Symptomatic hypomagnesemia in cystic fibrosis

Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders Triggered by Aminoglycoside or Colistin Therapy: A Systematic Review

Aminoglycoside or colistin therapy may alter the renal tubular function without decreasing the glomerular filtration rate. This association has never been extensively investigated. We conducted a systematic review of the literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations. Databases searched included United States National Library of Medicine, Excerpta Medica, and Web of Science. For the final analysis, we evaluated 46 reports, published after 1960, describing 82 cases. A total of 286 electrolyte and acid-base disorders were reported. Hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia were reported in more than three quarter of cases. Further disorders were, in decreasing order of frequency, metabolic alkalosis, hyponatremia, hypophosphatemia, hypouricemia, hypernatremia, and metabolic acidosis. Six electrolyte and acid-base disorders were reported in seven cases, five in 12 cases, four in 16 cases, three in 31 cases, two in 11 cases, and one in five cases. Laboratory features consistent with a loop of Henle/distal tubular dysfunction were noted in 56 (68%), with a proximal tubular dysfunction in three (3.7%), and with a mixed dysfunction in five (6.1%) cases. The laboratory abnormality was unclassified in the remaining 18 (22%) cases. Treatment with aminoglycosides or colistin may trigger a proximal tubular or, more frequently, a loop of Henle/distal tubular dysfunction.

Magnesium in cystic fibrosis--Systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The metabolism of sodium, potassium, and chloride and the acid-base balance are sometimes altered in cystic fibrosis. Textbooks and reviews only marginally address the homeostasis of magnesium in cystic fibrosis.

METHODS

We performed a search of the Medical Subject Headings terms (cystic fibrosis OR mucoviscidosis) AND (magnesium OR hypomagnes[a]emia) in the US National Library of Medicine and Excerpta Medica databases.

RESULTS

We identified 25 reports dealing with magnesium and cystic fibrosis. The results of the review may be summarized as follows. First, hypomagnesemia affects more than half of the cystic fibrosis patients with advanced disease; second, magnesemia, which is normally age-independent, relevantly decreases with age in cystic fibrosis; third, aminoglycoside antimicrobials frequently induce both acute and chronic renal magnesium-wasting; fourth, sweat magnesium concentration was normal in cystic fibrosis patients; fifth, limited data suggest the existence of an impaired intestinal magnesium balance. Finally, stimulating observations suggest that magnesium supplements might achieve an improvement in respiratory muscle strength and mucolytic activity of both recombinant and endogenous deoxyribonuclease.

CONCLUSIONS

The first comprehensive review of the literature confirms that, despite being one of the most prevalent minerals in the body, the importance of magnesium in cystic fibrosis is largely overlooked. In these patients, hypomagnesemia should be sought once a year. Furthermore, the potential of supplementation with this cation deserves more attention.

Increasing resistance of the Liverpool Epidemic Strain (LES) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Psa) to antibiotics in cystic fibrosis (CF)--a cause for concern?

BACKGROUND

Transmissible Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Psa) strains such as the Liverpool Epidemic Strain (LES) are now widespread throughout UK CF clinics: their susceptibility to antibiotics is therefore important. To study this, we compared antibiogram patterns of Psa strains in our CF clinic over 5 years, looking at differences in resistance patterns between strains and changes to these over time.

METHODS

The antibiograms of sputum samples between 2004 and 2008 from patients attending our centre were included. We compared Psa isolate antibiotic resistance (to six anti-pseudomonal antibiotics) patterns for patients infected with LES with those infected with other Psa strains, both in the total population in 2004 (125 patients) and 2008 (166 patients) and also longitudinally from annual review samples 2004 to 2008 in matched and unmatched patient groups.

RESULTS

LES exhibited significantly more resistant isolates in 2004 (p<0.0001). There was an increase in antibiotic resistance in both LES and other Psa strains over time (p<0.001). Cox proportional hazards analysis of both unmatched (n=125) and matched (n=56) patients in 2004 revealed that LES infected patients were more likely to develop antibiotic resistant isolates over time (hazard ratio 8.1, p<0.001). Fewer LES isolates were classed as fully sensitive in both matched and unmatched groups at the end of study period (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study shows a worrying trend in antibiotic resistance in the Psa isolates amongst patients chronically infected with LES. This highlights the need to prevent cross infection through segregation and also the need to develop new strategies to treat these organisms.

Side effects of aminoglycosides on the kidney, ear and balance in cystic fibrosis

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are a central component of the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis (CF) and slow the decline in lung function which ultimately causes the death of most patients. The prognosis of CF has improved, and thus side effects of treatments have become increasingly important. Observational studies suggest that the morbidity from side effects of aminoglycosides is disturbingly common, and that aggressive treatment may lead to more side effects. This review of the current literature on side effects of aminoglycosides considers the pathophysiological mechanisms, epidemiology and risk factors, investigation of side effects and preventative strategies. Treatments which have shown early promise are identified and areas of future research are discussed.

Once versus three-times daily regimens of tobramycin treatment for pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis--the TOPIC study: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Intravenous tobramycin (three-times daily) is widely used for pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis who have chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. We undertook a double-blind, randomised controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of once versus three-times daily tobramycin in these patients.

METHODS

244 patients from 21 cystic-fibrosis centres in the UK were randomly assigned to once or three-times daily tobramycin (with ceftazidime) for 14 days. Treatment was given as 30-min infusions of tobramycin in 0.9% saline. Primary outcome measure was change in forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), over the 14 days of treatment, expressed as a percentage of the predicted normal value for age, sex, and height. We also measured the change in FEV1 expressed as a percentage of baseline. Secondary outcomes included change in serum creatinine. The study was powered for equivalence, and primary analysis was per protocol.

FINDINGS

219 patients (107 once daily, 112 three-times daily) completed the study per protocol. None was lost to follow-up, although 20 discontinued intervention. Of 122 patients assigned to once daily treatment, three did not receive the study regimen. The mean change in FEV1 (% predicted) over 14 days was similar on the two regimens (10.4% [once daily] vs 10.0% [three-times daily]; adjusted mean difference 0.4% [95% CI -3.3 to 4.1]). Mean% change in FEV1 from baseline was also similar in both treatments (21.9% vs 22.1%; -0.1% [-8.0 to 7.9]). There was no significant difference in% change in creatinine from baseline (-1.5% [once daily] vs 1.7% [three-times daily]). However, in children, once daily treatment was significantly less nephrotoxic than was thrice daily (mean% change in creatine -4.5% [once daily] vs 3.7% [thrice daily]; adjusted mean difference -8.0%, 95% CI -15.7 to -0.4). No patients developed hearing loss during the study, although two reported acute dizziness and were withdrawn from the study.

INTERPRETATION

Intravenous tobramycin has equal efficacy if given once or three-times daily (with ceftazidime) for pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis. The once daily regimen might be less nephrotoxic in children.

Magnesium deficiency: pathophysiologic and clinical overview

Magnesium is an essential cation, involved in many enzymatic reactions, as a cofactor to adenosine triphosphatases. It is critical in energy-requiring metabolic processes, as well as protein synthesis and anaerobic phosphorylation. Serum Mg concentration is maintained within a narrow range by the kidney and small intestine since under conditions of Mg deprivation both organs increase their fractional absorption of Mg. If Mg depletion continues, the bone store contributes by exchanging part of its content with extracellular fluid (ECF). The serum Mg can be normal in the presence of intracellular Mg depletion, and the occurrence of a low level usually indicates significant Mg deficiency. Hypomagnesemia is frequently encountered in hospitalized patients and is seen most often in patients admitted to intensive care units. The detection of Mg deficiency can be increased by measuring Mg concentration in the urine or using the parenteral Mg load test. Hypomagnesemia may arise from various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, conditions affecting Mg renal handling, or cellular redistribution of Mg. The gastrointestinal causes include the following: protein-calorie malnutrition, the intravenous administration of Mg-free fluids and total parenteral nutrition, chronic watery diarrhea and steatorrhea, short bowel syndrome, bowel fistula, continuous nasogastric suctioning, and, rarely, primary familial Mg malabsorption. The renal causes include Bartter's and Gitelman's syndrome, post obstructive diuresis, post acute tubular necrosis, renal transplantation, and interstitial nephropathy. Many therapeutic agents cause renal Mg wasting and subsequent deficiency. These include loop and thiazide diuretics, aminoglycosides, cisplatin, pentamidine, and foscarnet. Magnesium deficiency is seen frequently in alcoholics and diabetic patients, in whom a combination of factors contributes to its pathogenesis. Hypomagnesemia is known to produce a wide variety of clinical presentations, including neuromuscular irritability, cardiac arrhythmias, and increased sensitivity to digoxin. Refractory hypokalemia and hypocalcemia can be caused by concomitant hypomagnesemia and can be corrected with Mg therapy. The dose and route of administration of Mg in the treatment of hypomagnesemia is dictated by the clinical presentation, the degree of Mg deficiency, and the renal function.

Combination antibiotic therapy in pediatrics

Combinations of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics are frequently used in the treatment of pediatric infections. At our institution, amikacin has been the sole aminoglycoside utilized for the past five years. Such regimens are used empirically in specific patient populations to treat the pathogens most likely to be responsible for a symptom complex, e.g., sepsis in the immunocompromised host, pneumonitis in patients with cystic fibrosis, neonatal infections such as sepsis or meningitis, and infections in patients with intestinal perforations. Beta-lactam and aminoglycoside combinations are employed as definitive therapy when synergistic interactions can be predicted, such as in systemic Pseudomonas infections, viridans streptococcal endocarditis, or enterococcal infections. In all of these circumstances, we have utilized amikacin extensively as the sole aminoglycoside, with highly satisfactory results. In vitro antibiotic synergy studies, including those employing aminoglycosides such as amikacin, may be used to predict in vivo antibiotic interactions. However, definitions of in vitro synergy vary with the laboratory method used to evaluate synergy. Furthermore, recent data from our laboratory suggest that the absence of demonstrated in vitro synergy between amikacin and imipenem may not correlate with improved survival of neutropenic rats with gram-negative sepsis that are treated with both agents. Thus, in vitro studies of synergy may underestimate the frequency of improved outcomes with combination antibiotics, especially with amikacin and imipenem. There are potential risks associated with the use of multiple, broad-spectrum antibiotics, including fungal or bacterial superinfection and increased drug toxicity. Although the former is common in pediatric patients, aminoglycoside (amikacin) toxicity has rarely been a problem. Combination antibiotic regimens that include an aminoglycoside such as amikacin continue to have an important role in pediatrics and should be used empirically or definitively for the specific indications discussed.