Effective Treatments Identified for Pediatric Complication of COVID
PHOENIX — First-line treatment with methylprednisolone and second-line treatment with tocilizumab (Actemra) shortened hospital stays for children with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS; also referred to as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children [MIS-C]), according to results of a two-stage clinical trial from the RECOVERY collaborative group. In 214 children randomly assigned […]
Critical Care Guideline Changes Boost Corticosteroid Uses, Role of Families
PHOENIX — The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) revealed updates to guidelines regarding the use of corticosteroids and glycemic control in critical illness along with a new guideline on recognizing and responding to clinical deterioration outside the intensive care unit (ICU). All three documents were published in Critical Care Medicine and presented at the […]
Tailoring Drug Interaction Alerts to the ICU Reduced Number of High-Risk Combos
PHOENIX — Tailoring potential drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts to the intensive care unit (ICU) setting significantly reduced the number of administered high-risk drug combinations, a cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial showed. Among nearly 10,000 patients admitted to the ICU, the use of potential DDI alerts tailored to the ICU led to a 12% decrease (95% CI […]
Efgartigimod Offers Hope in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
PHOENIX — A subcutaneous infusion of efgartigimod cut the risk of relapse in patients with a rare but serious immune-mediated neuropathy, according to the phase II ADHERE trial. Patients with diagnosed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) treated with efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc (Vyvgart Hytrulo) saw a 61% reduction in the risk of relapse versus placebo, […]
Rozanolixizumab Maintains Efficacy Among Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Subgroups
PHOENIX – Across subgroups, patients who had their generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) treated with rozanolixizumab (Rystiggo) maintained their responses through multiples cycles of treatment, based on extension data from the phase III MycarinG clinical trial. Those with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-positive gMG receiving the higher dose of rozanolixizumab saw average Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) […]
Real-World Data Affirms Next-Gen TAVR Device Advantage
PHOENIX — The newer generation Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device improved on procedural and possibly safety characteristics, the TVT registry showed. The Evolut FX device reduced need for device repositioning and cut procedure time, without a change in valve hemodynamics, at 30 days compared with the Evolut Pro+ device, reported Wah Wah Htun, […]
Transapical Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Trial Raises Questions
PHOENIX — Global experience with the novel Intrepid transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) device through 2 years showed high risks of mortality and complications, raising concerns that might not be alleviated by the planned shift to a transfemoral approach. In the analysis pooling data from a pilot study and the APOLLO trial, the high-risk […]
Lenvatinib Packaging for Endometrial Cancer Tied to $168 Million in Overspending
PHOENIX — Dose-specific packaging could potentially result in substantial excess spending on lenvatinib (Lenvima) for endometrial cancer, a researcher reported. Patients and payers may be on the hook for as much as $168 million in annual overspending for dose reductions for the disease — spending that could be avoided with different packaging, reported Emeline Aviki, […]
Add-on Pembrolizumab Tied to Good QoL in Women With Advanced Cervical Cancer
PHOENIX — The addition of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab (Avastin), in women with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer was linked with better quality of life (QoL), a researcher reported. Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) from the KEYNOTE-826 trial showed that changes from baseline in QLQ-C30 global health status (GHS)/QoL scores — a […]
Adjuvant Chemo Disappoints in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
PHOENIX — Adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with better overall survival (OS) for patients with advanced stage low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery, according to an observational study presented here. There was no difference in OS between patients who did and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, with 4-year OS rates of 77.5% and […]