Progression of ECG in hydroxychloroquine overdose.

Hydroxychloroquine overdose is associated with myocardial toxicity and conduction disorders. We report a case of hydroxychloroquine overdose that demonstrated a rapid progressive intraventricular conduction delay and QT prolongation resulting in significant bradycardia and shock despite aggressive treatment. We describe the rare capture of abrupt abnormalities of this overdose in sequential electrocardiograms in the immediate hours post-ingestion.

Massive Tension Hemothorax After Pacemaker Implantation.

A case of an 85-year-old male on apixaban and clopidogrel undergoing pacemaker implantation is described. After procedure he developed unilateral tension hemothorax and required emergent drainage and exploratory thoracotomy. No vascular, cardiac, or pulmonary source was identified. After multidisciplinary discussions, it was speculated that spontaneous intercostal vessel rupture due to forceful coughing and elevated blood pressure during the procedure was the most likely cause of bleeding.

Pharmacodynamic Effects When Clopidogrel is Given Before Cangrelor Discontinuation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether initiation of clopidogrel before discontinuation of cangrelor would impact on the recovery of platelet reactivity. BACKGROUND: The active metabolite of clopidogrel cannot bind to P2Y12 when cangrelor occupies the receptor. Pharmacodynamic studies have shown that this interaction is avoided when clopidogrel is given at the end of the cangrelor infusion. We found that antiplatelet effects of another thienopyridine, prasugrel, were apparent when prasugrel was administered 0.5 hour before cangrelor was stopped. METHODS: Platelet function studies (light transmission aggregometry, VerifyNow, and flow cytometry) were performed on blood from patients with stable coronary artery disease who were taking aspirin when a loading dose of clopidogrel (600 mg) was given during a cangrelor infusion (0.5 and 1 hour before cangrelor was stopped). Results were compared with those obtained when clopidogrel was given immediately after cangrelor was stopped. RESULTS: Administration of clopidogrel 0.5 and 1 hour before discontinuation of the cangrelor infusion did not prevent recovery of platelet reactivity more effectively than administration at the end of the infusion. CONCLUSION: Our results support the previously established strategy of administering clopidogrel immediately after discontinuation of cangrelor. Earlier administration increases the recovery of platelet function.

Pharmacodynamic effects during the transition between cangrelor and ticagrelor.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine pharmacodynamic effects during transition from intravenous cangrelor to oral ticagrelor and from oral ticagrelor to intravenous cangrelor. BACKGROUND: Cangrelor is an intravenous antagonist of P2Y12 and its use will require transition to and from oral agents. METHODS: Patients (n = 12) with stable coronary artery disease who were taking aspirin 81 mg daily were recruited. On study day 1, they received a bolus plus 2-h infusion of cangrelor plus a 180-mg dose of ticagrelor at either 0.5 h (n = 6) or 1.25 h (n = 6). Pharmacodynamic effects (light transmission platelet aggregation in response to 20 and 5 µmol/l adenosine diphosphate, VerifyNow, P2Y12 assay (Accumetrics, San Diego, California), vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein index, and flow cytometry) were assessed during and after the cangrelor infusion. Patients took 90 mg of ticagrelor twice daily for either 6 (n = 6) or 7 (n = 6) doses. On study day 5, pharmacodynamic effects were assessed before and during a bolus plus 2-h infusion of cangrelor. RESULTS: During cangrelor infusion, extensive inhibition of platelet function reflected by limited residual platelet reactivity was apparent. After cangrelor was stopped, the antiplatelet effects of ticagrelor were preserved despite a modest increase in platelet reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor given before or during infusion of cangrelor did not attenuate the pharmacodynamic effects of cangrelor. The pharmacodynamic effects of ticagrelor were preserved when ticagrelor was given during infusion of cangrelor. Consistent with the reversible binding of ticagrelor, this oral P2Y12 antagonist can be administered before, during, or after treatment with cangrelor.

Survey of sensitive information written in patient notes by psychiatry trainees.

OBJECTIVE: Allowing psychiatric patients access to their electronic medical record (EMR) may cause difficulty related to the sensitivity of the note content. The authors investigated whether notes written by psychiatry trainees were ready for release to patients. METHODS: Authors conducted a review of 128 PGY-3 to PGY-5 outpatient notes not explicitly marked as "highly confidential." One psychiatrist and one non-psychiatrist read each note from the patient's perspective. Reviewers assigned a score of 0-2 (0: No Concern; 1: Some Concern; 2: Major Concern) for each note. RESULTS: Eighty-nine notes (70%) were assessed as "No Concern" by both reviewers; 30 (23%) were of "Some Concern;" and 9 (7%) were of "Major Concern;" 92 (72%) were deemed of "No Concern" by a psychiatrist, as compared with 120 (94%) by the non-psychiatrist. CONCLUSIONS: Trainee EMR outpatient notes are not likely to cause major concerns for patients who read them. Psychiatrist-reviewers identified more concerns than non-psychiatrist-reviewers.

Reproducibility of QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube assay.

Studies are needed to characterize the reproducibility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) for targeted U.S. screening populations. Members of northern California households were tested with the QFT-G in-tube assay (QFT-G-IT) at two home visits 3 months apart. Reproducibility and agreement with the tuberculin skin test (TST) were assessed. Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the role of test-related error. Of 63 individuals (49 adults and 14 children) completing QFT-G-IT at both time points, 79% were foreign-born (98% from Latin America) and 68% reported Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination. At the baseline visit, 23 (37%) were TST positive and 15 (24%) were QFT-G-IT positive (kappa = 0.48 [+/- 0.11]). At 3 months, 3/48 (6.3%; 95% confidence interval [95CI], 2 to 17) of those initially QFT-G-IT negative converted, and 5/15 (33%; 95CI, 15 to 58) of those initially QFT-G-IT positive reverted. Among the 8 individuals with inconsistent QFT-G-IT results, the maximum gamma interferon response at either visit was 0.68 IU/ml versus means of 4.99 (+/- 3.74) and 6.95 (+/- 5.6) for 10 persistent positives at the first and second visits, respectively. Expected false-reversion and -conversion rates were 32% (90CI, 25 to 39%) and 6.95% (90CI, 4.6 to 9.8%) when the sensitivity and specificity were assumed to average 70% and 98%, respectively. Transient responses to QFT-G-IT are common, and low positive results need to be interpreted with caution. Further studies are needed to characterize the predictive value of the test for U.S. foreign-born and other targeted screening populations.