Monitoring health related quality of life in survivorship care of young adult survivors of childhood cancer using web-based patient-reported outcome measures: survivors' and health care practitioners' perspectives on the KLIK method.

PURPOSE: The KLIK method is a tool to systematically monitor and discuss Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in clinical practice. It has been successfully used in clinical practice in The Netherlands, and has recently been implemented in survivorship care for young adult childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). This study evaluates implementation fidelity and satisfaction of CCSs and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) with the KLIK method in survivorship care. METHODS: CCSs' HRQOL was monitored using the KLIK questionnaire (PedsQL generic 18-30 years). In a mixed-methods design, implementation fidelity was based on registrations, and user satisfaction was assessed with evaluation surveys (CCSs) and semi-structured interviews (CCSs, HCPs). Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis methods were used. RESULTS: A total of 245 CCSs were eligible for the study. Fidelity was 79.2% (194/245) for registration in the KLIK PROM portal, 89.7% (174/194) for completed KLIK questionnaires, 74.7% (130/174) for its discussion during consultation. Of the eligible CCSs, 17.6% (43/245) completed the study evaluation survey. Five CCSs and HCPs were invited for an interview and participated. CCSs (7.7/10) and HCPs (7.5/10) were satisfied with the KLIK method. Reported facilitators included increased insight into CCSs' functioning, improved preparation before, and communication during consultation, without lengthening consultation duration. Barriers included CCSs not always completing KLIK questionnaires, incomplete content of the KLIK questionnaire, and the need for customization for CCSs with cognitive disabilities. CONCLUSION: The KLIK method is a feasible and valuable tool to systematically monitor and discuss HRQOL in survivorship care. Integration of the KLIK method within the organization is essential, with structural support in reminding CCSs to complete questionnaires.

Neuroblastoma survivors at risk for developing subsequent neoplasms: A systematic review.

Neuroblastoma survivors have an increased risk of unfavorable long-term health outcomes, of which developing subsequent neoplasms is one of the most serious. We aimed to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the risk of subsequent neoplasms in neuroblastoma survivors. We conducted a systematic literature search in Medline/Pubmed (01-01-1945-13-01-2022) to identify studies that reported on ≥ 100 neuroblastoma survivors and assessed subsequent neoplasms as an outcome. We identified 410 potentially eligible articles, of which we eventually included 13 reports. All articles described retrospective cohorts with sizes varying from 145 to 5,987 neuroblastoma survivors. Within these cohorts 0.7% - 17.2% of the survivors developed a subsequent neoplasm. A wide variety of types of subsequent malignant and non-malignant neoplasms were observed, of which thyroid carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia were most frequently reported. The risk of developing a subsequent neoplasm was 2.8 to 10.4 times higher in neuroblastoma survivors than in the general population. Although no statistically significant risk factors for subsequent neoplasms were observed in multivariable analyses, high-risk group survivors, women and those treated with radiotherapy seemed to have a higher risk. In conclusion, the studies in this systematic review consistently show that neuroblastoma survivors are at elevated risk of developing subsequent neoplasms. Future research should further explore risk factors for subsequent neoplasms in neuroblastoma survivors, so future treatment protocols and follow-up care can be improved.

Guidance regarding COVID-19 for survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer: A statement from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancer survivors may be at risk for a severe course of COVID-19. Little is known about the clinical course of COVID-19 in CAYA cancer survivors, or if additional preventive measures are warranted. We established a working group within the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group (IGHG) to summarize existing evidence and worldwide recommendations regarding evidence about factors/conditions associated with risk for a severe course of COVID-19 in CAYA cancer survivors, and to develop a consensus statement to provide guidance for healthcare practitioners and CAYA cancer survivors regarding COVID-19.

A Conceptual Framework for Optimizing Blood Matching Strategies: Balancing Patient Complications Against Total Costs Incurred.

Alloimmunization is currently the most frequent adverse blood transfusion event. Whilst completely matched donor blood would nullify the alloimmunization risk, this is practically infeasible. Current matching strategies therefore aim at matching a limited number of blood groups only, and have evolved over time by systematically including matching strategies for those blood groups for which (serious) alloimmunization complications most frequently occurred. An optimal matching strategy for controlling the risk of alloimmunization however, would balance alloimmunization complications and costs within the entire blood supply chain, whilst fulfilling all practical requirements and limitations. In this article the outline of an integrated blood management model is described and various potential challenges and prospects foreseen with the development of such a model are discussed.

Validation of multisource electronic health record data: an application to blood transfusion data.

BACKGROUND: Although data from electronic health records (EHR) are often used for research purposes, systematic validation of these data prior to their use is not standard practice. Existing validation frameworks discuss validity concepts without translating these into practical implementation steps or addressing the potential influence of linking multiple sources. Therefore we developed a practical approach for validating routinely collected data from multiple sources and to apply it to a blood transfusion data warehouse to evaluate the usability in practice. METHODS: The approach consists of identifying existing validation frameworks for EHR data or linked data, selecting validity concepts from these frameworks and establishing quantifiable validity outcomes for each concept. The approach distinguishes external validation concepts (e.g. concordance with external reports, previous literature and expert feedback) and internal consistency concepts which use expected associations within the dataset itself (e.g. completeness, uniformity and plausibility). In an example case, the selected concepts were applied to a transfusion dataset and specified in more detail. RESULTS: Application of the approach to a transfusion dataset resulted in a structured overview of data validity aspects. This allowed improvement of these aspects through further processing of the data and in some cases adjustment of the data extraction. For example, the proportion of transfused products that could not be linked to the corresponding issued products initially was 2.2% but could be improved by adjusting data extraction criteria to 0.17%. CONCLUSIONS: This stepwise approach for validating linked multisource data provides a basis for evaluating data quality and enhancing interpretation. When the process of data validation is adopted more broadly, this contributes to increased transparency and greater reliability of research based on routinely collected electronic health records.

Protocol for a national blood transfusion data warehouse from donor to recipient.

INTRODUCTION: Blood transfusion has health-related, economical and safety implications. In order to optimise the transfusion chain, comprehensive research data are needed. The Dutch Transfusion Data warehouse (DTD) project aims to establish a data warehouse where data from donors and transfusion recipients are linked. This paper describes the design of the data warehouse, challenges and illustrative applications. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Quantitative data on blood donors (eg, age, blood group, antibodies) and products (type of product, processing, storage time) are obtained from the national blood bank. These are linked to data on the transfusion recipients (eg, transfusions administered, patient diagnosis, surgical procedures, laboratory parameters), which are extracted from hospital electronic health records. APPLICATIONS: Expected scientific contributions are illustrated for 4 applications: determine risk factors, predict blood use, benchmark blood use and optimise process efficiency. For each application, examples of research questions are given and analyses planned. CONCLUSIONS: The DTD project aims to build a national, continuously updated transfusion data warehouse. These data have a wide range of applications, on the donor/production side, recipient studies on blood usage and benchmarking and donor-recipient studies, which ultimately can contribute to the efficiency and safety of blood transfusion.

Effect on the quality of blood components after simulated blood transfusions using volumetric infusion pumps.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether the use of volumetric infusion pumps for the transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) or platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs) affects the quality of the blood components. We therefore investigated the in vitro quality of these components after use of infusion pumps. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Ten different volumetric infusion pumps were used to simulate transfusion with RBCs and PCs. To prevent donor-dependent differences multiple units were pooled and divided into equal portions. The storage time of RBCs was 30 to 35 days (n=10 experiments), and for PCs, either 2 (n=5) or 7 days (n=5). For RBCs an infusion rate of 100 or 300mL/hr was used, and for PCs, 600mL/hr. Transfusions without an infusion pump served as a reference. RESULTS: None of the infusion pumps induced an increase of free hemoglobin, annexin A5 binding, or formation of echinocytes in RBCs compared to reference units. In 2- and 7-day-old PCs no effect was shown on PLT concentration, annexin A5 binding, mean PLT volume, and morphology score compared to the reference. The CD62P expression of 2-day-old PCs was significantly lower after transfusion compared to the reference, that is, 11.7±2.1% versus 8.1±1.3% (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: There was no adverse effect on the in vitro quality of RBCs or PCs after simulated transfusion using volumetric infusion pumps. A decrease in PLT activation was observed, which can probably be explained by capturing of activated or damaged PLTs in the 200-µm filter present in the infusion system.

Unselected women with elevated levels of factor VIII:C or homocysteine are not at increased risk for obstetric complications.

Acquired and hereditary thrombophilias are associated with obstetric complications such as (pre-)eclampsia, HELLP syndrome and fetal loss. Our objective was to assess the risk of obstetric complications in women with elevated levels of FVIII:C or hyperhomocysteinemia, as compared with their relatives who had normal FVIII:C or homocysteine levels. From a large family study of patients with venous thromboembolism or premature atherosclerosis and elevated levels of FVIII:C or hyperhomocysteinemia (propositi), the obstetric histories of female first degree relatives, who had been pregnant at least once, were studied. Levels of FVIII:C and homocysteine (both fasting and post-methionine loading) were determined. The number of obstetric complications was calculated and compared in women with normal and elevated levels of FVIII:C, and normal and elevated levels of homocysteine. Women with elevated levels of FVIII:C had a 15.4% risk for toxicosis, preeclampsia, or HELLP syndrome and a 23.9% for fetal loss. This was not statistically different from women with normal levels of FVIII:C. Women with hyperhomocysteinemia tended to have a lower risk for toxicosis, pre-eclampsia, or HELLP syndrome (8.0%, RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.2-1.7) and fetal loss (22.0%, RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.5) as compared to relatives with normal levels, although these differences did not reach statistical significance. If the analysis was limited to comparing extremes, the results did not materially differ. Unselected women with elevated plasma levels of FVIII:C or hyperhomocysteinemia are not at increased risk for obstetric complications as compared to their relatives with normal levels.

Prothrombin 20210A mutation: a mild risk factor for venous thromboembolism but not for arterial thrombotic disease and pregnancy-related complications in a family study.

BACKGROUND: The prothrombin 20210A mutation has been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Its relationship with arterial disease and pregnancy-related complications is, however, still uncertain. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidences of first venous and arterial thrombotic events and pregnancy-related complications in relatives of patients with the mutation. METHODS: After clinical classification, the presence of the mutation was determined in first-degree relatives of consecutive patients with the mutation and a history of VTE or premature atherosclerosis. Relatives with and without the mutation were compared. RESULTS: Of all relatives, 204 (50%) were heterozygous, 5 were homozygous, and 198 had a normal genotype. The annual incidence of a first episode of VTE was 0.35% and 0.18% in carriers and noncarriers, respectively (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-4.1); the annual incidence of a first arterial thrombosis was 0.22% and 0.15% in carriers and noncarriers, respectively (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.8-6.3). The annual incidence of a first myocardial infarction was 0.14% (95% CI, 0.05%-0.23%) and 0.05% (0.01%-0.14%) in carriers and noncarriers, respectively (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.0-22.5; P =.06). In particular, homozygous carriers were at increased risk of VTE (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 1.3-27.2), whereas a history of VTE in the proband influenced the risk of VTE in the relatives. Women with the mutation did not experience significantly more pregnancy-related complications than their relatives with a normal genotype. CONCLUSIONS: The prothrombin mutation is a mild risk factor for VTE within families of carriers but does not seem to play an important role in arterial thrombotic disease, with the exception of myocardial infarction, or in pregnancy-related complications.

Diagnosis and management of deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity: a review.

Deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity is an increasing clinical problem due to the use of long-term indwelling catheters for chemotherapy or long-term feeding. The clinical diagnosis is difficult to make, and various imaging modalities have been used for this purpose. The use of (interventional) radiological procedures has been advancing in recent years. This review describes the clinical background, the imaging modalities that may be employed, treatment options and outcome of patients with upper extremity thrombosis.

Long-term follow-up of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity: survival, risk factors and post-thrombotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of upper extremity thrombosis in terms of morbidity, mortality and arm functionality is virtually unknown. We investigated mortality, risk factors, recurrent thrombosis and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with suspected upper extremity thrombosis. METHODS: Consecutive patients suspected of having deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the upper extremity were followed for up to 53 months (mean 21 months). Venography and/or ultrasonography was used for diagnosis. Risk factors were identified from history and thrombophilia laboratory screening. PTS was assessed using a scoring system. Death, recurrent thrombosis and PTS were primary outcome measures. RESULTS: DVT of the upper extremity was diagnosed in 50 of 116 consecutive patients (43%). Malignancy and/or central venous lines were present in 37 of 50 (74%) patients with thrombosis. Inherited thrombophilia was diagnosed in 6 of 30 (20%) and 4 of 33 (12%) of the investigated patients with and without thrombosis, respectively (not significant). Twenty-five patients (50%) with thrombosis died during the follow-up period; this was associated with cancer in 84% of the deaths. Recurrent thrombosis was observed in four patients (8%) during follow-up. Symptoms of PTS were present in 4 of 22 patients (18%) with thrombosis and in 14 of 36 patients (39%) in whom thrombosis was excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Malignancy and central venous lines are major risk factors of upper extremity thrombosis. Thrombophilia seems to be unrelated to the presence or absence of upper extremity thrombosis. Thrombosis in combination with malignancy predicts poor survival. A scoring system can be used to assess the severity of PTS, but it does not discriminate PTS from other causes of arm complaints.

Travel and the risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism.

Whether long-distance travel and symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) are associated is debated. On the basis of the available literature a fair risk estimate cannot be obtained. We estimated an accurate odds ratio for the relationship between recent travelling and symptomatic VTE. From three case-control studies consisting of 788 and 170 patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 989 patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) referred for diagnostic work-up, a pooled odds ratio for the relation between travel and symptomatic VTE was calculated. Cases were patients in whom the diagnosis was confirmed according to a diagnostic management strategy, whereas controls were patients in whom the diagnosis was excluded and who had an uneventful clinical follow-up. Patients were seen in the period April 1997 to September 2000. Travel history was recorded prior to diagnostic work-up. The pooled odds ratio for the association between any travel and symptomatic venous thromboembolism was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.6-1.4). The median travel time was 7 h (quartile range 4 to 10 h). Separate analyses performed for different types of transport (plane, car, bus or train) yielded comparable odds ratios. The analysis for duration of travelling showed an increased odds ratio of 2.5 (95% CI: 1.0-6.2) in the category of 10-15 h of travelling. This study shows that the average traveller does not have an increased risk for symptomatic venous thromboembolism. Only very long travelling (more than 10 h) may be associated with venous thromboembolic disease.

Co-segregation of thrombophilic disorders in factor V Leiden carriers; the contributions of factor VIII, factor XI, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and lipoprotein(a) to the absolute risk of venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical expression of factor V Leiden varies widely within and between families and only a minority of carriers will ever develop venous thromboembolism. Co-segregation of thrombophilic disorders is a possible explanation. Our aim was to assess the contributions of high levels of factor VIII:C, factor XI:C, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) to the risk of venous thromboembolism in factor V Leiden carriers. DESIGN AND METHODS: Levels of the four proteins were measured, in addition to tests of deficiencies for antithrombin, protein C and protein S, and the prothrombin G20210A mutation, in 153 factor V Leiden carriers, derived from a family cohort study. The (adjusted) relative risk and absolute risk of venous thromboembolism for high levels of each protein were calculated. RESULTS: Of carriers, 60% had one or more concomitant thrombophilic disorders. Crude odds ratios (95% CI) of venous thromboembolism for high protein levels were: 3.2 (1.1-9.3) (factor VIII:C); 1.7 (0.6-4.9) (factor XI:C); 3.0 (1.1-8.2) (TAFI); and 1.9 (0.7-5.7) (Lp(a)). Adjusted for age, sex, other concomitant thrombophilic disorders and exogenous risk factors, the odds ratio for venous thromboembolism were 2.7 (0.8-8.7) for high factor VIII:C levels and 1.8 (0.6-5.3) for high TAFI levels. Annual incidences in subgroups of carriers were 0.35% (0.09-0.89), 0.44% (0.05-1.57) and 0.94% (0.35-2.05) for concomitance of high levels of factor VIII:C, TAFI and both, respectively, as compared to 0.09% (0.00-0.48) in single factor V Leiden carriers and 1.11% (0.30-2.82) for other concomitant disorders. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: High levels of factor VIII:C and TAFI, in contrast with factor XI:C and Lp(a), are mild risk factors for venous thromboembolism, and substantially contribute to the risk of venous thromboembolism in factor V Leiden carriers. Our data support the hypothesis that the clinical expression of factor V Leiden depends on co-segregation of thrombophilic disorders.

Analysis of factor VIII inhibitors in a haemophilia A patient with an Arg593-->Cys mutation using phage display.

We characterized anti-factor VIII antibodies in a mild haemophilia A patient with an Arg593-->Cys mutation in the A2 domain, using V gene phage-display technology. All isolated single-chain variable-domain antibody fragments were directed against residues Arg484-Ile508, a binding site for factor VIII inhibitors in the A2 domain. After a further period of replacement therapy, a transient rise in inhibitor titre was observed. These antibodies were directed against the A2 domain. Activation of a pre-existing pool of B cells, which express antibodies against residues Arg484-Ile508, could explain the rapid anamnestic response.

Prospective study of color duplex ultrasonography compared with contrast venography in patients suspected of having deep venous thrombosis of the upper extremities.

BACKGROUND: The optimal strategy for diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is less well established for the upper extremities than for the lower extremities. Duplex color ultrasonography can be difficult to perform in the upper extremities because of their anatomy, and contrast venography is often indicated. Moreover, limited data exist on the use of duplex color ultrasonography in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of duplex ultrasonography for diagnosis of DVT of the upper extremities. DESIGN: Prospective study of duplex ultrasonography compared with venography. SETTING: A teaching hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. PATIENTS: 126 consecutive inpatients and outpatients with suspected DVT of the upper extremities. MEASUREMENTS: Contrast venography was obtained after duplex ultrasonography and was judged independently. A three-step protocol, involving compression ultrasonography, color ultrasonography, and color Doppler ultrasonography, was used. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for ultrasonography as a whole were calculated. The independent value of each step was assessed. RESULTS: Venography and ultrasonography were not feasible in 23 of 126 patients (18%) and 1 of 126 patients (0.8%), respectively. Results of ultrasonography were inconclusive in 3 patients. Venography demonstrated thrombosis in 44 of 99 patients (44%); in 36 patients (36%), thrombosis was related to intravenous catheters or malignant disease. Sensitivity and specificity of duplex ultrasonography were 82% (95% CI, 70% to 93%) and 82% (CI, 72% to 92%), respectively. Venous incompressibility correlated well with thrombosis, whereas only 50% of isolated flow abnormalities proved to be thrombosis-related. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex ultrasonography may be the method of choice for initial diagnosis of patients with suspected thrombosis of the upper extremities. However, in patients with isolated flow abnormalities, contrast venography should be performed.

Simplification of the diagnostic management of suspected deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The standard diagnostic approach in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis is to repeat the compression ultrasonography after 1 week in all patients with an initial normal result. We hypothesized that a normal finding of a D-dimer assay safely obviates the need for repeated ultrasonography. In addition, we evaluated the potential value of a pretest probability assessment for this purpose. METHODS: At presentation, consecutive outpatients with suspected thrombosis underwent independent assessment by means of ultrasonography of the proximal veins, a whole-blood D-dimer assay, and a pretest clinical model. Patients with normal ultrasonographic findings and an abnormal D-dimer assay result were scheduled for repeated ultrasonography. We evaluated the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolic complications during a 3-month follow-up, and the value of clinical pretest probability with ultrasonography or D-dimer assay in scenario analyses. RESULTS: We studied 1756 patients with prevalence of thrombosis of 22%. At entry, results of the D-dimer assay and ultrasonography were normal in 828 patients (47%). Of these, 6 returned with confirmed symptomatic venous thromboembolism (complication rate, 0.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3%-1.6%). Repeated ultrasonography was avoided in 61% of the patients with an initial normal test result. Scenario analyses disclosed that the complication rate was 1.6% (95% CI, 0.8%-2.6%) in those with a low clinical pretest probability and a normal result of ultrasonography at referral, whereas this figure was 1.8% (95% CI, 0.9%-3.3%) in patients with a low clinical probability result and a normal result of the D-dimer assay at referral. CONCLUSIONS: It is safe to withhold repeated ultrasonography in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis who have normal results of ultrasonograpy and the SimpliRED D-dimer assay at presentation. The combination of a low clinical pretest probability with a normal result of compression ultrasonography or the D-dimer assay appears to be equally safe in refuting the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

The incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism in carriers of factor V Leiden is related to concomitant thrombophilic disorders.

The duration of anticoagulant treatment after a first episode of venous thromboembolism primarily depends on the risk of recurrence. Variability of recurrence rates in factor (F) V Leiden carriers may be due to concomitant thrombophilic disorders. A retrospective study was performed in 329 FV Leiden carriers with a history of venous thromboembolism (262 probands, 67 relatives). The annual rate of first recurrence was estimated in relatives. The contribution of concomitant thrombophilic disorders to the recurrence rate was evaluated in probands and relatives by a nested case--control analysis in 105 matched pairs of carriers either with or without recurrence. The overall annual recurrence rate was 2.3 per 100 patient-years. The adjusted risk of recurrence for concomitant thrombophilic disorders was: 9.1 (1.3-62.8) for the FII mutation; 1.0 (0.2-4.9) for homozygosity for FV Leiden; 1.5 (0.2-9.5) for inherited deficiencies of protein C or S; 1.8 (0.7-4.9) for FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) levels >122%; 5.4 (1.6-18.6) for fasting homocysteine levels >15.2 micromol/l; and 4.4 (1.0-18.7) for loading homocysteine levels >45.8 micromol/l. Of these disorders, only the FII mutation and hyperhomocysteinaemia significantly increased the risk of recurrence in FV Leiden carriers. The estimated recurrence rate ranged from 0.45 per 100 patient--years after a secondary first event in the absence of concomitant disorders to 4.8 per 100 patient-years when a spontaneous first event was combined with concomitant disorders. Our study provides supportive evidence that the incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism in heterozygous FV Leiden carriers depends on the concomitance of other thrombophilic disorders, in addition to whether the first thrombotic event occurred spontaneously.