concerning hospice care, more than half of the patients received hospice services before death, although in some cases, this care started close to the time of death.

The use of autologous serum eye drops for the treatment of ocular surface disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the use of autologous serum (AS) eye drops in patients with ocular surface disorders who were refractory to conventional treatments. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care centre. We included patients with a prescription of AS eye drops from December 2006 to January 2016. Electronic prescriptions (Prescriplant) and clinical histories were reviewed. A database with sociodemographic and pharmacotherapheutic variables was created. The efficacy was evaluated subjectively and adverse effects was a measurement of safety. AS eye drops were elaborated, in a laminar flow hood, with the blood samples for a final concentration of 20%. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-three patients were considered for the study, 78.03% of them female. Their mean age was 63.87 years (SD 16.69). The use of AS eye drops was indicated for several diseases: corneal diseases (corneal ulcer or corneal persistent epithelial defects) (34.32%); Sjögren syndrome (17.16%); dry eye resulting from autoimmune disease (15.38%); and blepharitis/blepharospasm (12.43%). The regular dosage was every 3 or 4 hours (40.46%). 21.97% patients used the AS in one eye only. The mean length of treatment was 2.71 years. All patients, except one, improved their symptoms with the treatment and no one suffered harmful effects. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous national and international guidelines on dry eye treatment have been published, but they differ in dosing, concentration and indication of AS eye drops. Consequently, there is no consensus about the best therapy with AS. In this article we describe the clinical practice of AS eye drops. In the study, indications for AS therapy were mostly: corneal diseases; Sjögren syndrome; and dry eye resulting from autoimmune disease; and blepharitis or blepharospasm. Patients went to the hospital pharmacy to pick up AS eye drops before 90 days, it ensures the stability of eye drops. AS is an effective, safe and well tolerated treatment.

Intranasal bevacizumab treatment on epistaxis in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: a case report.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, is a rare, vascular, autosomal dominant disorder. The purpose of this paper is to describe the efficacy and safety of treatment with intranasal bevacizumab in HHT. A 42-year-old woman with HHT presented with frequent episodes of epistaxis. Iron studies showed anaemia of iron deficiency from chronic blood loss. Because of the frequent epistaxis (Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) 6.76) and varying haemoglobin levels (Hb range: 7.7-9.9g/dL) her doctors sought treatment with intranasal bevacizumab. This treatment was prescribed at the hospital pharmacy department in a laminar flow hood. 2.5 mL (25 mg) were placed in a nasal spray bottle. The recommended dosage was twice a day for two consecutive months. Nasal treatment seemed to control her epistaxis, and no adverse effects were reported. She only had a few further minor episodes of epistaxis, which were easily controlled (ESS 3.44). The haemoglobin levels evreached normal levels (Hb range: 12.8-14.1g/dL).

Oncology Patient Interest in the Use of New Technologies to Manage Their Disease: Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in oncology can revolutionize the medical care of cancer patients. ICTs can promote patients' empowerment and real-time disease monitoring. There is limited information about the impact of ICTs in cancer patients or their level of interest in using these tools for greater management of their condition. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the ICT usage profile in hematology-oncology patients to identify their needs and determine their level of interest in these technologies as a means of managing their disease. METHODS: A 28-item questionnaire was drawn up by a multidisciplinary team including pharmacists and oncologists. The questions were organized into 3 blocks, which were as follows: block A-sociodemographic characteristics; block B-use of ICTs when searching for health-related information; and block C-usage preferences for health apps. Hematology-oncology patients receiving treatment between May and July 2017 were included. A paper copy of the questionnaire was handed over to patients in either the day hospital or the pharmaceutical care consultancy in pharmacy services. RESULTS: A total of 650 questionnaires were handed out, with a participation of 94.0% (611/650). Patient sociodemographic characteristics were as follows: mean age was 57.8 years (age range: 19-91). Of 611 participants, 40.7% (249/611) had a university education, and 45.1% (276/611) of participants reported their overall state of health to be good. Results from use of ICTs when searching for health-related information were as follows: 87.1% (532/611) of participants were interested in being informed about health-related matters. Of all participants, 75.5% (532/611) sought information from health professionals and 61.3% (375/611) on the internet. Before going to their doctor's appointment, 21.8% (133/611) of patients looked up information about their disease or treatment on the internet. This access to the internet rose to 50.9% (311/611) after their first medical appointment with their oncologist. Usage preferences for health apps were as follows: 82.7% (505/611) had a smartphone, whereas 20.3% (124/611) had a health app installed. Overall, 81.5% (498/611) would use an app if their health professional recommended it to them, but 39.6% (242/611) were not willing to pay for it. CONCLUSIONS: The hematology-oncology patients showed a great deal of interest in searching for health-related information by means of ICTs, especially using smartphones and apps. The issues that drew the most interest in terms of apps were appointment management, advice on disease management, and communication with health professionals. Free access to these features and the recommendation by a health professional are important factors when it comes to their use. Therefore, the health care provider is a key element in the recommendation of ICTs, providing their knowledge and experience concerning their correct usage.

Association between clinical factors and dose modification strategies in the treatment with ustekinumab for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with dose reduction and dose escalation in the treatment with ustekinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, longitudinal and retrospective study was conducted using patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. We reviewed clinical histories and variables were recorded on a database (patients' characteristics, pharmacotherapeutics, effectiveness and safety). We evaluated correlation between dose reduction, dose escalation and used dose with other variables. RESULTS: Of the study's 62 patients, Ustekinumab dose was adjusted in 45.2% (22.6% with reduced doses and 22.6% with increased doses). We found a statistically significant correlation between extending the dosing interval and the absence of psoriatic arthritis, no concomitant systemic therapies, treatment time with ustekinumab, lower PASI at week 28 and achieving PASI75 at week 28. There was also a statistically significant correlation between dose escalation and diabetes mellitus, psoriatic arthritis, prior biological treatments, concomitant systemic therapies, concomitant phototherapy and not achieving PASI75 at week 28. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-reduction strategies would increase ustekinumab efficiency in patients that achieve PASI 75 without psoriatic arthritis, diabetes mellitus, previous BT and concomitant treatment with conventional systemic drugs.