LT4/LT3 Combination Therapy vs. Monotherapy with LT4 for Persistent Symptoms of Hypothyroidism: A Systematic Review.

Regardless of the cause, hypothyroidism should be treated with levothyroxine. The objectives of management are the normalization of TSH levels and the relief of symptoms. In general, the vast majority of patients who achieve normalization of TSH levels show a resolution of symptoms; however, for a small number of individuals, symptoms persist (despite adequate control of TSH). This scenario generates a dilemma in the therapeutic approach to these patients, because even when excluding other causes or concomitant diseases that can explain the persistence of symptoms, pharmacological management strategies are scarce. Consequently, the efficacy of some less conventional approaches to therapy, such as the use of LT3 monotherapy, desiccated thyroid extracts, and LT4/LT3 combinations, in addressing persistent hypothyroid symptoms have been evaluated in multiple studies. The majority of these studies did not observe a significant benefit from these "nonconventional" therapies in comparison to results with LT4 monotherapy alone. Nevertheless, some studies report that a significant proportion of patients prefer an alternative to monotherapy with LT4. The most common approach has been to prescribe a combination of LT4 and LT3, and this review describes and analyzes the current evidence of the efficacy of LT4/LT3 combination therapy vs. LT4 monotherapy in addressing persistent hypothyroidism symptoms to provide suggested guidelines for clinicians in the management of these patients.

Polatuzumab vedotina con rituximab y bendamustina para el tratamiento del linfoma difuso de células B grandes en recaída o refractario / Polatuzumab vedotin with rituximab and bendamustine for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

ÁREA DESCRIPTIVA DEL PROBLEMA DE SALUD: El linfoma difuso de células B grandes (DLBCL) es el subtipo histológico más común de linfoma no Hodgkin (LNH) y representa aproximadamente el 25 por ciento de los casos de LNH (1). La categoria diagnóstica de DLBCL es heterogénea en términos de morfologia, genética y comportamiento biológico. Em la clasificación de la Oganización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) de 2017 se reconocen varias entidades clínico-patológicas que son lo suficientemente distintas como para ser consideradas categorías diagnósticas separadas: - Linfoma de células B grandes rico en células T/histiocitos. - DLBCL primario del mediastino, también llamado linfoma mediastínico primario (tímico) de células B grandes. - Linfoma intravascular de células B grandes. - Granulomatosis linfomatoide, un linfoma de células B grandes positivo para el virus de Epstein-Barr. - DLBCL primario del sistema nervioso central. - DLBCL cutáneo primario, tipo pierna. - DLBCL asociado con inflamación crónica. METOLOGÍA: Se filtra la búsqueda a Estudios Clínicos fase III, controlados randomizados, Revisiones Sistemáticas, Meta-análises, Guías de Práctica Clínica, además se limito la búsqueda estúdios en humanos. También se realiza búsqueda manual en otras base de datos bibliográficas (Cochrane, NIH, TRIP DATABASE), en buscadores genéricos de internet, agencias de evaluación de tecnologias sanitárias y financiadores de salud. Se priorizó la inclusión de revisiones sistemáticas, metaanálises, estúdios clínicos aleatorizados y controlados, guías de práctica clínica, evaluaciones de tecnologia sanitária, evaluaciones económicas y políticas de cobertura de otros sistemas de salud. CONCLUSIONES: La evidencia disponible proviene del estudio GO29365, un ensayo clínico multinacional, multicéntrico, de fase Ib/II, abierto y controlado. Los pacientes se aleatorizaron a recibir polatuzumab en combinación con BR frente a BR. La dosis recomendada de polatuzumab es de 1,8 mg/kg en infusión intravenosa el día 1durante 6 ciclos de 21 días, 90 mg/m2 /día de bendamustina los días 1 y 2, y 375 mg/m2 de rituximab el día 1 de cada ciclo. El estudio incluyó a 80 pacientes ≥ 18 años, con LBDCG R/R previamente tratados con al menos una línea de quimioterapia y no candidatos o con fracaso previo a TAPH. Los pacientes fueron estratificados en función de la duración de la respuesta en el último tratamiento previo (≤ 12 meses o > 12 meses). Los pacientes incluidos representan a una población heterogénea en relación con el pronóstico de la enfermedad, con un índice pronóstico internacional (IPI) de alto riesgo mayor en el grupo BR que en elgrupo polatuzumab + BR (IPI 4: 30% vs. 20 %, IPI 5: 12,5% frente a 2,5%). Sólo el 25% (n = 10) del grupo polatuzumab + BR había recibido TAPH previo, por lo que las conclusiones definitivas sobre la eficacia de la combinación post TAPH no pueden establecerse. La variable primaria de eficacia fue la tasa de respuesta completa (RC) por PETTC medida a las 68 semanas después de la última dosis de tratamiento recibida. Se observó una mayor tasa de respuesta completa (RC) en el grupo tratado con la combinación polatuzumab + BR (40% [n=16] vs. 17,5% [n=7];p=0,026). Entre las variables secundarias, la supervivencia libre de progresión (SLP) y la supervivencia global (SG), evaluadas por un comité independiente, fueron superiores en el grupo polatuzumab + BR, con un período de seguimiento de 22,3 meses. La SLP fue de 9,5 meses en el brazo polatuzumab + BR vs. 3,7 meses en el brazo control (HR=0,36; IC 95% = 0,210,63), mientras que la SG fue de 12,4 vs. 4,7 meses en el brazo experimental y control, respectivamente (HR=0,42; IC 95% = 0,240,75). No se dispone de datos de calidad de vida. RECOMENDACIONES: Inclusión de Polatuzumab vedotina 140 polvo para concentrado para solución para perfusión, al Listado de Medicamentos (NILO), indicación terapéutica: Polatuzumab vedotina en combinación con bendamustina y rituximab está indicado para "el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con linfoma difuso de células B grandes (DLBCL) en recaída o refractario que no son candidatos para un trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas".

Antiagregación plaquetaria: stents, isquemia y sangrado ¿Qué sabemos al respecto? / Platelet antiaggregation: stents, ischemia and bleeding What do we know about it?

Antiplatelet therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention are two of the most important interventions in the management of coronary artery disease. In the last 20 years there has been groundbreaking advances in the pharmacotherapy and stent technology. Bleeding is the most feared complication of antiplatelet therapy, mainly due to the increase in major adverse cardiovascular events besides the bleeding itself. Different clinical decision tools have developed with the aim to define which patients have a high ischemic or bleeding risk, thus individualizing treatment.

Experimental Combination Therapy with Amiodarone and Low-Dose Benznidazole in a Mouse Model of Trypanosoma cruzi Acute Infection.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects approximately 6 to 7 million people in Latin America, with cardiomyopathy being the clinical manifestation most commonly associated with patient death during the acute phase. The etiological treatment of CD is restricted to benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox (Nif), which involve long periods of administration, frequent side effects, and low efficacy in the chronic phase. Thus, combined therapies emerge as an important tool in the treatment of CD, allowing the reduction of Bz dose and treatment duration. In this sense, amiodarone (AMD), the most efficient antiarrhythmic drug currently available and prescribed to CD patients, is a potential candidate for combined treatment due to its known trypanocidal activity. However, the efficacy of AMD during the acute phase of CD and its interaction with Bz or Nif are still unknown. In the present study, using a well-established murine model of the acute phase of CD, we observed that the Bz/AMD combination was more effective in reducing the peak parasitemia than both monotherapy treatments. Additionally, the Bz/AMD combination reduced (i) interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in cardiac tissue, (ii) P-wave duration, and (iii) frequency of arrhythmia in infected animals and (iv) restored gap junction integrity in cardiac tissue. Therefore, our study validates AMD as a promising candidate for combined therapy with Bz, reinforcing the strategy of combined therapy for CD. IMPORTANCE Chagas disease affects approximately 6 to 7 million people worldwide, with cardiomyopathy being the clinical manifestation that most commonly leads to patient death. The etiological treatment of Chagas disease is limited to drugs (benznidazole and nifurtimox) with relatively high toxicity and therapeutic failures. In this sense, amiodarone, the most effective currently available antiarrhythmic drug prescribed to patients with Chagas disease, is a potential candidate for combined treatment due to its known trypanocidal effect. In the present study, we show that combined treatment with benznidazole and amiodarone improves the trypanocidal effect and reduces cardiac damage in acutely T. cruzi-infected mice.

Cost-utility of triple versus dual inhaler therapy in moderate to severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: An important proportion of asthma patients remain uncontrolled despite using inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists. Clinical guidelines recommend, in these patients, using add-on long-acting muscarinic antagonists (triple therapy) to treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids-long-acting beta2-agonist (dual therapy). The purpose of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of triple therapy versus dual therapy for patients with severe asthma. METHODS: A probabilistic Markov model was created to estimate the cost and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of patients with severe asthma in Colombia. Total costs and QALYS of dual and triple therapy were calculated over a lifetime horizon. Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated at a willingness-to-pay value of $19,000. RESULTS: The model suggests a potential gain of 1.55 QALYs per patient per year on triple therapy with respect to dual therapy. We observed a difference of US$304 in discounted cost per person-year on triple therapy with respect to dual therapy. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$196 in the probabilistic model. In the sensitivity analysis, our base-case results were robust to variations in all assumptions and parameters. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, triple therapy in patients with moderate-severe asthma was cost-effective. Using triple therapy emerges with our results as an alternative before using oral corticosteroids or biologics, especially in resource-limited settings.

Evaluation of two highly effective lipid-lowering therapies in subjects with acute myocardial infarction.

For cardiovascular disease prevention, statins alone or combined with ezetimibe have been recommended to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets, but their effects on other lipids are less reported. This study was designed to examine lipid changes in subjects with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after two highly effective lipid-lowering therapies. Twenty patients with STEMI were randomized to be treated with rosuvastatin 20 mg QD or simvastatin 40 mg combined with ezetimibe 10 mg QD for 30 days. Fasting blood samples were collected on the first day (D1) and after 30 days (D30). Lipidomic analysis was performed using the Lipidyzer platform. Similar classic lipid profile was obtained in both groups of lipid-lowering therapies. However, differences with the lipidomic analysis were observed between D30 and D1 for most of the analyzed classes. Differences were noted with lipid-lowering therapies for lipids such as FA, LPC, PC, PE, CE, Cer, and SM, notably in patients treated with rosuvastatin. Correlation studies between classic lipid profiles and lipidomic results showed different information. These findings seem relevant, due to the involvement of these lipid classes in crucial mechanisms of atherosclerosis, and may account for residual cardiovascular risk.Randomized clinical trial: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02428374, registered on 28/09/2014.

Novel combinatorial strategies for boosting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced breast cancers.

The year 2019 witnessed the first approval of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) for the management of triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) that are metastatic and programmed death ligand (PD)-L1 positive. Extensive research has focused on testing ICI-based combinatorial strategies, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the response of breast tumors to immunotherapy to increase the number of breast cancer patients benefiting from this transformative treatment. The promising investigational strategies included immunotherapy combinations with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 for the HER2 + tumors versus cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors in the estrogen receptor (ER) + disease. Multiple approaches are showing signals of success in advanced TNBC include employing Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, phosphatidylinositol 3­kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling inhibitors or inhibitors of adenosine receptor, in combination with the classical PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. Co-treatment with chemotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or interleukin-2-ßÉ£ agonist have also produced promising outcomes. This review highlights the latest combinatorial strategies under development for overcoming cancer immune evasion and enhancing the percentage of immunotherapy responders in the different subsets of advanced breast cancers.

Effect of Early Treatment With Hydroxychloroquine or Lopinavir and Ritonavir on Risk of Hospitalization Among Patients With COVID-19: The TOGETHER Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Data on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine or lopinavir-ritonavir for the treatment of high-risk outpatients with COVID-19 in developing countries are needed. Objective: To determine whether hydroxychloroquine or lopinavir-ritonavir reduces hospitalization among high-risk patients with early symptomatic COVID-19 in an outpatient setting. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Brazil. Recently symptomatic adults diagnosed with respiratory symptoms from SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled between June 2 and September 30, 2020. The planned sample size was 1476 patients, with interim analyses planned after 500 patients were enrolled. The trial was stopped after the interim analysis for futility with a sample size of 685 patients. Statistical analysis was performed in December 2020. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to hydroxychloroquine (800 mg loading dose, then 400 mg daily for 9 days), lopinavir-ritonavir (loading dose of 800 mg and 200 mg, respectively, every 12 hours followed by 400 mg and 100 mg, respectively, every 12 hours for the next 9 days), or placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death assessed at 90 days after randomization. COVID-19-associated hospitalization was analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards model. The trial included the following secondary outcomes: all-cause hospitalization, viral clearance, symptom resolution, and adverse events. Results: Of 685 participants, 632 (92.3%) self-identified as mixed-race, 377 (55.0%) were women, and the median (range) age was 53 (18-94) years. A total of 214 participants were randomized to hydroxychloroquine; 244, lopinavir-ritonavir; and 227, placebo. At first interim analysis, the data safety monitoring board recommended stopping enrollment of both hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir groups because of futility. The proportion of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was 3.7% (8 participants) in the hydroxychloroquine group, 5.7% (14 participants) in the lopinavir-ritonavir group, and 4.8% (11 participants) in the placebo group. We found no significant differences between interventions for COVID-19-associated hospitalization (hydroxychloroquine: hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.30-1.88]; lopinavir-ritonavir: HR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.53-2.56] as well as for the secondary outcome of viral clearance through day 14 (hydroxychloroquine: odds ratio [OR], 0.91 [95% CI, 0.82-1.02]; lopinavir-ritonavir: OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.94-1.16]). At the end of the trial, there were 3 fatalities recorded, 1 in the placebo group and 2 in the lopinavir-ritonavir intervention group. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, neither hydroxychloroquine nor lopinavir-ritonavir showed any significant benefit for decreasing COVID-19-associated hospitalization or other secondary clinical outcomes. This trial suggests that expedient clinical trials can be implemented in low-income settings even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04403100.

Erythema Nodosum: A Practical Approach and Diagnostic Algorithm.

Erythema nodosum is the most common form of panniculitis and is characterized by tender erythematous nodules mainly in the lower limbs on the pretibial area. The exact cause of erythema nodosum is unknown, although it appears to be a hypersensitivity response to a variety of antigenic stimuli. Although the etiology is mostly idiopathic, ruling out an underlying disease is imperative before diagnosing primary erythema nodosum. Erythema nodosum can be the first sign of a systemic disease that is triggered by a large group of processes, such as infections, inflammatory diseases, neoplasia, and/or drugs. The most common identifiable causes are streptococcal infections, primary tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, Behçet disease, inflammatory bowel disease, drugs, and pregnancy. We propose a diagnostic algorithm to optimize the initial work-up, hence initiating prompt and accurate management of the underlying disease. The algorithm includes an initial assessment of core symptoms, diagnostic work-up, differential diagnosis, and recommended therapies. Several treatment options for the erythema nodosum lesions have been previously reported; nevertheless, these options treat the symptoms, but not the triggering cause. Making an accurate diagnosis will allow the physician to treat the underlying cause and determine an optimal therapeutic strategy.

Immunotherapeutic effect of adenovirus encoding antimicrobial peptides in experimental pulmonary tuberculosis.

As components of the innate immune response, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) efficiently contribute to infection control and maintenance of a latent state in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). As a therapeutic strategy, the administration of recombinant AMPs could be limited by enzymatic degradation and high production costs. Likewise, strategies based on the induction of AMPs have generated controversial results. In this study, 2 recombinant type-5 adenoviruses (Ad) expressing the human ß-defensin 3 (HßD3) or cathelicidin (LL37) were assessed in a murine pulmonary TB model. Mice infected with either a high dose of a drug-sensitive (H37Rv) or a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) were treated with a single administration of AdHßD3, AdLL37, AdGFP (control vector expressing a green fluorescent protein), or saline solution (SS). Lungs were obtained to determine the bacterial burden, histologic damage, and cytokine expression at different time points. Mice treated with AdHßD3 or AdLL37 showed significantly lower bacterial load and pneumonia, and higher proinflammatory cytokine expression than the control groups AdGFP and SS. A synergistic therapeutic effect could be observed when first- or second-line antibiotics (ABs) were administered with adenoviral therapy in animals infected with H37Rv or MDR strains, respectively. Adenovirus-delivered AMP's administration constitutes a promising adjuvant therapy for current anti-TB drugs by enhancing a protective immune response and potentially reducing current AB regimes' duration.

Both Chloroquine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir Are Ineffective for COVID-19 Treatment and Combined Worsen the Pathology: A Single-Center Experience with Severely Ill Patients.

The off-label use of antiviral and antimalarial drugs has been considered by many researchers as a fast and relatively safe alternative to provide therapeutic options to treat COVID-19, but the assessment of such drug-specific effectiveness in this regard is far from complete. Especially, the current body of knowledge about COVID-19 therapeutics needs more data regarding drug effectiveness and safety in the severely ill patients with comorbidities. In the present article, we retrospectively analyze data from 61 patients that received treatment with chloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, both drugs administered together, or a standard treatment with no antiviral drugs, and the study was carried in severely ill patients. We found that either drug is ineffective at treating COVID-19, as they are not able to reduce hospitalization length, mortality, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), d-Dimer, or ferritin, or to enhance gasometric parameters, lymphocytes, total leukocytes, and neutrophil levels, whereas both drugs administered together decrease circulating lymphocytes, increase LDH and ferritin levels, and more importantly, enhance mortality. In this way, our results show that both drugs are ineffective and even potentially harmful alternatives against SARS-CoV-2.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of icatibant and C1 esterase/kallikrein inhibitor in severe COVID-19: study protocol for a three-armed randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enters the cells through a mechanism dependent on its binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a protein highly expressed in the lungs. The putative viral-induced inhibition of ACE2 could result in the defective degradation of bradykinin, a potent inflammatory substance. We hypothesize that increased bradykinin in the lungs is an important mechanism driving the development of pneumonia and respiratory failure in COVID-19. METHODS: This is a phase II, single-center, three-armed parallel-group, open-label, active control superiority randomized clinical trial. One hundred eighty eligible patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either the inhibitor of C1e/kallikrein 20 U/kg intravenously on day 1 and day 4 plus standard care; or icatibant 30 mg subcutaneously, three doses/day for 4 days plus standard care; or standard care alone, as recommended in the clinical trials published to date, which includes supplemental oxygen, non-invasive and invasive ventilation, antibiotic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, prophylactic antithrombotic therapy, vasopressor support, and renal replacement therapy. DISCUSSION: Accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors leading to cough. In animal models, the inactivation of ACE2 leads to severe acute pneumonitis in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the inhibition of bradykinin almost completely restores the lung structure. We believe that inhibition of bradykinin in severe COVID-19 patients could reduce the lung inflammatory response, impacting positively on the severity of disease and mortality rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111-1250-1843. Registered on May/5/2020.

Repeated subcutaneous esketamine for treatment-resistant depression: Impact of the degree of treatment resistance and anxiety comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: A large number of studies indicate that subanesthetic doses of ketamine induce a fast antidepressant effect. Limited studies have investigated the subcutaneous (SC) route, and it remains unclear for whom this treatment is most suitable. AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the effect on depressive symptoms of repeated subanesthetic doses of SC esketamine in unipolar and bipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and clinical predictors of response. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 70 patients who received six SC esketamine doses weekly as an adjunctive treatment was carried out. Doses started at 0.5 mg/kg and it could be titrated up to 1 mg/kg, according to response. The primary outcome was reduction in depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis to investigate clinical predictors of effectiveness included logistic regression analysis using a dependent variable of a 50% reduction in rating scale scores at the end of treatment. Comparisons between groups were made through analysis of variance and treatment effects. RESULTS: At baseline, our sample presented with severe treatment resistance in 65.7%, as assessed by the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM), and 47.1% had anxiety disorder comorbidity. The response rate was 50%. A better outcome was predicted by mild and moderate MSM scores (OR = 3.162, p = 0.041) and anxiety disorder comorbidity (OR = 3.149, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher levels of treatment resistance may be associated with a poor response to SC esketamine. Unlike traditional pharmacotherapies, it might benefit those with poor prognosis such as patients with depression and comorbid anxiety. Therefore, future research could investigate whether esketamine should receive a more prominent place in the treatment algorithm for TRD.

Tuberculosis in the intensive care unit: alternative treatment regimens and association with mortality.

OBJECTIVES: Adequate anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment is an important factor that can affect the patient's outcome. Higher mortality is found in patients who do not receive optimal treatment that includes isoniazid and rifampicin. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of use of alternative TB treatment regimens (without rifampicin and isoniazid) and mortality among patients requiring intensive care. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study, from January 2010 to December 2018. Patients aged > 18 years with a TB diagnosis, admitted to the ICU of a general, tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital (Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - HCPA) were included. Data on TB treatment used and outcomes of treatment were collected. RESULTS: 462 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis; 284 used the usual treatment regimen (rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol - all orally), and 178 used alternative treatment regimens (IV levofloxacin plus oral ethambutol plus IM streptomycin or IV amikacin, without rifampicin and isoniazid). The mortality was higher among users of alternative treatment regimens (63.5%) than among usual treatment regimen users (51.4%) (P = 0.011). In a multivariate analysis, age, albumin and death were independently associated with alternative treatment regimens use. CONCLUSIONS: TB programmes in which IV rifampicin is not widely available should consider including it, especially for critically ill TB patients, for whom there may be improved survival.

OBJECTIFS: Un traitement antituberculeux (TB) adéquat est un facteur important pouvant influencer les résultats du patient. Une mortalité plus élevée est observée chez les patients qui ne reçoivent pas un traitement optimal comprenant de l'isoniazide et de la rifampicine. L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer l'association entre l'utilisation d'autres schémas thérapeutiques anti-TB (sans rifampicine ni isoniazide) et la mortalité chez les patients nécessitant des soins intensifs. MÉTHODES: Etude de cohorte rétrospective, de janvier 2010 à décembre 2018. Les patients âgés de >18 ans avec un diagnostic de TB, admis à l'unité de soins intensifs d'un hôpital général, avec des soins tertiaires, affilié à l'Université (Hôpital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre-HCPA) ont été inclus. Des données sur le traitement anti-TB utilisé et les résultats du traitement ont été collectés. RÉSULTATS: 462 patients répondaient aux critères d'inclusion et ont été inclus dans l'analyse; 284 ont utilisé le schéma thérapeutique habituel (rifampicine, isoniazide, pyrazinamide et éthambutol - tous par voie orale) et 178 ont utilisé des schémas thérapeutiques alternatifs (lévofloxacine IV plus éthambutol oral plus streptomycine IM ou amikacine IV, sans rifampicine ni isoniazide). La mortalité était plus élevée chez les utilisateurs de schémas thérapeutiques alternatifs (63,5%) que chez les utilisateurs de schémas thérapeutiques habituels (51,4%) (P = 0,011). Dans l'analyse multivariée, l'âge, l'albumine et le décès ont été indépendamment associés à l'utilisation de schémas thérapeutiques alternatifs. CONCLUSIONS: Les programmes de lutte contre la TB dans lesquels la rifampicine IV n'est pas largement disponible devraient envisager de l'inclure, en particulier pour les patients atteints de TB et sévèrement malades, pour lesquels la survie peut être améliorée.

Eficacia y seguridad de panitumumab más folfiri para el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con cáncer colorrectal con gen kras no mutado que recibió terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresa a metástasis, con ECOG 0-1 / Efficacy and safety of panitumumab plus folfiri for the treatment of adult patients with kras wild-type colorectal cancer receiving adjuvant therapy with oxaliplatin regimens without irinotecan and progressing to metastases, with ECOG 0-1

INTRODUCCIÓN: El presente dictamen expone la evaluación de la eficacia y seguridad de panitumumab más FOLFIRI, comparado con FOLFIRI solo, para el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con cáncer colorrectal con gen KRAS no mutado (wild type) que recibió terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresa a metástasis, con ECOG 0-1. A nivel mundial, el cáncer colorrectal es la cuarto tipo de cáncer más frecuente. En el Perú, es la cuarta causa de muertes por cancer, con alrededor de 2367 muertes y una tasa de incidencia estandarizada por edad de 13.3 por cada 100,000 habitantes, reportados al 2018. Aproximadamente del 20 ­ 25 % se encuentra en fase metastásica al momento del diagnóstico. El objetivo del tratamiento del cáncer colorrectal metastásico (CCRm) es mejorar la calidad de vida y prolongar la sobrevida del paciente. El manejo de los pacientes con CCRm en un buen estado funcional (ECOG 0-1) incluye como primera línea de tratamiento la quimioterapia a base de fluoropirimidinas (5-fluorouracilo y capecitabina), como FOLFOX (5-fluorouracilo + leucovorina + oxaliplatino), CAPOX o XELOX (capecitabina + oxaliplatino), FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracilo + leucovorina + irinotecan), y FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracilo + leucovorina + irinotecan + oxaliplatino), todos los cuales se encuentran actualmente disponibles en el Petitorio Farmacológico de EsSalud. Actualmente se han propuesto nuevos tratamientos con productos biológicos basados en anticuerpos monoclonales para la identificación e inhibición del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (EGFR, por sus siglas en inglés) o el factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular (VEGF, por sus siglas en ingles). Al respecto, los especialistas señalan que particularmente para un grupo de pacientes con cancer colorrectal, con gen KRAS no mutado, con buen estado funcional (ECOG 0-1), que recibieron terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresan a metástasis, la opción de tratamiento para el CCRm, en el contexto de primera línea, es la quimioterapia con FOLFIRI. No obstante, sugieren que la adición de un producto biológico (panitumumab) a la terapia con FOLFIRI podría ser beneficioso para el paciente. Panitumumab es un anticuerpo monoclonal IgG2 humano contra el receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (EGFR). El EGFR juega un rol importante en el desarrollo de CCR, por lo que su inhibición podría dar la impresión de representar una estrategia prometedora para el tratamiento. Panitumumab ha sido aprobada por la agencia europea European Medicines Agency (EMA) y la Dirección General de Medicamentos Insumos y Drogas (DIGEMID) para su uso en combinación con FOLFIRI como primera línea de tratamiento para pacientes adultos con CCRm, con gen KRAS no mutado. No obstante, no ha sido aprobada por la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para el mismo uso. METODOLOGÍA: Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica con el objetivo de identificar la mejor evidencia disponible sobre la eficacia y seguridad de panitumumab más FOLFIRI, comparado FOLFIRI solo, para el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con CCR con gen KRAS no mutado que recibió terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresa a metástasis, con ECOG 0-1. La búsqueda se inició con la revisión de la información sobre el uso del medicamento de acuerdo con entidades reguladoras como FDA, EMA, DIGEMID y la OMS. La búsqueda sistemática se realizó en las principales bases de datos: Medline vía PubMed, The Cochrane Library y LILACS. Asimismo, se realizó una búsqueda manual dentro de las bases de datos pertenecientes a grupos que realizan evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias y guías de práctica clínica (GPC) incluyendo: la National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG por sus siglas en alemán), Base regional de informes de evaluación de tecnologías en salud de las Américas (BRISA) la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), el Ministerio de Salud del Perú (MINSA) y el Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación (IETSI). Además, se realizó una búsqueda de GPC de las principales sociedades o instituciones especializadas en cáncer colorectal, tales como: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) y American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Finalmente, se realizó una búsqueda en la página web de registro de ensayos clínicos (EC) www.clinicaltrials.gov, para identificar EC en curso o que no hayan sido publicados aún. RESULTADOS: De acuerdo con la pregunta PICO, se llevó a cabo una búsqueda sistemática de evidencia científica relacionada al uso de panitumumab más FOLFIRI como tratamiento de pacientes adultos con CCR, gen KRAS no mutado, que recibió terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresa a metástasis, con ECOG 0-1. La presente sinopsis describe la evidencia disponible según el tipo de publicación, siguiendo lo indicado en los criterios de elegibilidad (GPC, ETS, RS con o sin meta análisis y estudios primarios). CONCLUSIONES: El presente dictamen preliminar tuvo por objetivo evaluar la mejor evidencia disponible en torno a la eficacia y seguridad de panitumumab más FOLFIRI comparado FOLFIRI solo para el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con cáncer colorrectal con gen KRAS no mutado (wild type) que recibió terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresa a metástasis, con ECOG 0-1. Tras la búsqueda sistemática de la literatura se identificaron cinco GPC (NCCN, NICE, JSCCR, ESMO y SIGN), dos ETS (SMC y NICE) y un ensayo clínico fase II de etiqueta abierta sin grupo de comparación publicado por Köhne et al. 2012. De las cinco GPC evaluadas, solo una recomendó específicamente el esquema de interés, otras dos plantearon recomendaciones generales que incluían al esquemas de interés y las últimas dos, no recomendaron el uso FOLFIRI más panitumumab. La evidencia de soporte utilizadas por las guías que presentaron recomendaciones a favor, fueron distintas y de baja calidad (ensayo clínico fase II o de extrapolaciones de resultados). En línea con ello, el comité de la SMC optó por no recomendar el uso de FOLFIRI más panitumumab, básicamente por falta de evidencia de respaldo. Por otra parte, el comité de NICE, a pesar de reconocer la falta de evidencia, optó por recomendar el esquema de interés, apoyándose en la extrapolación de los resultados de estudios basados en esquemas con FOLFOX y no FOLFIRI. Por otro lado, el ensayo clínico fase II, de etiqueta abierta, sin grupo comparador, mostró una similar SLP y un mayor porcentaje de EA serios (>50% de la población), a la reportada por otros estudios que evaluaron solo FOLFIRI como tratamiento de primera línea en pacientes con CCRm. Y aunque es necesario corroborar estos hallazgos con ECAs fase III que evalúen adecuadamente ambos tratamientos, estos hallazgos parecen mostrar similar eficacia y peor perfil de seguridad para FOLFIRI más panitumumab comparado con FOLFRIRI solo. Tomando en cuenta estos aspectos y que particularmente, que, hasta la fecha, la FDA no ha aprobado el uso de panitumumab en combinación con FOLFIRI como primera línea de tratamiento para pacientes con CCRm, con gen KRAS no mutado. Se concluye que, aunque existe incertidumbre respecto al verdadero balance riego/beneficio del uso de FOLFIRI más panitumumab comparado con FOLFIRI solo en la población de interés para el presente dictamen, las evidencia indirecta mostró mayor riesgo que beneficio sobre el uso de FOLFIRI más panitumumab comparado con el uso de FOLFIRI solo, en la población de interés. Por lo expuesto, el IETSI no aprueba el uso de FOLFIRI más panitumumab para el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con cáncer colorrectal con gen KRAS no mutado (wild type) que recibió terapia adyuvante con esquemas de oxaliplatino sin irinotecán y que progresa a metástasis, con ECOG 0-1.

Multidrug Therapy for Leprosy Can Cure Patients with Lobomycosis in Acre State, Brazil: A Proof of Therapy Study.

Lobomycosis, also referred to as lacaziosis, is an endemic cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal disease that mainly affects Amazonian forest dwellers in Brazil. There is no disease control program in place in Brazil, and antifungal therapy failures are common, and the therapy is inaccessible to most patients. We performed a randomized, unblinded clinical trial testing the cure rate of multiple drug therapy (MDT) for leprosy with surgical excision, with or without itraconazole. A control arm consisted of patients who did not adhere to either therapeutic regimens but continued to be followed up. Multiple drug therapy consisted of monthly supervised doses of 600 mg rifampicin, 300 mg clofazimine, and 100 mg dapsone, in addition to daily doses of 50 mg clofazimine and 100 mg dapsone. The patients in the MDT plus itraconazole arm also received itraconazole 100 mg twice daily. We followed up 54 patients from the MDT group and 26 patients from the MDT plus itraconazole group for an average of 4 years and 9 months. The 23 controls were followed up for 6 months on average. The following endpoints were observed: 1) unchanged (no apparent improvement), 2) improved (reduction in lesion size and/or pruritus), and 3) cured (complete remission of the lesions, no viable fungi, and no relapse for 2 years after the end of the drug treatment). The results indicated a significantly greater likelihood of cure associated with the use of multidrug therapy for leprosy with or without itraconazole when compared with the control group. The addition of itraconazole to MDT was not associated with improved outcomes, suggesting that MDT alone is effective.

Cost-utility analysis of interferon-free treatments for patients with early-stage genotype 1 hepatitis C virus in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted a cost-utility analysis of available interferon-free treatments for patients with early-stage genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C based on a Brazilian public health system perspective. METHODS: A Markov model was derived using a cohort of stage F0-F2 patients treated as recommended by the Brazilian national guidelines. RESULTS: Glecaprevir plus pibrentasvir was superior to all other treatments, followed by sofosbuvir plus velpatasvir. Sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir was identified as the least cost-effective option. CONCLUSIONS: The above findings were confirmed via probabilistic sensitivity analysis and the tested scenarios.

Anti-rod and ring antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C using direct-acting antivirals.

Anti-rods and rings (anti-RR) antibody induction is related to the combination of interferon and ribavirin in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. If the main factor leading to this autoimmune reaction is the combination of these drugs, is not well known, but in vitro studies shows that ribavirin alone can induce rods and rings structures. New direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) permit HCV treatment without needing interferon but may be associated with ribavirin in the most difficult-to-treat patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of anti-RR in patients with chronic HCV infection, before and after 12 weeks of treatment with DAAs, with and without ribavirin. From Jun 2016 to Oct 2017, 52 HCV-infected patients were screened for anti-RR before and after DAA therapy, including sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, simeprevir, and ribavirin. Serum samples were analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence. The anti-RR was present in 11 (21%) of the 52 patients (51.9% male and mean age of 59.1 years) before using DAAs. All of them had been previously treated and previous exposed to interferon/ribavirin, with exposure time to ribavirin associated with the presence of anti-RR. After 12 weeks of DAA treatment, 3 patients (5.7%) developed the antibody in low titers, and two of them (66%) were interferon/ribavirin experienced. Only one of the 29 naïve patients (3.44%) developed anti-RR during the current treatment. Anti-RR was present in patients previously treated with interferon/ribavirin and can emerge after DAA treatment probably at a lower frequency than after interferon/ribavirin treatment.