Successful rescue in a patient with high dose methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity and acute renal failure

Extracorporeal Treatment for Methotrexate Poisoning: Systematic Review and Recommendations from the EXTRIP Workgroup

Methotrexate is used in the treatment of many malignancies, rheumatological diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease. Toxicity from use is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Rescue treatments include intravenous hydration, folinic acid, and, in some centers, glucarpidase. We conducted systematic reviews of the literature following published EXtracorporeal TReatments In Poisoning (EXTRIP) methods to determine the utility of extracorporeal treatments in the management of methotrexate toxicity. The quality of the evidence and the strength of recommendations (either "strong" or "weak/conditional") were graded according to the GRADE approach. A formal voting process using a modified Delphi method assessed the level of agreement between panelists on the final recommendations. A total of 92 articles met inclusion criteria. Toxicokinetic data were available on 90 patients (89 with impaired kidney function). Methotrexate was considered to be moderately dialyzable by intermittent hemodialysis. Data were available for clinical analysis on 109 patients (high-dose methotrexate [>0.5 g/m²]: 91 patients; low-dose [≤0.5 g/m²]: 18). Overall mortality in these publications was 19.5% and 26.7% in those with high-dose and low-dose methotrexate-related toxicity, respectively. Although one observational study reported lower mortality in patients treated with glucarpidase compared with those treated with hemodialysis, there were important limitations in the study. For patients with severe methotrexate toxicity receiving standard care, the EXTRIP workgroup: (1) suggested against extracorporeal treatments when glucarpidase is not administered; (2) recommended against extracorporeal treatments when glucarpidase is administered; and (3) recommended against extracorporeal treatments instead of administering glucarpidase. The quality of evidence for these recommendations was very low. Rationales for these recommendations included: (1) extracorporeal treatments mainly remove drugs in the intravascular compartment, whereas methotrexate rapidly distributes into cells; (2) extracorporeal treatments remove folinic acid; (3) in rare cases where fast removal of methotrexate is required, glucarpidase will outperform any extracorporeal treatment; and (4) extracorporeal treatments do not appear to reduce the incidence and magnitude of methotrexate toxicity.

Drug Dosing in Patients Undergoing Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal process in which a large volume of whole blood is taken from the patient's vein. Plasma is then separated from the other cellular components of the blood and discarded while the remaining blood components may then be returned to the patient. Replacement fluids such as albumin or fresh-frozen plasma may or may not be used. TPE has been used clinically for the removal of pathologic targets in the plasma in a variety of conditions, such as pathogenic antibodies in autoimmune disorders. TPE is becoming more common in the neurointensive care space as autoimmunity has been shown to play an etiological role in many acute neurological disorders. It is important to note that not only does TPE removes pathologic elements from the plasma, but may also remove drugs, which may be an intended or unintended consequence. The objective of the current review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the available evidence pertaining to drug removal via TPE and provide relevant clinical suggestions where applicable. This review also aims to provide an easy-to-follow clinical tool in order to determine the possibility of a drug removal via TPE given the procedure-specific and pharmacokinetic drug properties.

Dose Issues in Cancer Chemotherapy

In this review, human methotrexate dosing regimens, as well as their relationship to data from in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal and human studies, are discussed. Low-dose, intermediate-dose, and high-dose therapies are covered. Since in vitro and in vivo screenings of potential cancer drugs are commonplace in the development of cancer chemotherapy, comparisons of the three criteria for effectiveness are important.

The footprints of mitochondrial impairment and cellular energy crisis in the pathogenesis of xenobiotics-induced nephrotoxicity, serum electrolytes imbalance, and Fanconi's syndrome: A comprehensive review

Fanconi's Syndrome (FS) is a disorder characterized by impaired renal proximal tubule function. FS is associated with a vast defect in the renal reabsorption of several chemicals. Inherited and/or acquired conditions seem to be connected with FS. Several xenobiotics including many pharmaceuticals are capable of inducing FS and nephrotoxicity. Although the pathological state of FS is well described, the exact underlying etiology and cellular mechanism(s) of xenobiotics-induced nephrotoxicity, serum electrolytes imbalance, and FS are not elucidated. Constant and high dependence of the renal reabsorption process to energy (ATP) makes mitochondrial dysfunction as a pivotal mechanism which could be involved in the pathogenesis of FS. The current review focuses on the footprints of mitochondrial impairment in the etiology of xenobiotics-induced FS. Moreover, the importance of mitochondria protecting agents and their preventive/therapeutic capability against FS is highlighted. The information collected in this review may provide significant clues to new therapeutic interventions aimed at minimizing xenobiotics-induced renal injury, serum electrolytes imbalance, and FS.

Renal disease in patients with cancer

Kidney disease is very common in patients with cancer. Nephrologists are vital members of the multidisciplinary care team for these patients. Given the high prevalence of comorbidities in patients treated for active malignancy, it is not surprising that these individuals frequently develop renal diseases that are common among other hospitalized patients, such as those arising from sepsis, hypotension or use of nephrotoxic agents (e.g. radiocontrast or antimicrobial agents). The role of the nephrologist in these cases differs little with respect to the presence or absence of cancer. On the other hand, there are several renal syndromes that are unique to patients with cancer, being caused either by the cancer itself or by its treatment. These syndromes are reviewed here. In addition, patients who are receiving chemotherapy often require dialysis for either acute or chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, there is very little information on the clearance characteristics of most chemotherapeutic agents. In cancer patients with renal disease, both the timing of administration and the dose-adjustment of chemotherapy must rely on clinical experience and close clinical observation.

Clinical utility and pharmacology of high-dose methotrexate in the treatment of primary CNS lymphoma

Primary CNS non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PCNSL) has been shown to be increasing in incidence. This appears to be a consequence of the increasing population of those older than 65 years of age in whom PCNSL occurs most often. PCNSL often has a favorable response to treatment and aggressive management may result in extended survival and, in a proportion of patients less than 65 years of age, cure. The majority of neuro-oncologist's advocate utilizing high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) as a platform for the chemotherapy treatment of these neoplasms. In this review, the literature regarding HDHMTX as a treatment for PCNSL is summarized as are the pharmacological principles of HD-MTX.

High-dose methotrexate-associated acute renal failure may be an avoidable complication

A 17-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed acute renal failure within 48 h of an intravenous high-dose methotrexate (5 g/m2) infusion. His renal function returned to baseline 14 days later with supportive care, folinic acid rescue, and urinary alkalinization. A retrospective review revealed that the patient had been exposed to iopamidol, an intravenous contrast medium, on the day prior to the commencement of methotrexate treatment. Methotrexate-associated nephropathy is a rare complication in pediatric oncology, and a review of the literature suggests that exposure to nephrotoxic agents may be a significant but perhaps underrecognized risk factor for its development.

High-dose methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX)-induced renal dysfunction can be life threatening, because it delays methotrexate (MTX) excretion, thereby exacerbating the other toxicities of MTX. HDMTX-induced nephrotoxicity has been managed with high-dose leucovorin, dialysis-based methods of MTX removal, thymidine, and with the recombinant enzyme, carboxypeptidase-G2 (CPDG2), which cleaves MTX to inactive metabolites. The objectives of the current study were to estimate the current incidence of HDMTX-induced renal dysfunction in patients with osteosarcoma and to compare the efficacy and recovery of renal function for dialysis-based methods of MTX removal with treatment using CPDG2.

METHODS

The literature was reviewed for osteosarcoma trials, use of dialysis-based methods for MTX removal, and reports of MTX-induced nephrotoxicity, including information regarding recovery of renal function. Clinical trial databases of select osteosarcoma studies were reviewed. The efficacy of CPDG2 and renal recovery after CPDG2 rescue was obtained from the database of a compassionate-release trial.

RESULTS

Approximately 1.8% of patients with osteosarcoma (68 of 3887 patients) who received HDMTX developed nephrotoxicity Grade >/= 2. The mortality rate among those patients was 4.4% (3 of 68 patients). Dialysis-based methods of MTX removal were used frequently but had limited effectiveness in removing MTX compared with the rapid reductions > 98% in plasma MTX concentrations achieved with CPDG2. CPDG2 did not appear to increase the time to recovery of renal function compared with supportive treatment that included dialysis-based methods.

CONCLUSIONS

HDMTX-induced renal dysfunction continues to occur in approximately 1.8% of patients with osteosarcoma who are treated on clinical protocols with optimal supportive care. For patients with delayed MTX excretion and high plasma MTX concentrations, CPDG2 should be considered over hemodialysis to lower plasma MTX concentrations rapidly and efficiently.

Malignancy and renal disease

A variety of renal diseases and electrolyte disorders may be associated with various malignancies or with treatment of malignancy with chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation. This article reviews renal disease in cancer patients, which constitutes a major source of morbidity and mortality.