Ototoxicity associated with high-dose carboplatin for patients with previously treated germ cell tumors.

BACKGROUND: High-dose carboplatin is an essential part of curative high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) for patients with previously treated germ cell tumors (GCTs). Although hearing loss (HL) is a known side effect of HDCT, data on its severity and characteristics are limited. METHODS: Eligible patients received HDCT for GCTs from 1993 to 2017 and had audiograms before and after HDCT. HL severity was classified by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association criteria, and mean change in hearing threshold at each frequency (0.25-8 kHz) was estimated from pre- to post-HDCT and between HDCT cycles. RESULTS: Of 115 patients (median age, 32 years), 102 (89%) received three cycles of HDCT. Of 106 patients with normal hearing to mild HL in the speech frequencies (0.5-4 kHz) before HDCT, 70 (66%) developed moderate to profound HL in the speech frequencies after HDCT. Twenty-five patients (22%) were recommended for hearing aids after HDCT. Patients with moderate to profound HL isolated to the higher frequencies (6-8 kHz) before HDCT were more likely to develop moderate to profound HL in the speech frequencies after HDCT (94% vs. 61%; p = .01) and to be recommended for hearing aids (39% vs. 18%; p = .05). CONCLUSIONS: HL was frequent after HDCT for GCTs, with most patients developing at least moderate HL in the speech frequencies and approximately one in five recommended for hearing aids. Moderate to profound HL isolated to high frequencies at baseline was predictive of more clinically significant hearing impairment after HDCT. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Some patients with germ cell tumors, the most common malignancy in adolescent and young adult men, are not cured with standard-dose chemotherapy and require high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT). Using detailed hearing assessments of patients receiving HDCT, we found that most patients developed significant hearing loss and that one in five needed hearing aids. Thus, strategies to reduce this side effect are urgently needed, and all patients receiving HDCT should have a hearing test after therapy.

Lipid profiles are associated with lesion formation over 24 months in interferon-ß treated patients following the first demyelinating event.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations of serum lipid profile with disease progression in high-risk clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) after the first demyelinating event. METHODS: High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) were obtained in pretreatment serum from 135 high risk patients with CIS (≥ 2 brain MRI lesions and ≥ 2 oligoclonal bands) enrolled in the Observational Study of Early Interferon ß-1a Treatment in High Risk Subjects after CIS study (SET study), which prospectively evaluated the effect of intramuscular interferon ß-1a treatment following the first demyelinating event. Thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, active smoking status and body mass index were also obtained. Clinical and MRI assessments were obtained within 4 months of the initial demyelinating event and at 6, 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: The time to first relapse and number of relapses were not associated with any of the lipid profile variables. Higher LDL-C (p=0.006) and TC (p=0.001) levels were associated with increased cumulative number of new T2 lesions over 2 years. Higher free thyroxine levels were associated with lower cumulative number of contrast-enhancing lesions (p=0.008). Higher TC was associated as a trend with lower baseline whole brain volume (p=0.020). Higher high density lipoprotein was associated with higher deseasonalised 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (p=0.003) levels and a trend was found for deseasonalised 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: In early multiple sclerosis, lipid profile variables particularly LDL-C and TC levels are associated with inflammatory MRI activity measures.

Interdependence and contributions of sun exposure and vitamin D to MRI measures in multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationships of sun exposure history, supplementation and environmental factors to vitamin D levels in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to evaluate the associations between sun exposure and MRI measures. METHODS: This study included 264 MS patients (mean age 46.9±10 years, disease duration 14.6±10 years; 67.8% relapsing-remitting, 28% secondary progressive and 4.2% primary progressive MS) and 69 healthy controls. Subjects underwent neurological and 3 T MRI examinations, provided blood samples and answered questions to a structured questionnaire. Information on race, skin and eye colour, supplement use, body mass index (BMI) and sun exposure was obtained by questionnaire. The vitamin D metabolites (25-hydroxy vitamin D3, 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and 24, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3) were measured using mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Multivitamin supplementation (partial correlation r(p)=0.29, p<0.001), BMI (r(p)=-0.24, p=0.001), summer sun exposure (r(p)=0.22, p=0.002) and darker eye colour (r(p)=-0.18, p=0.015) had the strongest associations with vitamin D metabolite levels in the MS group. Increased summer sun exposure was associated with increased grey matter volume (GMV, r(p)=0.16, p=0.019) and whole brain volume (WBV, r(p)=0.20, p=0.004) after correcting for Extended Disability Status Scale in the MS group. Inclusion of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels did not substantially affect the positive associations of sun exposure with WBV (r(p)=0.18, p=0.003) and GMV (r(p)=0.14, p=0.026) in the MS group. CONCLUSIONS: Sun exposure may have direct effects on MRI measures of neurodegeneration in MS, independently of vitamin D.

Patterns of dietary and herbal supplement use by multiple sclerosis patients.

To assess the patterns of dietary (DS) and herbal supplement (HS) use in MS patients, compare use between MS patients and healthy controls and to identify potential interactions with drugs used to treat MS. This study included 279 MS subjects and 161 controls from a study of risk factors in MS. All patients received a neurological examination. All subjects provided responses to a standardized questionnaire administered during an in-person interview. A larger proportion of MS patients (82.1%) compared to controls (60.1%) used one or more DS regularly for at least 3 months (p < 0.001). There was a trend toward a higher proportion of MS patients (26.6%) versus controls (17.8%) who used HSs for more than 1 month (p = 0.038). The most common DS used after MS onset was a multivitamin (78.1%), followed by vitamin D (65.8%). Use of the majority of specific DSs increased significantly after MS onset compared to before. The proportion of controls and MS patients after MS onset who reported using an individual HS was generally similar. The most commonly used HS in patients after MS was evening primrose oil (40.4%) followed by cranberry fruit extract (35.2%). There was no evidence for associations with progressive disease course or with choice of disease-modifying treatment. Dietary supplements are used more frequently by MS patients than controls. Use tends to increase after MS onset compared to before, especially for DS. The use of HS by MS patients is only modestly greater than by controls.