Specific IgE and Basophil Activation Test by Microarray: A Promising Tool for Diagnosis of Platinum Compound Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) to platinum-based compounds (PCs) are on the rise, and their personalized and safe management is essential to enable first-line treatment for these cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the basophil activation test by flow cytometry (BAT-FC) and the newly developed sIgE-microarray and BAT-microarray in diagnosing IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to PCs. A total of 24 patients with DHRs to PCs (20 oxaliplatin and four carboplatin) were evaluated: thirteen patients were diagnosed as allergic with positive skin tests (STs) or drug provocation tests (DPTs), six patients were diagnosed as non-allergic with negative STs and DPTs, and five patients were classified as suspected allergic because DPTs could not be performed. In addition, four carboplatin-tolerant patients were included as controls. The BAT-FC was positive in 2 of 13 allergic patients, with a sensitivity of 15.4% and specificity of 100%. However, the sIgE- and BAT-microarray were positive in 11 of 13 DHR patients, giving a sensitivity of over 84.6% and a specificity of 90%. Except for one patient, all samples from the non-allergic and control groups were negative for sIgE- and BAT-microarray. Our experience indicated that the sIgE- and BAT-microarray could be helpful in the endophenotyping of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to PCs and may provide an advance in decision making for drug provocation testing.

[Analysis of patient safety in the process of drug prescription in research.] / Análisis de la seguridad del paciente en el proceso de prescripción de medicamentos en investigación.

OBJECTIVE: The increasing complexity of clinical trial protocols and the very nature of investigational drugs increase the likelihood of prescribing errors and require comprehensive control and monitoring of treatments. The aim of this study was to measure and analyze the potential risks of prescribing errors in investigational drugs. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive, and observational study was carried out in a third-level hospital in Madrid, for one month in 2017. Manual prescribing errors (EP) in investigational drugs and potential risks of harm to the patient were analyzed. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, including the absolute and relative frequency for the variables. RESULTS: A total of 254 medical orders corresponding to 327 lines of treatment and 274 different drugs were reviewed, of which 83% were categorized as "high-risk". Results showed 217 (85.4%) EP within the identification of the medical order and 1,045 (319,6%) in the treatment. The risk level of harm to the patient was high for all EP in patient identification and moderate for all EP in the clinical trial identification. The lines of treatment showed an especially high-risk potential for EP in dosage (25%) and frequency (41%). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of EP found, along with the high-risk potential these entail, reflects the need for improving the security process when prescribing investigational drugs in our field.

OBJETIVO: La creciente complejidad de los protocolos de ensayo clínico y la propia naturaleza de los medicamentos en investigación aumentan la probabilidad de errores de medicación, a la par que exigen un control y seguimiento exhaustivo de los tratamientos. El objetivo de este artículo fue medir y analizar el riesgo potencial de los errores de prescripción de los medicamentos en investigación. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y observacional en un hospital de tercer nivel de Madrid, durante un mes en 2017. Se analizaron los errores de prescripción (EP) manual de medicamentos en investigación y el riesgo potencial de causar daño al paciente. Se realizó un análisis estadístico descriptivo, incluyendo la frecuencia absoluta y relativa para las variables. RESULTADOS: Se revisaron 254 órdenes médicas correspondientes a 327 líneas de tratamiento y 274 medicamentos distintos, de los cuales el 83% se categorizaron de riesgo alto. Se encontraron 217 (85,4%) EP en la identificación de la orden médica y 1.045 (319,6%) en el tratamiento. El nivel de riesgo de causar daño al paciente fue alto para todos los EP de identificación del paciente y moderado para todos los EP de identificación del ensayo clínico. En las líneas de tratamiento, el riesgo potencial fue alto, principalmente en los EP de dosis (25%) y frecuencia (41%). CONCLUSIONES: El elevado número de EP encontrados, junto con el alto riesgo potencial que supone la mayoría de ellos, refleja la necesidad de mejorar la seguridad del proceso de prescripción de medicamentos en investigación en nuestro entorno.

Safe Handling of Antineoplastic Drugs During Allergy Diagnostic Workup and Desensitization: A Single Experience of the Allergy Department in a Tertiary Hospital.

The increased use of antineoplastic drugs has been associated with a rising number of hypersensitivity reactions to these drugs, which has led to a growth in the demand for assistance from allergy services. The involvement of an allergist is essential to ensure that these patients with hypersensitivity reactions continue to be able to receive appropriate first-line treatment. Chemotherapy and biological agents have specific handling requirements and all the allergy departments involved in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients reacting to these drugs should find the means to guarantee safety. There are currently several guidelines on the safe handling of hazardous drugs for healthcare workers. However, specific recommendations are lacking for reducing occupational exposure in staff working in the allergy departments and managing these drugs for the diagnosis and management of hypersensitivity reactions. This review article focuses on the safe handling strategy of the allergy department in the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and provides details of its implementation and experience over 10 years. This protocol could improve the knowledge of safe handling of antineoplastic drugs in allergy procedures.

Healthcare failure mode and effect analysis in the chemotherapy preparation process.

PURPOSE: To conduct a Health Care Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (HFMEA) of the chemotherapy preparation process to identify the steps with the potential to cause errors, and to develop further strategies to improve the process and thus minimize the risk of errors. METHODS: An HFMEA was conducted to identify and reduce preparation errors during the chemotherapy preparation process. A multidisciplinary team mapped the preparation process, formally identified all the steps, and then conducted a brainstorming session to determine potential failure modes and their potential effects. A severity and probability score for each failure mode, a hazard score (HS) and a total HS were calculated. A hazard analysis was conducted for each HS equal to or more than 8. Finally, an action plan was identified for each failure mode. After the action plan was implemented, failure modes were revaluated and a new HS score was calculated as well as the percentage decrease in risk. RESULTS: The team identified five main steps in the chemotherapy preparation process and nine potential failure modes. After implementing the control measures, all the HSs decreased. The total HS associated with the chemotherapy preparation process decreased from 54 to 26 (-52%). This reduction in the total HS was mainly achieved by updating the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and implementing bar code and gravimetric control system. CONCLUSION: The application of HFMEA to the chemotherapy preparation process in centralized chemotherapy units can be very useful in identifying actions aimed at reducing errors in the healthcare setting.

Evaluación de la adherencia y de los resultados en salud en trasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos / Evaluation of adherence and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

OBJETIVO: Medir la adherencia a la profilaxis del fallo secundario del implante (ciclosporina, tacrolimus, sirolimus), de la enfermedad injerto contra receptor (ciclosporina, tacrolimus, sirolimus, micofenolato) y de las infecciones (posaconazol, voriconazol, valganciclovir) en el paciente sometido a trasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos. Compa-rar la incidencia de complicaciones agudas en función de la adherencia.MÉTODO: Estudio observacional retrospectivo en pacientes sometidos a trasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos desde mayo de 2017 hasta mayo de 2018, entre el día 0 y +100 postrasplante. La adherencia a micofenolato, tacrolimus, sirolimus, posaconazol, voriconazol y valganciclovir se evaluó mediante los registros de dispensación del servicio de farmacia, siempre que fuera posible. Se definió como paciente adherente aquel con un porcentaje de adherencia igual o superior al 95%. La evaluación de la adherencia a ciclosporina se realizó mediante medida de los niveles plasmáticos. Se definió como paciente no adherente aquel cuyos niveles plasmáticos de ciclosporina fueran inferiores a 100 ng/ml en alguna medida entre los días 0 y +100, en ausencia de factores asociados que lo justificaran. La asociación entre adherencia e incidencia de complicaciones agudas (fallo secundario del implante, enfermedad injerto contra receptor aguda e infección) se estimó mediante la odds ratio y su intervalo de confianza del 95%. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 46 pacientes. Todos comenzaron profilaxis inmunosupresora con ciclosporina; en el 8,7% se cambió a tacrolimus o sirolimus por toxicidad. Todos los pacientes recibieron ciclosporina para la profilaxis de la enfermedad injerto contra receptor. En el 41,3% de los casos también se administró micofenolato. El 82,6% fueron adherentes a la profilaxis del fallo de injerto. En cuanto a la profilaxis de enfermedad injerto contra receptor, resultó adherente el 80,4%. Todos los pacientes resultaron adherentes a la profilaxis infecciosa. La incidencia de enfermedad injerto contra receptor aguda de los pacientes adherentes a la profilaxis fue del 45,9% frente al 55,6% en los no adherentes (odds ratio 0,68; intervalo de confianza del 95% 0,157-2,943; p = 0,718). CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes sometidos a trasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos presentan una aceptable adherencia a la profilaxis de complicaciones agudas, pero existe un considerable porcentaje de pacientes que no toman su tratamiento adecuadamente. La correcta adherencia a los inmunosupresores parece disminuir el riesgo de sufrir enfermedad injerto contra receptor aguda

OBJECTIVE: To measure adherence to cyclosporine, tacrolimus and siroli-mus prophylaxis against secondary graft failure; cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus and mycophenolate prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease; and posaconazole, voriconazole, valganciclovir prophylaxis against infec-tion in patients undergo to transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells; and to analise the incidence of acute complications based on adherence.METHOD: Retrospective observational study of patients who underwent allo-geneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation between May 2017 and May 2018. Analyses were carried out between 0 and +100 days post-engraftment.Whenever possible, adherence to mycophenolate, tacrolimus, sirolimus, posaconazole, voriconazole and valganciclovir was evaluated by means of the dispensation records of the Pharmacy Department of our hospital. To be considered adherent, patients should have proved an adherence rate equal to or higher than 95%. Adherence to cyclosporine was determi-ned based on serum levels. Patients were considered to be non-adherent if their cyclosporine serum concentrations dropped below 100 ng/mL at any time between days 0 and +100, in the absence of any specific justifying circumstances. The association between adherence and the incidence of acute complications (secondary graft failure, acute graft-versus-host disease and infection) was determined by means of the odds ratio (confidence interval: 95%). RESULTS: The study sample was made up by 46 patients, all of whom were started on immunosuppressive cyclosporine prophylaxis; 8.7% needed to be switched to tacrolimus or sirolimus due to toxicity issues. All the pa-tients received cyclosporine as prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disea-se. Mycophenolate was also administered in 41.3% of cases. A total of 82.6% patients were found to be adherent to their prophylaxis treatment against graft failure and 80.4% were found to be adherent to prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease. All patients were adherent to anti-infection prophylaxis. The incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease in prophylaxis-adherent patients was 45.9%, compared with 55.6% for non-adherent pa-tients (odds ratio 0.68; confidence interval: 95% 0.157-2.943; p = 0.718). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation demonstrated acceptable adherence to prophylaxis aga-inst acute complications, although a considerable percentage of patients was found not to take their medication as prescribed. Correct adherence to immunosuppressants seems to reduce the risk of developing acute graft-versus-host disease

Evaluation of adherence and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To measure adherence to cyclosporine, tacrolimus and  sirolimus prophylaxis against secondary graft failure; cyclosporine,  tacrolimus, sirolimus and mycophenolate prophylaxis against graft- versus-host disease; and posaconazole, voriconazole, valganciclovir  prophylaxis against infection in patients undergo to transplantation of  haematopoietic stem cells; and to analise the incidence of acute  complications based on adherence. METHOD: Retrospective observational study of patients who underwent  allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation between May 2017  and May 2018. Analyses were carried out between 0 and +100 days  post-engraftment. Whenever possible, adherence to mycophenolate,  tacrolimus, sirolimus, posaconazole, voriconazole and valganciclovir was  evaluated by means of the dispensation records of the Pharmacy  Department of our hospital. To be considered adherent, patients should  have proved an adherence rate equal to or higher than 95%. Adherence  to cyclosporine was determined based on serum levels.  Patients were considered to be non-adherent if their cyclosporine serum  concentrations dropped below 100 ng/mL at any time between days 0  and +100, in the absence of any specific justifying circumstances. The  association between adherence and the inci dence of acute  complications (secondary graft failure, acute graft-versushost disease  and infection) was determined by means of the odds ratio (confidence  interval: 95%). RESULTS: The study sample was made up by 46 patients, all of whom were started on immunosuppressive cyclosporine prophylaxis; 8.7%   needed to be switched to tacrolimus or sirolimus due to toxicity issues.   All the patients received cyclosporine as prophylaxis against graft-  versus-host disease. Mycophenolate was also administered in 41.3% of  cases. A total of 82.6% patients were found to be adherent to their  prophylaxis treatment against graft failure and 80.4% were found to be  adherent to prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease. All patients  were adherent to anti-infection prophylaxis. The incidence of acute  graft-versus-host disease in prophylaxisadherent patients was 45.9%,  compared with 55.6% for non-adherent patients (odds ratio 0.68;  confidence interval: 95% 0.157-2.943; p = 0.718). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation demonstrated acceptable adherence to prophylaxis  against acute complications, although a considerable percentage of  patients was found not to take their medication as prescribed. Correct  adherence to immunosuppressants seems to reduce the risk of  developing acute graftversus- host disease.

Objetivo: Medir la adherencia a la profilaxis del fallo secundario del implante (ciclosporina, tacrolimus, sirolimus), de la enfermedad  injerto contra receptor (ciclosporina, tacrolimus, sirolimus,  micofenolato) y de las infecciones (posaconazol, voriconazol,  valganciclovir) en el paciente sometido a trasplante alogénico de  progenitores hematopoyéticos. Comparar la incidencia de  complicaciones agudas en función de la adherencia.Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo en pacientes sometidos a trasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos desde mayo de 2017 hasta mayo de 2018, entre el día 0 y +100 postrasplante. La adherencia a micofenolato, tacrolimus, sirolimus, posaconazol,  voriconazol y valganciclovir se evaluó mediante los registros de  dispensación del servicio de farmacia, siempre que fuera posible. Se  definió como paciente adherente aquel con un porcentaje de adherencia  igual o superior al 95%. La evaluación de la adherencia a ciclosporina se  realizó mediante medida de los niveles plasmáticos. Se definió como  paciente no adherente aquel cuyos niveles plasmáticos de ciclosporina  fueran inferiores a 100 ng/ml en alguna medida entre los días 0 y +100,  en ausencia de factores asociados que lo justificaran. La  asociación entre adherencia e incidencia de complicaciones agudas (fallo  secundario del implante, enfermedad injerto contra receptor  aguda e infección) se estimó mediante la odds ratio y su intervalo de  confianza del 95%.Resultados: Se incluyó a 46 pacientes. Todos comenzaron rofilaxis inmunosupresora con ciclosporina; en el 8,7% se cambió a  tacrolimus o sirolimus por toxicidad. Todos los pacientes recibieron  ciclosporina para la profilaxis de la enfermedad injerto contra receptor.  En el 41,3% de los casos también se administró micofenolato. El 82,6%  fueron adherentes a la profilaxis del fallo de injerto. En cuanto a la  profilaxis de enfermedad injerto contra receptor, resultó adherente el  80,4%. Todos los pacientes resultaron adherentes a la profilaxis  infecciosa. La incidencia de enfermedad injerto contra receptor aguda de  los pacientes adherentes a la profilaxis fue del 45,9% frente al  55,6% en los no adherentes (odds ratio 0,68; intervalo de confianza del  95% 0,157-2,943; p = 0,718). Conclusiones: Los pacientes sometidos a trasplante alogénico de  progenitores hematopoyéticos presentan una aceptable adherencia a la  profilaxis de complicaciones agudas, pero existe un considerable  porcentaje de pacientes que no toman su tratamiento adecuadamente.  La correcta adherencia a los inmunosupresores parece disminuir el  riesgo de sufrir enfermedad injerto contra receptor aguda.

Chemotherapy Near the End of Life in Onco-Hematological Adult Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The use of chemotherapy near the end of life is not advisable. There are scarce data in Europe but shows signs of aggressiveness. We designed this study to analyze the proportion of onco-hematological patients receiving chemotherapy within their last 2 weeks of life as well as starting a new chemotherapy regimen in the 30 days prior to death. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. Adults who died of an onco-hematological neoplasia while hospitalized between April 2017 and March 2018 were included. We assessed the use of chemotherapy over the course of the last 14 days of life, defined as the administration of at least one dose of chemotherapy. We also examined the proportion of patients starting a new chemotherapy regimen in the last 30 days of life. RESULTS: A total of 298 inpatients died in the Hematology and Oncology units. During the last 14 days, 28.2% (n = 11) of hematological and 26.3% (n = 68) of oncological patients received chemotherapy; the overall rate was 26.5% (n = 79). Furthermore, the proportion of patients starting a new chemotherapy regimen in the last 30 days of life was high (20.5% and 20.8%, respectively). Female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-3.35) and age <45 (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.05-6.88) were associated with higher rates of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life was high, as well as the proportion of patients starting a new regimen in their last 30 days. This was indicative of excessive aggressiveness at the end-of-life care.