Placement of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass in a Miniature Pinscher with presumed xanthine urolithiasis as a result of allopurinol treatment

INTRODUCTION

This case report describes the long-term success of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass device in a dog for treatment of a ureteral obstruction. The suspected xanthine urolithiasis was secondary to treatment with allopurinol for leishmaniasis. The dog presented initially with lethargy, anuria and abdominal pain. Mild azotemia was found on biochemical analysis and abdominal ultrasound revealed bilateral ureteral obstruction. A subcutaneous ureteral bypass was subsequently placed using a standard surgical technique. The dog recovered uneventfully and the azotemia resolved within days. Follow-up examinations were performed every trimester for over three years and no complications like obstruction of the bypass tubes, urinary tract infection or azotemia were recognized during this follow-up period. Allopurinol was replaced with domperidone as long-term treatment against Leishmaniasis which resulted in a mild increase of the leishmania serum antibody titer. The subcutaneous ureteral bypass placement was successful and safe in this dog and is a valuable alternative in cases of ureteral obstruction also in dogs.

[Local treatments for bullous pemphigoid]

Bullous pemphigoid affects people who are usually very frail, because they are very old and frequently have neurological co-morbidities. Over the past twenty years, therapeutic management has improved thanks to the application of highly potent corticosteroid-based creams, following a well-established regimen, for several months. Well-conducted nursing care is therefore essential not only to cover wounds, but also to treat the disease. Dedicated nursing time is also an opportunity to provide support to patients, who are often very uncomfortable.

[Vaccinovigilance: Adverse reaction reports of animal vaccines in 2020]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the vigilance system in Switzerland is the evaluation and classification of reported suspected adverse reactions of immunological veterinary medicines (IVMP), including suspected lack of expected efficacy. The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is the competent authority for marketing authorizations of immunological veterinary medicinal products in Switzerland and responsible for the vaccinovigilance system. In 2020, 130 adverse reaction reports were received (5% less compared to 2019). The reports mainly concerned dogs (41%) and cats (25%) followed by cattle (18%) and horses (7%). Many of the reports in dogs involved the application of combined vaccines against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza in combination with canine leptospira components, in cats against cat flu and feline panleukopenia in combination with feline leukaemia virus infection. Causality assessments were done according to the international ABON system. In 27% of the reported cases, the causality assessments between the vaccination and the reaction described were evaluated as being probable (ABON A), in 44% as possible (ABON B).

[Vaccinovigilance: Reports of adverse reactions in the year 2019]

INTRODUCTION

The registration of adverse events after the use of immunological veterinary medicinal products (IVMP) is the aim of the vigilance reporting system in Switzerland. Adverse events comprise suspected adverse reactions and lack of expected efficacy. Since the Institute of virology and immunology (IVI) is the competent authority for the regulation of immunological VMP in Switzerland, the reporting system is administrated by the IVI. In 2019, 137 reports concerning authorized immunological VMP were received (15% less compared to 2018). While most of the reports were submitted by the marketing authorization holders (56%), practicing veterinary surgeons contributed to the reporting system, too (40%). This corresponds to an increase of 22% of reported adverse events by the practicing veterinary surgeons compared to the previous year. Private persons (4%) submitted five reports. In comparison to 2018, in 2019 79% of the adverse events were reported by marketing authorization holders and 18% by veterinarians. Dogs (55%) and cats (20%) were mainly affected. Further reports were related to cattle (13%) and horses (5%). Recently, the numbers of reports concerning dogs (+12%) and cats (+4%) have considerably increased. Most of the reports were based on the application of vaccines against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza in combination with leptospirosis in dogs as well as cat flu and feline panleukopenia in cats. In 34% of the submitted cases, the causality assessment between the vaccination and the reaction described was evaluated as probable.

[Vaccinovigilance: Reported adverse reactions of immunological veterinary medicinal products in 2018]

INTRODUCTION

The registration of adverse events after the use of immunological veterinary medicinal products (VMP) is the aim of the vaccinovigilance reporting system in Switzerland. Adverse events comprise suspected adverse reactions and lack of expected efficacy. Since the Institute of virology and immunology (IVI) is the competent authority for the regulation of immunological VMP in Switzerland, the reporting system is administrated by the IVI. In 2018, 162 reports concerning authorized immunological VMP were received. While most of the reports were submitted by the marketing authorization holders (79%), practicing veterinary surgeons contributed to the reporting system, too (18%). Five reports were submitted by private persons (3%). Dogs were mainly affected (43%) with several terrier breeds and chihuahuas being the most frequently reported dog breeds. Further reports were related to cats (16%), cattle (14%) and horses (14%). Recently, the numbers of reports concerning cats (+26) and horses (+23) have considerably increased after there had been clearly less reports concerning these species (11 and 5, respectively) in the previous year. Most of the reports were based on the application of combined vaccines against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza with or without leptospirosis in dogs as well as cat flu and feline panleukopenia in cats. In 29.6% of the submitted cases, the causality assessment between the vaccination and the reaction described was evaluated probable.

[Treatment of hand-foot syndrome in the context of targeted therapies]

The drugs used to treat cancers can cause side effects. This is the case of hand-foot syndrome, particularly debilitating for patients, caused by certain chemotherapies or targeted therapies. Feedback from a clinical research nurse, working in oncology, on a nursing care protocol developed in conjunction with dermatologists.

[My eReport, an application for the benefit of public health]

Positioning themselves more and more as players in their own health care alongside health professionals, citizens demand reliable, transparent and safe health information. The eVeDrug application now enables them to contribute to the practice of pharmacovigilance by reporting side effects of medication, while also keeping themselves informed of these same effects.

[Specificities of prescribing medicines for children]

The vast majority of medicines have been developed for adults. Consequently, the prescribing of medicines for children must take into account their pharmacodynamic characteristics and must be calculated individually according to the degree of prematurity, the age, the weight or body area and the clinical condition. Medication errors are the most common type of medical errors, notably in children, due to dosage errors or prescribtion of inappropriate medicines. The best way to avoid them lies in the use of prescribing software, the involvement of pharmacists in care units, and proper communication between prescribing doctors, caregivers, pharmacists and families.