Key Points• Prescribing appropriately for age and cardiovascular risk is likely to result in minimal permanent toxicity-related dasatinib cessation.• CML patients on dasatinib with pleural effusion are more likely to have achieved MR4.5 after 6-month therapy than those without effusion.Dasatinib has shown superiority over imatinib in achieving molecular responses (MRs) in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia but with a different toxicity profile, which may impact its overall benefit. Reported toxicities include pleural effusions and pulmonary hypertension, and although the incidence of these events is well described, response to therapy and impact of dose modifications on toxicity has not been comprehensively characterized in a real-world setting. We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of dasatinib adverse events in 212 chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients at 17 Australian institutions. Adverse events were reported in 116 patients (55%), most commonly pleural effusions (53 patients, 25%), which was the predominant cause of permanent drug cessation.Age and dose were risk factors for pleural effusion (P , .01 and .047, respectively).Recurrence rates were higher in those who remained on 100 mg compared with those who dose reduced (P 5 .041); however, recurrence still occurred at 50 mg. Patients who developed pleural effusions were more likely to have achieved MR4.5 after 6 months of dasatinib than those without effusions (P 5 .008). Pulmonary hypertension occurred in 5% of patients, frequently in association with pleural effusion, and was reversible upon dasatinib cessation in 6 of 7 patients. Dose reductions and temporary cessations had minimal impact on MR rates. Our observations suggest that by using the lowest effective dose in older patients to minimize the effusion risk, dose modification for cytopenias, and care with concomitant antiplatelet therapy, the necessity for permanent dasatinib cessation due to toxicity is likely to be minimal in immunologically competent patients.
Breastfeeding offers many benefits to both mother and baby. Breastfeeding is generally recommended for mothers of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) unless some associated risk outweighs the benefits. Evidence indicates that infants with NAS who receive human milk require less pharmacologic treatment and have shorter hospital lengths of stay. Perhaps the greatest barrier to breastfeeding for women with opioid dependence is the inaccurate and inconsistent information they receive from different sources, including health care professionals. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) have published statements that support breastfeeding infants with NAS. The ABM has a dedicated protocol to guide clinicians in deciding which mothers should and which mothers should not breastfeed their infants. In this review, studies evaluating the effects of breastfeeding, professional organizations' protocols and recommendations regarding breastfeeding, and barriers to breastfeeding infants with NAS are discussed, as well as the dangers of illicit drug exposure and avoiding rebound NAS in a breastfed infant. Clinicians can play an important role in in identifying, supporting, counseling, and advocating for mothers who wish to breastfeed their infant with NAS.
Background: Nearly 3 million U.S. family caregivers support someone with cancer. However, oncology clinicbased service lines that proactively screen, assess, and support cancer caregivers are nearly nonexistent. Objective: To examine first-year experiences of a nurse-led clinic-based telehealth support service (Family-Strong) for family caregivers of patients with recently diagnosed grade IV brain tumors. Methods: This is a retrospective evaluation of operational outcomes from initial implementation of the FamilyStrong Service, developed in partnership with Caregiver and Bereavement Support Services at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care. From August 2018 to December 2019, 53 family caregivers were proactively identified and enrolled by a palliative care nurse, working approximately one day/week, who performed monthly caregiver distress thermometer screenings by phone and provided emotional, educational, problem-solving, and referral support. Results: Enrolled family caregivers were a mean age of 53.5 years and mostly female (62.3%), full-or part-time employed (67.9%), and the patient's spouse/partner (79.3%). Caregivers provided support 6.7 days/week for 11.2 hours/day. The palliative care nurse performed 235 distress screenings and provided support that included 68 documented instances of emotional, problem-solving, and educational support, 41 nurse-facilitated communications with the neuro-oncology team about patient issues, and 24 referrals to UAB and community services (e.g., counseling). The most common problems caregivers wanted assistance with included: managing their relative's health condition and symptoms (51%), coordinating care/services (21%), and planning for the future/advance care planning (17%). Discussion: The FamilyStrong Program is among the first ''real world'' oncology clinic-based formal support services for advance cancer family caregivers.
Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections have high morbidity and mortality rates. Optimization of treatment and prevention strategies are imperative to improve the care and outcomes of neonates infected with HSV. Management of HSV includes reducing neonatal transmission, treating acute infections, and limiting adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and future cutaneous outbreaks after acute infections. Transmission risk may be affected by route of delivery and maternal suppressive therapy. Neonatal HSV infections are divided into 3 categories: localized skin, eyes, or mouth; localized central nervous system; or disseminated infections. Parenteral acyclovir, the pharmacologic agent of choice, is used when treating each type of infection. However, dosage strategies and durations of therapy may vary based on disease state severity, presentation, and patient characteristics. Oral acyclovir may be used as suppressive therapy after acute treatment completion in specific neonatal populations, reducing long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and future skin eruptions. The mortality rate remains high even with treatment.
As a pharmacist, being asked to give advice about medication use during pregnancy or lactation can be daunting. This article reviews the principles of drug transfer across the placenta, into breast milk, and reviews the rating scales and different resources available. The Food and Drug Administration classification scale is reviewed and the upcoming changes are explained, along with recent labeling changes for specific medications or drug classes when appropriate. This article provides the pharmacist with a practical set of tools to review the information available and assess the risks of treating or withholding a medication for mother and infant.INDEx TERMS adverse drug effect, lactation, medication use, pregnancy, teratogen, teratogenicity J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2013;18(3):247-258
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