Prescribing cascades of antigout medications from thiazide diuretics in gout-naïve hypertensive adults receiving first-line pharmacological management

Prescribing cascade is a significant clinical problem but is often overlooked. We explore the incidence of the prescribing cascades of antigout medications related to thiazide treatment in gout-naïve hypertensive adults newly exposed to the pharmacological treatment. This population-based, retrospective cohort study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Registry Database. Gout-naïve hypertensive adults who were newly dispensed first-line antihypertensive drugs between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2016, were enrolled. Patients were divided into the thiazide group (n = 4192) and the non-thiazide group (n = 81,083). The non-thiazide group included patients who received an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, or beta-blocker. The study utilized propensity score matching and multivariable Cox regression models to investigate the prescribing cascade of antigout agents following antihypertensive treatment, adjusting for factors like age, sex, comorbidities, and concurrent medications. After propensity score matching, each group consisted of 4045 patients, with the thiazide group exhibiting a higher risk of being prescribed antigout medications across different time intervals post-treatment initiation. Specifically, adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for the thiazide group were 2.23, 2.07, and 2.41 for < 30 days, 31-180 days, and > 180 days, respectively, indicating a sustained and significant risk over time. Comparative analyses revealed thiazide diuretics were associated with a higher risk of antigout medication prescriptions compared to other antihypertensive classes, particularly evident after 180 days. Subgroup analyses across various demographics and comorbidities consistently showed an increased risk in the thiazide cohort. Gout-naïve hypertensive adults newly dispensed thiazide had a higher risk of subsequently adding antigout agents than those taking other first-line antihypertensive medications. The awareness and interruption of these prescribing cascades are critical to improving patient safety.

Rapid progression of anemia related to tumor-lysis syndrome associated with bortezomib treatment in myeloma patients

OBJECTIVE

Tumor-lysis syndrome is a rare complication in patients with multiple myeloma. However, bortezomib treatment for myeloma is often associated with tumor-lysis syndrome.

METHODS

We developed an index called the rapid anemia progression index, which represents the duration and progression of anemia, to evaluate risk factors for tumor-lysis syndrome. We retrospectively reviewed 35 relapsed or refractory myeloma patients treated with bortezomib-containing treatment in our institution. We analyzed various parameters, including albumin, lactase dehydrogenase, β2-microglobulin and creatinine, similar to the rapid anemia progression index, and evaluated the risk factors for tumor-lysis syndrome associated with bortezomib by the Cairo-Bishop definition.

RESULTS

Clinical tumor-lysis syndrome occurred in six patients (17.1%). Tumor-lysis syndrome occurred during the first course of bortezomib-containing treatment among all the patients. The result of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the rapid anemia progression index was 0.759 (P = 0.049). The rapid anemia progression index was more accurate than the index of lactate dehydrogenase, β2-microglobulin, albumin and creatinine according to the receiver operating characteristic curve. For a cut-off point of -1.12 for the rapid anemia progression index, the sensitivity and specificity were 66.7 and 82.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The rapid anemia progression index is related to clinical tumor-lysis syndrome associated with bortezomib treatment for multiple myeloma patients with a cut-off point of -1.12 g/dl/month.

Tumour lysis syndrome: implications for cancer therapy

The tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities caused by rapid and unexpected release of cellular components into the circulation as a result of massive destruction of rapidly proliferating malignant cells. It usually develops in patients with hematologic malignancies like acute lymphoid leukemia, non-Hodgkin and Burkitt's lymphoma after initiation of chemotherapy or may, rarely, occur spontaneously. Though TLS is seldom observed in relation to solid tumours, there have been reports of connections with examples such as lung, liver, breast, gastric carcinomas. The clinical manifestations of TLS include hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia. These indications if untreated lead to life-threatening complications such as acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and eventually death due to multiorgan failure. Therefore early detection of TLS is of vital importance. This can be accomplished by identification of high risk patients, implementation of suitable prophylactic measures and monitoring of the electrolyte levels in patients undergoing chemotherapy.