Stability Study of Fosfomycin in Elastomeric Pumps at 4 °C and 34 °C: Technical Bases for a Continuous Infusion Use for Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy

BACKGROUND

Fosfomycin acts against aerobic Gram-/+ bacteria by blocking the synthesis of peptidoglycan. Its use has been currently re-evaluated for intravenous administration for the treatment of systemic infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Concentration-/time-dependent activity has been suggested, with potential clinical advantages from prolonged or continuous infusion. Nevertheless, little is known about Fosfomycin stability in elastomeric pumps. The aim of the present work was stability investigation before administration at 4 °C and during administration at 34 °C.

METHODS

InfectoFos® (InfectoPharm s.r.l., Milan, Italy) preparation for intravenous use in elastomeric pumps at 4 °C and 34 °C was analyzed following EMA guidelines for drug stability. Samples were analyzed with an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method on a LX50® UHPLC system equipped with a QSight 220® (Perkin Elmer, Milan, Italy) tandem mass spectrometer.

RESULTS

Fosfomycin in elastomeric preparation is stable for at least 5 days at a storage temperature of 4 °C and 34 °C.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest Fosfomycin eligibility for continuous infusion even in the context of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy. Therefore, this approach should be tested in clinical and pharmacokinetic studies, in order to evaluate the possible gains in the pharmacokinetic profile and the clinical effectiveness.

Case report: Ponatinib as a bridge to CAR-T cells and subsequent maintenance in a patient with relapsed/refractory Philadelphia-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Philadelphia (Ph)-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) constitutes a heterogeneous subset of ALL with a uniformly unfavorable prognosis. The identification of mutations amenable to treatment with tyrosine kinase-inhibitors (TKIs) represents a promising field of investigation. We report the case of a young patient affected by relapsed/refractory Ph-like ALL treated with chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells after successful bridging with compassionate-use ponatinib and low-dose prednisone. We restarted low-dose ponatinib maintenance three months later. Twenty months later, measurable residual disease negativity and B-cell aplasia persist. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reporting the use of ponatinib in Ph-like ALL as a bridge to and maintenance after CAR-T cell therapy.

MitraClip as bridge to mitral valve replacement in the setting of ischemic cardiogenic shock and papillary muscle rupture

MitraClip implantation has been reported in severe mitral regurgitation following ischemic papillary muscle rupture in surgically high-risk patients with cardiogenic shock. Here we present a case of a 68-year-old female patient who suffered an ischemic papillary muscle rupture resulting in severe mitral prolapse and had a MitraClip implanted. Three months later, due to progressive symptoms, she was taken to surgery and had an elective minimally invasive mitral valve replacement. Informed consent was given and ethics board approval was obtained.

Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty for Severe Aortic Stenosis as Rescue or Bridge Therapy

The study aimed to assess procedural complications, patient flow and clinical outcomes after balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) as rescue or bridge therapy, based on data from our registry. A total of 382 BAVs in 374 patients was performed. The main primary indication for BAV was a bridge for TAVI (n = 185, 49.4%). Other indications included a bridge for AVR (n = 26, 6.9%) and rescue procedure in hemodynamically unstable patients (n = 139, 37.2%). The mortality rate at 30 days, 6 and 12 months was 10.4%, 21.6%, 28.3%, respectively. In rescue patients, the death rate raised to 66.9% at 12 months. A significant improvement in symptoms was confirmed after BAV, after 30 days, 6 months, and in survivors after 1 year (p < 0.05 for all). Independent predictors of 12-month mortality were baseline STS score [HR (95% CI) 1.42 (1.34 to 2.88), p < 0.0001], baseline LVEF <20% [HR (95% CI) 1.89 (1.55-2.83), p < 0.0001] and LVEF <30% at 1 month [HR (95% CI) 1.97 (1.62-3.67), p < 0.0001] adjusted for age/gender. In everyday clinical practice in the TAVI era, there are still clinical indications to BAV a standalone procedure as a bridge to surgery, TAVI or for urgent high risk non-cardiac surgical procedures. Patients may improve clinically after BAV with LV function recovery, allowing to perform final therapy, within limited time window, for severe AS which ameliorates long-term outcomes. On the other hand, in patients for whom an isolated BAV becomes a destination therapy, prognosis is extremely poor.

Mifepristone as Bridge or Adjunct Therapy in the Management of Challenging Cushing Disease Cases

Establishing a definitive diagnosis of Cushing disease (CD), given its clinical and biochemical heterogeneity, initiating effective treatment to control the effects of hypercortisolism, and managing recurrence are challenging disease aspects to address. Mifepristone is a competitive glucocorticoid receptor antagonist that is approved in the US by the Food and Drug Administration to control hyperglycemia secondary to endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushing syndrome) in patients who have glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus and have failed surgery or are not candidates for surgery. Herein, we describe 6 patients with CD who received mifepristone as adjunct/bridge therapy in the following clinical settings: to assess clinical benefits of treatment for suspected recurrent disease, to control hypercortisolism preoperatively for severe disease, to control hypercortisolism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide adjunctive treatment to radiation therapy. The patients were treated at multiple medical practice settings. Mifepristone treatment in each of the described cases was associated with clinical improvements, including improvements in overall glycemia, hypertension, and weight loss. In addition, in one case where biochemical and radiological evidence of disease recurrence was uncertain, clinical improvement with mifepristone pointed toward likely disease recurrence. Adverse events associated with mifepristone reported in the 6 cases were consistent with those previously reported in the pivotal trial and included cortisol withdrawal symptoms, antiprogesterone effects (vaginal bleeding), hypothyroidism (treated with levothyroxine), and hypokalemia (treated with spironolactone). These cases show how mifepristone can potentially be utilized as a therapeutic trial in equivocal cases of CD recurrence; as a presurgical treatment strategy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic; and as bridge therapy, while awaiting the effects of radiation.

Initial experience with high-volume plasma exchange in patients with acute liver failure

BACKGROUND/AIMS

High-volume plasma exchange (HVPE), defined as an exchange of 8 to 12 L per day per procedure or 15% of the ideal body weight with fresh frozen plasma, has shown promising results in improving the survival of patients with acute liver failure (ALF). However, clinical evidence is limited. The aim of this study was to report our initial experience using HVPE as a bridge treatment in patients with ALF.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 32 consecutive patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT) due to ALF between 2013 and 2020 at Samsung Medical Center in Korea. HVPE has been used for patients with ALF since May 2016 at our institution.

RESULTS

During the study period, 16 patients received HVPE. After HVPE, coagulopathies (INR, 4.46 [2.32-6.02] vs 1.48 [1.33-1.76], P < .05), total bilirubin (22.6 [9.1-26.4] vs 8.9 [5.6-11.3], P < .05), alanine aminotransferase (506 [341-1963] vs 120 [88-315], P < .05), and ammonia levels (130.6 [123.7-143.8] vs 98.2 [84.2-116.5], P < .05) were improved. Improvement in the hepatic encephalopathy grade was observed in four patients. Among 16 patients who received HVPE, 12 patients were bridged to LT, and three patients recovered spontaneously. The overall survival was 94% and 69%, respectively at 30 days in patients who received and did not receive HVPE (P = .068). Among 18 patients with high chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment scores (≥13), the overall survival was significantly better for those who received HVPE than for those who did not (91% vs 29%, respectively, at 30 days, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our initial clinical experience with HVPE suggests that HVPE can be a viable option in improving the outcomes of patients presenting with ALF.

Heparin bridge is associated with more post-polypectomy bleeding and emergency department visits among anticoagulated patients

Background:

Among patients undergoing colonoscopy, anticoagulants are usually stopped and are sometimes substituted by a heparin bridge (hep-bridge). We aimed to assess adverse events associated with hep-bridge compared to temporary cessation of anticoagulants (no-bridge).

Methods:

This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study that included anticoagulated patients undergoing colonoscopy between 2013 and 2016 at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In the no-bridge cohort, warfarin was stopped for 5 days and novel anticoagulants for 2 days pre-procedure. In the hep-bridge cohort, anticoagulants were stopped and were substituted by subcutaneous enoxaparin. The primary outcome was post-polypectomy bleeding. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular events, all-cause adverse events and emergency department or unscheduled ambulatory office visits within 30 days. The predictive values of the HAS-BLED and CHADS₂ scores were evaluated.

Results:

A total of 662 patients were included, of whom 551 underwent polypectomy (mean age 68.6 years; 97.6% male). Four hundred seventy colonoscopies were performed with no-bridge and 192 with hep-bridge. Post-polypectomy bleeding occurred in 6.0% of procedures: 5.7% in the no-bridge cohort compared to 13.0% of hep-bridge procedures (P=0.0038). Cardiovascular or thrombotic events occurred after 2.6% of the no-bridge and 5.2% of the hep-bridge procedures (P=0.1176). Emergency department or unscheduled office visits within 30 days were reported after 18.7% of the no-bridge procedures and 29.7% of the hep-bridge procedures (P<0.0001). Neither CHADS₂ nor HASBLED scores predicted bleeding.

Conclusion:

The use of hep-bridge was associated with a greater incidence of post-polypectomy bleeding and more emergency department and unscheduled office visits compared with cessation of all anticoagulants.

Use of Cangrelor as a Bridge to Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in a Patient with a Recent Drug-Eluting Stent Who Developed Acute Tirofiban-Related Thrombocytopenia

Current guidelines emphasize the need for at least 6-12 months of oral dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor following drug-eluting coronary artery stent implantation. In patients with recently implanted coronary artery stents who require urgent cardiac or noncardiac surgery, the benefits of maintaining oral dual antiplatelet therapy must be carefully weighed against the risks of excessive bleeding, and current practice is largely guided by individual surgeon preferences. When the effects of a second oral antiplatelet agent are undesirable during the perioperative period, the use of a short-acting intravenous antiplatelet agent as "bridge" therapy that can be discontinued shortly before surgery is associated with a reduced occurrence of adverse clinical events in patients with recently implanted coronary stents requiring urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Cangrelor is an intravenous adenosine triphosphate analog P2Y12 receptor antagonist with a short plasma half-life that has been used off label in patients with recent coronary stents as a bridge to invasive procedures with excessive bleeding risk. To our knowledge, this is the first case report to demonstrate the safe and effective use of cangrelor as a bridge to left ventricular assist device implantation in a patient with a recently implanted drug-eluting coronary artery stent who developed acute thrombocytopenia following reexposure to tirofiban, a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor.

Survey of pharmacists' subtherapeutic INR management and anticoagulation bridging practices

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Despite extensive warfarin use, optimal management of subtherapeutic international normalized ratios (INRs) remains unclear. This study assessed the differences in bridging practices among pharmacists with varying levels of experience, residency training and prescribing privileges.

METHODS

An electronic survey was distributed to two ambulatory care pharmacist e-mail lists. Respondents indicated if they would utilize parenteral anticoagulation bridging in 16 clinical scenarios at three therapeutic time points. The scenarios included patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) (CHADS₂ score of 3-4), AFib (CHADS₂ score of 5-6) and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The AFib time points were as follows: anticoagulation initiation, early phase (<1 month) and maintenance phase (>1 month). VTE time points included early phase (<1 month), months 2-3 and maintenance phase (>3 months).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The survey was completed by 143 respondents. In only three of the scenarios did >50% of respondents indicate they would utilize parenteral anticoagulation bridging. No statistically significant differences in bridging practices were identified between pharmacists providing anticoagulation services in different clinic settings. However, there were significant differences in bridging practices between pharmacists with varying levels of experience, residency training and prescribing privileges in some, but not all of the scenarios.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

The standards of care for subtherapeutic INRs warrant further definition.

Safety and cost-effectiveness of bridge therapies for invasive dental procedures in patients with mechanical heart valves

PURPOSE

Bridge anticoagulation therapy is mostly utilized in patients with mechanical heart valves (MHV) receiving warfarin therapy during invasive dental procedures because of the risk of excessive bleeding related to highly vascular supporting dental structures. Bridge therapy using low molecular weight heparin may be an attractive option for invasive dental procedures; however, its safety and cost-effectiveness compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is uncertain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study investigated the safety and cost-effectiveness of enoxaparin in comparison to UFH for bridge therapy in 165 consecutive patients (57±11 years, 35% men) with MHV who underwent invasive dental procedures.

RESULTS

This study included 75 patients treated with UFH-based bridge therapy (45%) and 90 patients treated with enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (55%). The bleeding risk of dental procedures and the incidence of clinical adverse outcomes were not significantly different between the UFH group and the enoxaparin group. However, total medical costs were significantly lower in the enoxaparin group than in the UFH group (p<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, old age (≥65 years) was significantly associated with an increased risk of total bleeding independent of bridging methods (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-5.48; p=0.022). Enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (β=-0.694, p<0.001) and major bleeding (β=0.296, p=0.045) were significantly associated with the medical costs within 30 days after dental procedures.

CONCLUSION

Considering the benefit of enoxaparin in cost-effectiveness, enoxaparin may be more efficient than UFH for bridge therapy in patients with MHV who required invasive dental procedures.