RESUMO
Posaconazole prophylaxis has demonstrated efficacy in the prevention of invasive aspergillosis during prolonged neutropenia following acute myeloid leukemia induction chemotherapy. Antifungal treatment decreases serum galactomannan enzyme immunoassay diagnostic accuracy that could delay the diagnosis and treatment. We retrospectively studied patients with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent intensive chemotherapy and antifungal prophylaxis by posaconazole oral suspension. Clinical, radiological, microbiological features and treatment response of patients with invasive aspergillosis that occurred despite posaconazole prophylaxis were analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy of serum galactomannan assay according to posaconazole plasma concentrations has been performed. A total of 288 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, treated by induction chemotherapy, who received posaconazole prophylaxis for more than five days were included in the present study. The incidence of invasive aspergillosis was 8% with 12 (4.2%), 8 (2.8%) and 3 (1%), possible, probable and proven invasive aspergillosis, respectively. Posaconazole plasma concentration was available for 258 patients. Median duration of posaconazole treatment was 17 days, and median posaconazole plasma concentration was 0.5 mg/L. None of patients with invasive aspergillosis and posaconazole concentration ≥ 0.5 mg/L had a serum galactomannan positive test. Sensitivity of serum galactomannan assay to detect probable and proven invasive aspergillosis was 81.8%. Decreasing the cut-off value for serum galactomannan optical density index from 0.5 to 0.3 increased sensitivity to 90.9%. In a homogenous cohort of acute myeloid leukemia patients during induction chemotherapy, increasing the posaconazole concentration decreases the sensitivity of serum galactomannan assay.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) may be considered in patients with atrial fibrillation and contraindication for long-term anticoagulation. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of LAAC followed by single antiplatelet therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and previous spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: In this explorative, prospective, single-center study, consecutive patients who underwent LAAC because of previous spontaneous ICH over a period of 4 years were analyzed. Risks of ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic complications were estimated using the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, respectively. Single antiplatelet therapy was given for at least 6 months post implantation. Clinical follow-up included cardiological evaluations at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and neurological evaluations at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients underwent LAAC with a mean follow-up of 12 ± 7 months. The observed annual rate of ischemic stroke was 4.35% compared with an expected rate of 7.23% according to the mean risk of the population based on CHA2DS2-VASc score, which translated into a 40% risk reduction. The observed annual rate of major bleeding was 4.35% compared with an expected rate of 8.05% according to the mean risk of the population based on HAS-BLED score, which translated into a 46% risk reduction. CONCLUSIONS: LAAC followed by single antiplatelet therapy is feasible as an alternative to oral anticoagulation in high-risk patients with previous ICH, with an acceptable periprocedural risk. Longer follow-up in a larger number of patients will be needed to establish the effectiveness of LAAC relative to direct oral anticoagulants.
