Defining time in therapeutic range for busy clinicians: Frequency of dose changes is a good surrogate marker to identify patients with suboptimal anticoagulation with warfarin

Introduction

Patients on warfarin with sub-optimal time-in-therapeutic-range (TTR) are more likely to have adverse events. Target-specific oral anticoagulants (TSOACs) are approved and can be used as an alternative to warfarin for a number of indications. Further, the efficacy and safety profiles of the TSOACs compared to warfarin are more favourable when the TTR is ≤ 65% for certain indications.

Objective

We aimed to determine simple, sensitive and specific diagnostic tools to identify TTR ≤ 65% during the initial three months of warfarin therapy.

Methods

A cross-sectional study including patients newly initiated on warfarin without any interruption for three months was conducted. TTR was calculated using the Rosendaal method. Patients were stratified by TTR (≤ 65% or > 65%). Number of INR measurements, dose changes and INR measurements of ≤ 1.7 or ≥ 4.0 were evaluated as potential diagnostic tools to identify TTR ≤ 65%.

Results

670 patients were included. The most common indication for anticoagulation was venous thromboembolism. The mean TTR in the first three months was 68 ± 21% (Range: 10 to 100%). Three or more dose changes identified TTR ≤ 65% and demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 90% (95%CI 86 to 93%) and 56% (95%CI 51 to 61%), respectively. Three or more INR measurements of ≤ 1.7 during the initial three months of anticoagulation showed a sensitivity and specificity of 37% (95%CI 32 to 43%) and 98% (95%CI 96 to 99%), respectively.

Conclusion

Three or more dose changes and three or more INR measurements of ≤ 1.7 could identify patients with a TTR ≤ 65% in the first three months of warfarin therapy.     

Listeria monocytogenes peritonitis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis: a case report and review of the literature

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is one of the rare microorganisms causing peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We report a sporadic case of peritonitis caused by LM in a young female PD patient with lupus receiving corticosteroid therapy, who presented with abdominal pain, cloudy PD effluent, nausea, and conjunctivitis. The effluent showed a high PD effluent white cell count and monocytosis, and gram staining showed gram-positive bacilli in single or short chains and PD effluent culture grew LM. She was treated successfully with beta lactum antibiotics. LM peritonitis should be suspected if a patient presents with gram-positive bacilli and monocytosis in dialysis effluent.     

Development and external validation of multivariable risk models to predict incident and resolved neuropathic pain: a DOLORisk Dundee study

Journal of Neurology - Neuropathic pain is difficult to treat, and an understanding of the risk factors for its onset and resolution is warranted. This study aimed to develop and externally...     

Systematic Review of the Yield of Temporal Artery Biopsy for Suspected Giant Cell Arteritis

Purpose: To determine the positive yield (utility rate) of temporal artery biopsy (TAB) in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Study Design: Systematic review (CRD42017078508) and meta-regression.

Materials and Methods: All articles concerning TAB for suspected GCA with English language abstracts from 1998 to 2017 were retrieved. Articles were excluded if they exclusively reported positive TAB, or only cases of known GCA. Where available, the pre-specified predictors of age, sex, vision symptoms, jaw claudication, duration of steroid treatment prior to TAB, specimen length, bilateral TAB, and use of ultrasound/MRI (imaging) were recorded for meta-regression.

Results: One hundred and thirteen articles met eligibility criteria. The I² was 92%, and with such high heterogeneity, meta-analysis is unsuitable. The median yield of TAB was 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.21 to 0.27), with interquartile range 0.17 to 0.34. On univariate meta-regression age (coefficient 0.012, p = 0.025) was the only statistically significant patient factor associated with TAB yield.

Conclusions: Systematic review revealed high heterogeneity in the yield of TAB. The median utility rate of 25% and its interquartile range provides a benchmark for decisions regarding the under/overutilization of TAB and aids in the evaluation of non-invasive alternatives for the investigation of GCA.     

The association between renal stones and fasting: A systematic review

IntroductionFasting is a common cultural practice worldwide for both religious and dietary reasons. However, there is concern that fasting may be a risk factor for the development of renal stones. To date, there has not been a systematic assessment of the literature regarding the association between renal stones and fasting.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines of three databases: Medline-OVID, EMBASE, and CINAHL. All screening and extraction was completed in parallel with two independent reviewers.ResultsOf the 1501 database citations, a total of 10 observational studies with a total of 9906 participants were included. Nine of the studies were conducted in the context of Islamic fasting during Ramadan, with the majority (7/9) finding that renal colic incidence was unaffected by the month of fasting. In contrast, two studies noted an increased incidence among fasting populations. Two other studies noted that urine metabolites and density were altered with fasting but did not translate into clinical outcomes.ConclusionsBased on the available evidence, it is unlikely that fasting significantly increases the risk of renal stones. Physicians should counsel higher-risk patients on safe fasting practices.     

Effectiveness of olanzapine in patients who fail therapy with aprepitant while receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy

Chemotherapy-induced nausea–vomiting (CINV) compromises the quality of life of patients with cancer. We present data on the effectiveness of olanzapine after failure of aprepitant in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). A single-center prospective study was conducted, where patients ≥ 18 years who failed aprepitant, palonosetron, dexamethasone (APD) received olanzapine, palonosetron and dexamethasone (OPD) in the subsequent cycle of HEC. Failure of APD was defined as occurrence of ≥ grade 2 acute and/or delayed nausea ± vomiting. Response rates were compared with what was achieved in their previous cycle with the use of APD in the acute (0–24 h), delayed (24–120 h) and overall (0–120 h) periods after the start of HEC. Impact on life was assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Fifty-five patients failed APD and received OPD in the subsequent cycle; 54 were evaluable for response. Complete response rate for OPD versus APD is 80 versus 20% (acute period), 90 versus 18% (delayed period) and 74 versus 5% (overall period), and no nausea rate for OPD versus APD is 57 versus 13% (acute), 59 versus 15% (delayed) and 48 versus 0% (overall period), p < 0.001 for all comparisons. MDASI scores showed significant improvement after switching to OPD. A mild increase in drowsiness noted in patients receiving OPD did not affect daily life in most patients. In patients receiving HEC and failing CINV prophylaxis with APD, switching to OPD regimen in the subsequent cycle greatly improves control of vomiting, increases “no nausea” rates and significantly reduces symptom severity scores.     

Enhanced bacterial killing with a combination of sulbactam/minocycline against dual carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is often difficult to treat. Considering the current circumstances, there...