Cost-effectiveness analysis of imaging strategy for an intensive follow-up of patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IIB, IIC and III malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Many follow-up guidelines for patients with high-risk melanoma include expensive imaging studies, serum biomarkers and regular visits to the dermatologist, with little attention to cost-effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: To establish the cost-effectiveness of chest-abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (CT) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a follow-up protocol for patients at high risk of relapse. METHODS: This was a prospective single-centre cohort study of 290 patients with clinicopathological American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IIB, IIC and III melanoma. Patients had a body CT scan and brain MRI every 6 months and were withdrawn from the study after completing a 5-year follow-up or when metastases were detected. A cost-effectiveness analysis for each follow-up radiological procedure was performed. RESULTS: Patients underwent 1805 body CT scans and 1683 brain MRIs. Seventy-six metastases (26·2%) were identified by CT or MRI. CT scan was cost-effective in the first 4 years (cost-effectiveness ratio €4710·70-€14 437·10/patient with metastasis); brain MRI was cost-effective during the first year (cost-effectiveness ratio €14 090·60/patient with metastasis). Limitations included lack of survival analysis and comparisons with willingness-to-pay thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: Six-monthly CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis is a cost-effective technique for the early detection of metastases in the first 4 years of follow-up in patients with AJCC stage IIC and III melanoma, and in the first 3 years in patients with AJCC stage IIB melanoma. In addition, brain MRI has been shown to be cost-effective only in the first year of follow-up in patients with AJCC stage IIC and III melanoma.

Ultrasound-based follow-up does not increase survival in early-stage melanoma patients: A comparative cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Different protocols have been used to follow up melanoma patients in stage I-II. However, there is no consensus on the complementary tests that should be requested or the appropriate intervals between visits. Our aim is to compare an ultrasound-based follow-up with a clinical follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis of two prospectively collected cohorts of melanoma patients in stage IB-IIA from two tertiary referral centres in Barcelona (clinical-based follow-up [C-FU]) and Turin (ultrasound-based follow-up [US-FU]). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate distant metastases-free survival (DMFS), disease-free interval (DFI), nodal metastases-free survival (NMFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS). RESULTS: A total of 1149 patients in the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IB and IIA were included in this study, of which 554 subjects (48%) were enrolled for a C-FU, and 595 patients (52%) received a protocolised US-FU. The median age was 53.8 years (interquartile range [IQR] 41.5-65.2) with a median follow-up time of 4.14 years (IQR 1.2-7.6). During follow-up, 69 patients (12.5%) in C-FU and 72 patients (12.1%) in US-FU developed disease progression. Median time to relapse for the first metastatic site was 2.11 years (IQR 1.14-4.04) for skin metastases, 1.32 (IQR 0.57-3.29) for lymph node metastases and 2.84 (IQR 1.32-4.60) for distant metastases. The pattern of progression and the total proportion of metastases were not significantly different (P = .44) in the two centres. No difference in DFI, DMFS, NMFS and MSS was found between the two cohorts. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-based follow-up does not increase the survival of melanoma patients in stage IB-IIA.

Psoriasis y embarazo: revisión (II) / Psoriasis In Pregnancy: A Review (II)

Actualmente disponemos de escasa evidencia científica que defina el efecto exacto del uso de determinados fármacos sobre el desarrollo embrionario o fetal en gestantes con psoriasis debido a la ausencia de ensayos clínicos llevados a cabo en esta población por razones éticas. La información publicada respecto al uso de terapia biológica durante la gestación es escasa, y se basa en estudios retrospectivos y observacionales, y la experiencia de su uso en psoriasis, por el momento, es escasa. Los datos recogidos en la literatura parecen ofrecer una seguridad aceptable respecto al uso de terapia biológica durante la gestación; sin embargo no existe una evidencia absoluta. Esta revisión intenta describir con detalle la experiencia acumulada publicada en la literatura respecto al uso de terapia biológica en la gestación, aunque, como sabemos, la mayoría de los artículos se refieren a otro tipo de enfermedades reumatológicas, pero su uso en psoriasis crece progresivamente

Scarce scientific evidence is available to define the precise effects that certain drugs might have on embryonic and fetal development if taken by pregnant women with psoriasis, given the ethical concerns that preclude enrolling such women in clinical trials. The little information on the use of biologics during gestation that has been published is based on retrospective and observational studies, and experience with these drugs in this context in psoriasis is still very limited. The literature seems to suggest that biologic therapy is safe during pregnancy, but there is no certainty. This detailed review of accumulated experience with biologic therapy during pregnancy relies mainly on descriptions of the management of other types of rheumatic disease, although the use of these agents in psoriasis is growing steadily

Psoriasis y embarazo: revisión (I) / Psoriasis in Pregnancy: A Review (i)

La psoriasis es una enfermedad inflamatoria compleja que, en el caso de las mujeres, tiene una alta incidencia durante su etapa reproductiva. El tratamiento de la psoriasis durante el embarazo representa un verdadero reto terapéutico ya que hemos de valorar adecuadamente la extensión de la enfermedad, las comorbilidades asociadas y el potencial riesgo fetal. Actualmente disponemos de escasa evidencia científica que defina el efecto exacto del uso de determinados fármacos sobre el desarrollo embrionario o fetal en gestantes con psoriasis debido a la ausencia de ensayos clínicos llevados a cabo en esta población por razones éticas. Esta revisión intenta proporcionar datos actuales relativos a curso de la psoriasis durante la gestación, comorbilidades asociadas y pautas terapéuticas recomendadas en este contexto

Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory disease, and in women the incidence is high in child-bearing years. Treatment during pregnancy presents genuine challenges since management requires adequate assessment of the extent of disease, comorbidity, and potential risk to the fetus. Scientific evidence is scarce on the effects that certain drugs have on fetal development given the ethical concerns about enrolling pregnant women in clinical trials. This review presents up-to-date information on the course of psoriasis during gestation and discusses associated conditions and the therapeutic protocols recommended for use during pregnancy

Psoriasis in pregnancy: a review (I).

Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory disease, and in women the incidence is high in child-bearing years. Treatment during pregnancy presents genuine challenges since management requires adequate assessment of the extent of disease, comorbidity, and potential risk to the fetus. Scientific evidence is scarce on the effects that certain drugs have on fetal development given the ethical concerns about enrolling pregnant women in clinical trials. This review presents up-to-date information on the course of psoriasis during gestation and discusses associated conditions and the therapeutic protocols recommended for use during pregnancy.

Psoriasis in pregnancy: a review (II).

Scarce scientific evidence is available to define the precise effects that certain drugs might have on embryonic and fetal development if taken by pregnant women with psoriasis, given the ethical concerns that preclude enrolling such women in clinical trials. The little information on the use of biologics during gestation that has been published is based on retrospective and observational studies, and experience with these drugs in this context in psoriasis is still very limited. The literature seems to suggest that biologic therapy is safe during pregnancy, but there is no certainty. This detailed review of accumulated experience with biologic therapy during pregnancy relies mainly on descriptions of the management of other types of rheumatic disease, although the use of these agents in psoriasis is growing steadily.

Encuesta sobre el déficit de anestesiólogos en cataluña y análisis de la situación realizada por 47 jefes de servicio / Survey on shortage of anasthesiologists in Catalonia and assessment carried out by 47 chiefs of anesthesiology services

No disponible

Epidural morphine analgesia in Guillain Barré syndrome.

Severe pain is a frequent symptom in the Guillain Barré syndrome and can be intense, long lasting and with no response to the usual analgesics, including parenteral opiates. Epidural analgesia using morphine chloride in low doses has satisfactorily relieved pain in this disease in nine patients.