RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody commonly used for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors. Hypocalcemia is a known adverse effect with denosumab, and we present an unusual case where 2 hypocalcemic events occurred after 1 denosumab treatment. METHODS: A 76-year-old man recently diagnosed with prostate cancer with bone metastasis was given 120 mg denosumab subcutaneously due to extensive bone disease. RESULTS: The patient experienced denosumab-induced hypocalcemia induced by a single denosumab dose which was resolved after 14 days of multiple doses of intravenous calcium gluconate and oral calcium and vitamin D replacement. However, the patient returned with acute kidney injury and severe hypocalcemia (corrected calcium of 6.9 mg/dL) without any additional dose of denosumab. The recovery following the second episode of hypocalcemia was much longer than the initial episode in this patient. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an additional episode of hypocalcemia following a single denosumab dose. This case highlights the importance of close monitoring of renal function and serum electrolytes following the resolution of denosumab-induced hypocalcemia.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Acid suppressive therapy (AST)-namely, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs)-is routinely prescribed to hospitalized patients for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP). OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of and indications for AST use in the hematology/oncology population as well as to identify the occurrence of the following PPI-associated adverse events: pneumonia and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on adult hematology/oncology patients admitted to any oncology service for ≥48 hours from October 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014. RESULTS: Of the 298 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 73% (n = 218) received an AST during admission. The most common indication for an AST was SUP (63%). The incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) was 10%, 0%, and 4% in patients who received a PPI, H2RA, and no AST, respectively (14/142 vs 0/70 vs 3/80; odds ratio [OR] for PPI vs no AST = 2.68; 95% CI = 0.75-9.63). The incidence of CDAD was 3%, 1.3%, and 1.2% in patients who received a PPI, H2RA, and no AST, respectively (4/142 vs 1/70 vs 1/80; OR for PPI vs H2RA = 1.92; 95% CI = 0.21-17.47). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to describe the incidence of and indications for AST use in the hospitalized hematology/oncology population. There was a high occurrence of AST use, particularly PPIs, in these patients at our institution. Additionally, there was a trend toward an increased risk of HAP and CDAD in patients who received AST during admission.