Central Nervous System-related Adverse Events Research Articles

Comparative real-world (RW) evidence on darolutamide (Daro), enzalutamide (Enza), and apalutamide (Apa) for patients (Pts) with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in the United States: DEAR.

5097 Background: Novel androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs) are recommended for pts with nmCRPC. Daro has a distinct structure with low blood-brain barrier penetration which may lead to a lower risk of central nervous system-related adverse events (AEs) and minimal risk of AEs commonly associated with ARIs. DEAR is the first study comparing RW utilization, outcomes, and AEs between daro and enza/apa in nmCRPC pts. Methods: This retrospective chart review cohort study uses electronic medical records from the PPS network of US urology practices. Eligible pts had nmCRPC, no prior novel hormonal therapy, and initiated first ARI treatment (index date) between 8/2019-3/2022. We describe the % of pts who discontinued initial ARI treatment (DISC), % who progressed to metastasis (PROG), and % with AEs. A comparative analysis was performed between daro and enza/apa using Cox proportional hazards models for time to DISC/time to PROG, adjusting for observed baseline (BL) factors. Results: 870 pts were included (daro/enza/apa, n=362/382/126). Median age (80/79/80 y), median BL prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (6.8/6.4/7.4 mo), other BL characteristics, and median follow-up (22.2/22.7/23.3 mo) were similar for daro/enza/apa. A lower % of pts had a DISC event on daro vs enza/apa (30.4 vs 40.8/46.0) or a PROG event (17.7 vs 28.3/27.8) during the study period. Multivariate analyses adjusting for BL factors showed that pts on daro had a lower risk of DISC and PROG over time vs enza/apa. A lower % of pts on daro had AEs vs enza/apa (24.9 vs 29.3/30.2). Conclusions: Overall, a lower % of pts discontinued initial ARI treatment, progressed to metastasis, or had AEs on daro vs enza/apa. In analyses adjusting for observed BL factors, pts on daro had considerably lower risk of DISC and PROG vs enza/apa. This study confirms daro’s strong efficacy and favorable tolerability profile in a RW setting. The longer treatment duration seen with daro may be associated with a lower risk of progression to mCRPC vs enza/apa. [Table: see text]

Open-label study of androgen receptor inhibition with darolutamide plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) versus ADT in men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer using an external control arm (ARASEC).

TPS5111 Background: Darolutamide is a structurally distinct and highly potent androgen receptor inhibitor (ARI) that significantly improved metastasis-free survival by ̃2 years and reduced the risk of death by 31% vs placebo in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Darolutamide has a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with only ≤2% difference vs placebo for most adverse events (AEs) of interest (falls, fractures, hypertension, mental impairment). Fatigue was the only AE with > 10% incidence in the darolutamide arm (13.2%; placebo, 8.3%). Darolutamide has shown lower blood–brain barrier penetration than other ARIs in preclinical models (supported by human neuroimaging studies), which may lead to a lower risk of central nervous system-related AEs and has a low potential for drug–drug interactions. For patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), the combination of darolutamide and ADT is expected to offer a favorable benefit–risk profile. ARASEC will evaluate the efficacy and safety of darolutamide plus ADT in mHSPC in the US (NCT05059236) and complement the data in the ongoing ARANOTE study (NCT04736199). Methods: ARASEC is a US-based, phase 2, open-label, single-arm study with an external control arm. Eligible patients will have confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate, radiologic evidence of metastatic disease by conventional imaging, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≤2. Patients with mHSPC will receive darolutamide 600 mg twice daily plus ADT (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist/antagonist or orchiectomy). The control arm for ARASEC will be derived from the 393 patients with mHSPC treated with ADT alone in the CHAARTED trial. Patients in the active arm will be matched 1:1 to patients in the control arm using important baseline characteristics such as age, ECOG PS, extent of disease defined as low or high volume according to CHAARTED, and presence of bone and visceral metastases. Study duration was defined as the time from the first patient’s first visit until either the event count threshold triggering the primary endpoint analysis has been met or all patients have been followed for ≥2 years after enrollment, whichever occurs later. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS), defined in CHAARTED as the time from enrollment to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, clinical progression (including radiological or symptomatic progression or clinical deterioration), or death, whichever occurs first. Secondary endpoints are overall survival, radiographic PFS, time to CRPC, complete PSA response rate at 6 months, and safety. Patient recruitment is in progress. Clinical trial information: NCT05059236.

Bariatric surgery and total knee/hip arthroplasty: an analysis of the impact of sequence and timing on outcomes

BackgroundPatients with morbid obesity may require both bariatric surgery and total knee/hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA). How to sequence these two procedures with better outcomes remains largely unstudied.MethodsThis cohort study extracted claims...

Gabapentinoid Dosing and Associated Toxicities in Patients With or Without Concomitant Opioids During Hospitalization.

Gabapentinoid drugs (gabapentin and pregabalin) are increasingly used for pain as both patients and physicians seek opioid-sparing or opioid-reducing strategies. Such widespread use for off-label pain indications is not supported by robust evidence, risking potential unintended consequences relating to adverse events. This study evaluated adult patients who were administered at least one dose of a gabapentinoid during a hospital admission between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. The primary objective was to compare the difference in administered gabapentinoid total daily dose in patients with or without concomitant opioid. Secondary objectives included comparing the difference in sedation documentation, renal function, fall risk scores using the Hester Davis Fall Risk Scale, and central nervous system (CNS) related side effects between the 2 study groups. Four hundred and ninety nine patients (pregabalin n = 32 and gabapentin n = 467) were included. Due to small sample size for pregabalin, outcome results were presented for gabapentin only. The mean gabapentin total daily dose was 706 mg (SD = 614 mg) in the non-opioid group versus 860 mg (SD = 553 mg) in the opioid group (p = 0.007). There was more sedation documentation observed in the opioid group (p < 0.001). Patients in the opioid group used a significantly higher gabapentinoid total daily dose. Sedation documentation was significantly more in the opioid group despite commonly reported CNS related adverse events with gabapentinoids.

Risk of Cognitive Effects in Comorbid Patients With Prostate Cancer Treated With Androgen Receptor Inhibitors.

Prostate cancer (PC) is primarily a disease of older men. As the risk of neurocognitive decline increases as people age, cognitive dysfunction is a potential complication in men with PC, imposing detrimental effects on functional independence and quality of life. Importantly, risk of cognitive decline may increase with exposure to androgen deprivation therapy and other hormonal therapies. Particular consideration should be given to patients with castration-resistant PC (CRPC), many of whom require continuous, long-term androgen deprivation therapy combined with a second-generation androgen receptor inhibitor. Non-comparative evidence from interventional trials of androgen receptor inhibitors in men with non-metastatic CRPC suggests differential effects on cognitive function and central nervous system-related adverse events within this drug class. Drug-drug interactions with concomitant medications for chronic, non-malignant comorbidities differ among ARIs and thus may contribute further to cognitive impairment. Hence, establishing baseline cognitive function is a prerequisite to identifying subsequent clinical decline associated with androgen receptor-targeted therapies. Although brief, sensitive screening tools for cancer-related cognitive dysfunction are lacking, mental status can be ascertained from the initial medical history and neurocognitive examination, progressing to more in-depth evaluation when impairment is suspected. On-treatment neurocognitive monitoring should be integrated into regular clinical follow-up to preserve cognitive function and quality of life throughout disease management. This review summarizes the multiple factors that may contribute to cognitive decline in men with CRPC, awareness of which will assist clinicians to optimize individual treatment. Practical, clinic-based strategies for managing the risks for and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction are also discussed.

Current concepts in the management of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) is encountered in approximately one‐third of people with diabetes. This, in turn, might markedly impoverish their quality of life, mainly owing to neuropathic pain and foot ulcerations. Painful DSPN might be as frequent as 25% in diabetes patients. Symptoms as a result of DSPN typically comprise pain, paresthesia and numbness in the distal lower limbs. Asymptomatic DSPN might reach 50% among patients with this condition. Unfortunately, DSPN is still not adequately diagnosed and treated. Its management has three priorities: (i) lifestyle improvement, near‐normoglycemia and multifactorial cardiovascular risk intervention; (ii) pathogenesis‐oriented pharmacotherapy; and (iii) symptomatic alleviation of pain. Intensive diabetes therapy showed evidence for favorable effects on the incidence and deterioration of DSPN in type 1 diabetes, but not type 2 diabetes. Among pathogenesis‐oriented treatments, α‐lipoic acid, actovegin, benfotiamine and epalrestat are currently authorized to treat DSPN in several countries. Symptomatic therapy uses analgesics, notably antidepressants, opioids and anticonvulsants, reducing pain by ≥50% in approximately 50% of individuals, but might be limited, particularly by central nervous system‐related adverse events. Local treatment with the capsaicin 8% patch might offer an alternative. In addition to pain relief, therapy should improve sleep, mobility and quality of life. In conclusion, multimodal treatment of DSPN should consider the individual risk profile, pathogenetic treatment and pain management using pharmacotherapy (combinations, if required), as well as non‐pharmacological options.

Darolutamide: An Evidenced-Based Review of Its Efficacy and Safety in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Men treated with androgen deprivation therapy for rising PSA after failed local therapy will often develop castrate resistance, and the appearance of metastases predicts a poor prognosis. Thus, researchers have long sought to prolong the onset of metastasis in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Until 2018, patients in this group had no FDA-approved treatment options. They were typically managed with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) to maintain castrate systemic testosterone levels and given approved therapies for metastatic CRPC once metastases appeared. However, third-generation androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs) have dramatically changed the treatment paradigm, having shown the ability to extend metastasis-free survival (MFS) significantly over ADT alone in Phase 3 trials. The newest of these, darolutamide, prolonged MFS 22 months over placebo while also improving a host of secondary and exploratory endpoints such as overall survival (OS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression and time to pain progression, chemotherapy initiation, and symptomatic skeletal events. Among third-generation ARIs, darolutamide is unique in that it incorporates two pharmacologically active diastereomers and has demonstrated resistance to all known androgen receptor (AR) mutations. Additionally, patients taking darolutamide appear to experience comparatively few central nervous system-related adverse events (AEs) such as fatigue and falls, and no increases in seizures have been reported in the drug’s clinical or preclinical development. Various authors attribute the low incidence of CNS-related AEs to darolutamide’s minimal penetration of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Other side effects ranging from hot flashes to hypothyroidism also occurred at rates similar to those of the placebo arm in Phase 3. As ADT in itself raises cardiovascular risk, the cardiovascular safety of third-generation antiandrogens as a category warrants continued scrutiny. In total, however, published data suggest that darolutamide provides a reasonable option for patients with nonmetastatic CRPC. Ongoing research will determine darolutamide’s potential role in additional disease states such as localized and castration-sensitive PCa.

Evaluation of Flibanserin Safety: Comparison with Other Serotonergic Medications.

Flibanserin, a multifunctional serotonin agonist and antagonist, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. During the FDA's review of flibanserin, concerns were raised about the risks of hypotension, syncope, and sedation-related adverse events, which increase with alcohol use. Based on the results of an alcohol challenge study, the FDA required a boxed warning and alcohol contraindication in the flibanserin prescribing information, as part of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program. To evaluate the adverse event profile of flibanserin in the context of that seen with other medications that affect serotonin in the brain and are commonly prescribed for women. This was a review of data provided in the product prescribing information for flibanserin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, other serotonergic antidepressants, and triptans. The incidence of adverse events was assessed. The incidences of hypotension, syncope, and sedation-related adverse events (eg, dizziness, somnolence, fatigue) in studies of flibanserin were within the ranges observed for serotonergic antidepressants; the rates of these adverse events were generally lower with triptan medications. Other flibanserin-associated adverse events (eg, nausea, insomnia, dry mouth) occurred more commonly in patients taking antidepressant medications. Although medications that affect the serotonin system have varying adverse event profiles (likely mediated by differences in serotonin-related mechanisms of action, specific brain structures affected, and effects on other neurotransmitter systems), the occurrence of central nervous system-related adverse events was not dissimilar between flibanserin and serotonergic antidepressants. Kingsberg SA, McElroy SL, Clayton AH. Evaluation of Flibanserin Safety: Comparison with Other Serotonergic Medications. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:380-392.

Safety and clinical activity of ipilimumab in melanoma patients with brain metastases

Melanoma has a high propensity to metastasize to the brain, and this is often responsible for treatment failure in patients with advanced disease. Melanoma patients with brain metastases are usually excluded from clinical trials because of their expected survival of approximately 5 months. A growing body of evidence suggests that ipilimumab, a human monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, has activity against melanoma brain metastases. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from a phase II study of ipilimumab in advanced melanoma patients. Twelve of 115 patients randomized in the parent trial had stable brain metastases at baseline, as identified by an Independent Review Committee, and were evaluated for efficacy. Two of the 12 patients achieved a partial response and three had stable disease. Both patients with a partial response and one with stable disease were alive at the last follow-up, with survival time of more than 4 years. The median overall survival of the 12 patients was 14 months (range: 2.7-56.4+). An additional four patients with stable brain metastases at baseline were identified by a secondary Independent Review Committee reviewer, and were evaluated for safety. Central nervous system-related adverse events of grade 3-4, specifically cerebral edema and convulsion/seizure, occurred in two of 16 patients. Although the present study is limited by the fact that it is a retrospective analysis of a small number of patients, the results provide further evidence for the safety and efficacy of ipilimumab in melanoma patients with stable brain metastases.

Clinical pharmacology of functional disorders of the urogenital system

Clinical pharmacology of functional disorders of the urogenital system

Analgesic effects of ketamine infusion therapy in korean patients with neuropathic pain: A 2-week, open-label, uncontrolled study

Background: The overexcitation of the N-methyl- D-aspartate receptor complex appears to play a critical role in the development of neuropathic pain, and ketamine acts as an antagonist to that receptor. Some publications have reported on the prominent relief of neuropathic pain with intravenous or subcutaneous ketamine infusions or a single-dose intravenous ketamine injection despite adverse effects. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the analgesic effect of intravenous ketamine infusion therapy for neuropathic pain refractory to conventional treatments. Secondary objectives included identifying the variables related to the analgesic effect and the pain descriptors susceptible to ketamine infusion. Methods: This 2-week, open-label, uncontrolled study was conducted in Korean patients with neuropathic pain recruited from the Samsung Seoul Hospital (Seoul, Republic of Korea) outpatient pain management unit. Patients were required to have a pain severity score >5 (visual analog scale [VAS], where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain imaginable) over a period of ≥1 month while on standard treatment. The patients were required to have shown no benefit from standard treatment and no pain relief lasting over 1 month. The ketamine infusion therapy was composed of 3 sessions performed consecutively every other day. Midazolam was administered concomitantly to reduce the occurrence of central nervous system-related adverse events (AEs) secondary to ketamine. Each session was as follows: ketamine 0.2 mg/kg and midazolam 0.1 mg/kg were administered intravenously for 5 minutes as a loading dose, followed by a continuous infusion of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg/h and midazolam 0.025 mg/kg/h for 2 hours. AEs were assessed in the following ways: close monitoring of ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and evaluating the need for treatment of AEs during infu- sion and until discharge by an attending anesthesiologist; an open question about discomfort at the end of each session; spontaneous reports about AEs during each session; and the patients' and caregivers' checklist of AEs occurring at home for 2 weeks after discharge. All the descriptors of pain expressed by the patients in Korean were recorded and translated into appropriate English terminology on the basis of the literature on Korean verbal descriptors of pain. Each of the translated pain descriptors was then classified into 1 of 18 sensory items. Results: The overall VAS score for pain decreased from a baseline mean (SD) of 7.20 (1.77) to 5.46 (2.29) ( P < 0.001) 2 weeks after treatment in 103 patients (53 males and 50 females; mean age, 52.56 [17.33] years) who completed the study. Variables such as age, sex, and the duration and diagnosis of pain were not found to be associated with analgesic effect. Seven of the 18 pain descriptors were found to have a significant response to ketamine infusion treatment between baseline and 2 weeks follow-up: burning pain ( P = 0.008); dull, aching pain ( P < 0.001); overly sensitive to touch ( P = 0.002); stabbing pain ( P = 0.008); electric pain ( P = 0.031); tingling pain ( P < 0.001); and squeezing pain (P < 0.001). A total of 52 patients reported AEs: 33 during infusion and 44 during recovery and up to 2 weeks follow up. The most commonly reported AEs were snoring (15 [15%]) during infusion and dizziness (43 [42%]) during recovery. Conclusions: Ketamine infusion therapy was associated with reduced severity of neuropathic pain and generally well tolerated for up to 2 weeks in these patients with neuropathic pain refractory to standard treatment. Variables such as sex, age, and the diagnosis and duration of pain had no association with the analgesic effect of this treatment. Randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of treatment with ketamine infusion.

Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Single Doses of LXR‐623, a Novel Liver X‐Receptor Agonist, in Healthy Participants

Liver X-receptor (LXR) agonists have been postulated to enhance reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), a process believed to shuttle cholesterol from the periphery back to the liver. Enhancing RCT via the upregulation of cholesterol transporters such as the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassettes ABCA1 and ABCG1 could therefore inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. LXR-623 is a synthetic ligand for LXRs alpha and beta that has shown promise in animal models of atherosclerosis. The authors present results from a single ascending-dose study of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of LXR-623 in healthy participants. LXR-623 was absorbed rapidly with peak concentrations (C(max)) achieved at approximately 2 hours. The C(max) and area under the concentration-time curve increased in a dose-proportional manner. The mean terminal disposition half-life was between 41 and 43 hours independently of dose. LXR activation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. The effect of LXR-623 concentration on ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression was further characterized via a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis, yielding EC(50) estimates of 526 ng/mL and 729 ng/mL, respectively. Central nervous system-related adverse events were observed at the 2 top doses tested. The pharmacodynamic effects described here are the first demonstration of "target engagement" by an LXR agonist in humans.

Raltegravir in treatment naïve patients

Raltegravir is the first integrase inhibitor approved for the treatment of HIV infection based on the superior efficacy it showed compared to optimized backbone therapy alone in patients harboring multidrug resistant viruses. Studies on naïve patients showed comparable efficacy of raltegravir and efavirenz and just recently the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved raltegravir for the use in naïve patients based on the favorable results of the international double-blind phase III STARTMRK trial. Additional interesting findings were the faster, and not yet explained, decay of HIV-1 RNA and the higher CD4+ cells increase in the raltegravir group as compared to the efavirenz group.Raltegravir is generally well tolerated and adverse events were generally similar in raltegravir and comparator arms throughout all studies. When compared to efavirenz, patients on raltegravir showed less incidence of central nervous system-related adverse events. In studies on experienced patients higher incidence of cancers was found in the raltegravir arm: a relationship with the drug was, however not confirmed in a recent review considering all raltegravir studies. Raltegravir also showed a safe lipid profile expecially in naïve patients, finding that renders the drug attractive for patients with other cardiovascular risk factors.All this characteristics in association with its specific mechanism of action, make raltegravir an interesting drug for naïve patients and a large use in this type of patients is predictable. Only time and experience, however, will tell us whether raltegravir will maintain its promises in the long run.

Cost-efficacy of oral triptans in the treatment of acute migraine

SummaryThe objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of oral triptans currently used in the treatment of acute migraine in Spain. Using a decision analytic model, a cost-efficacy analysis was performed from the payer's perspective. Efficacy was assessed in terms of sustained pain-free patients, with data extracted from a recent meta-analysis of clinical trials. Chest-related and central nervous system-related adverse events were also considered. For the economic analysis, the cost of drug treatment and the management of adverse events were determined.A group of three triptans (naratriptan 2.5 mg, sumatriptan 50 mg and almotriptan 12.5 mg) was found to dominate all other triptans in the sense that the other triptans were more expensive but did not show higher efficacy. Naratriptan 2.5 mg offered the lowest cost of the three, while almotriptan 12.5 mg showed the highest level of efficacy. The incremental cost-efficacy ratio for sumatriptan 50 mg versus naratriptan 2.5 mg was €23.09 per sustained pain-free patient. The incremental cost-efficacy ratio for almotriptan 12.5 mg versus sumatriptan 50 mg was €10.45 per sustained pain-free patient.However, 95% confidence intervals for efficacy and costs of almotriptan 12.5 mg overlapped with those of rizatriptan 10 mg, while 95% confidence intervals of sumatriptan 50 mg overlapped with those of naratriptan 2.5 mg, zolmitriptan 2.5 mg and eletriptan 40 mg. A third cluster of triptans with overlapping confidence intervals, showing higher costs but not higher efficacy than almotriptan 12.5 mg and rizatriptan 10 mg, included sumatriptan 100 mg, zolmitriptan 5 mg and eletriptan 80 mg.It is concluded that, combining clinical and economic considerations, rizatriptan 10 mg and, particularly, almotriptan 12.5 mg are the most appealing triptans in Spain.