Reversibility Of Peripheral Neuropathy Research Articles

Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome in a Patient With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Objective: A case of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) in an AIDS patient receiving dapsone for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis is discussed. Case Summary: A 50-year-old Caucasian male with a history of AIDS was admitted with suspicion of pneumonia. The clinical presentation consisted of shortness of breath, occasional hemoptysis, odynophagia, skin rash, transaminitis, anemia, malaise, and peripheral neuropathy. His medications included nystatin, fluconazole, valacyclovir, and pantoprazole. For PCP prophylaxis, the patient was initiated on dapsone 100 mg daily approximately 4 weeks prior to admission. The patient was also on a 3-drug regimen for the treatment of mycobacterium avium complex: clarithromycin, rifabutin, and ethambutol. After extensive work up, DHS was diagnosed. Dapsone was immediately discontinued and the patient was started on intravenous methylprednisolone, gradually tapered, and transitioned to oral prednisone. On discontinuation of dapsone, the patient improved, evidenced by decreased need for oxygen and reversal of peripheral neuropathy, anemia, and transaminitis. The patient’s skin rash improved within a few days. An objective causality assessment, with the Naranjo scale, suggests that DHS was probably related to dapsone. Discussion: Our patient only exhibited some of the classic symptoms observed in DHS such as skin eruptions, malaise, hepatic failure, and hemolytic anemia. The patient, however, did not present with lymphadenopathy and fever commonly noted in DHS, which may be attributed to his immunosuppressed state, evidenced by a CD4 count of 7 cell/mm3. Conclusions: A patient on dapsone for PCP prophylaxis was diagnosed with DHS. Clinicians and patients should be educated on risk factors and clinical presentation of DHS so that when initial symptoms appear they can be treated promptly. Clinicians should also be aware that patients infected with HIV/AIDS may not present with all the classic symptoms of DHS due to their immunocompromised state. Therefore, practitioners should be vigilant when initiating dapsone in this patient population.

Features and Risk Factors of Peripheral Neuropathy during Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma with Bortezomib.

Bortezomib has demonstrated activity and safety in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is among the most frequent adverse events reported with bortezomib, requiring dose-adjustment and careful patient-clinical monitoring. The aim of this retrospective single centre study was to determine the frequency, characteristics, and reversibility of PN from bortezomib treatment of 100 consecutive advanced MM patients treated with bortezomib 1.0 or 1.3 mg/m2 IV bolus on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, every 21 days. PN was evaluated by investigator neurological examination at baseline, during the study, and at last follow-up. Patients characteristics at baseline prior to bortezomib initiation were as follow: median age: 60 (range, 27–77), prior history of diabetes: n=8 (8%), prior autologous transplantation: n=76 (76%), prior treatment with thalidomide: n=75 (75%) with a median dose of 200 (range, 50–600) mg for a median duration of 8 (range, 1–61) months. Median duration between thalidomide discontinuation and bortezomib initiation was 5 (range, 0–43) months. Before treatment with bortezomib, 48 patients (48%) already had some form of PN [grade 1, n=27 (56%); grade 2, n=16 (33%); grade 3, n=5 (11%)]. With a median follow-up of 8 (range, 0.1–32) months from bortezomib initiation, patients from this series received a median of 4 (range, 1–12) cycles of bortezomib. Bortezomib-related emergent PN was observed in 38 patients (38%; 95%CI, 28–47%), with grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 PN occurring in 17 (45%), 15 (39%), 5 (13%) and 1 (3%) patients respectively. Median time to onset of bortezomib-related PN was 53 (range, 11–182) days after bortezomib initiation. In most cases (n=30; 79%), patients had sensory symptoms, while 8 patients (21%) experienced both sensory and motor symptoms. Bortezomib-related PN led to dose reduction or discontinuation in 18 patients. Of the 38 patients with bortezomib-related PN, resolution to baseline or improvement occurred in 20 (53%) patients, at a median time of 3 (range, 1–8) months. In univariate analysis, comparing patients with and without bortezomib-related PN, prior history of treatment with thalidomide (P=0.009), patient baseline grade of PN at bortezomib initiation (P=0.04), number of bortezomib cycles administered (P=0.0005), and cumulative dose (mg) of bortezomib received by patients (P=0.001), were found to be significantly associated with the risk of emergence of bortezomib-related PN. In multivariate analysis, the total number of cycles of bortezomib (less or more than 4 cycles), and a prior history of treatment with thalidomide were the strongest parameters significantly associated with an increased incidence of bortezomib-related PN (P=0.03; OR=2.6; 95%CI, 1.1–6.1 and P=0.02; OR=3.9; 95%CI, 1.2–12.6 respectively). In all, we conclude that, though relatively frequent, bortezomib-associated PN seemed reversible in a majority of patients and manageable after dose reduction or discontinuation. However, the finding that the development of bortezomib-related PN seems to be dependent of the patient history of prior neurotoxic therapy (mainly thalidomide), raises the question of the optimal sequence and schedule of administration of these anti-MM effective drugs as single agents, but also in combination.

Frequency, Characteristics, and Reversibility of Peripheral Neuropathy During Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma With Bortezomib

To determine the frequency, characteristics, and reversibility of peripheral neuropathy from bortezomib treatment of advanced multiple myeloma. Peripheral neuropathy was assessed in two phase II studies in 256 patients with relapsed and/or refractory myeloma treated with bortezomib 1.0 or 1.3 mg/m2 intravenous bolus on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, every 21 days, for up to eight cycles. Peripheral neuropathy was evaluated at baseline, during the study, and after the study by patient-reported symptoms using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire and neurologic examination. During the study, peripheral neuropathy was also evaluated by investigator assessment. A subset of patients underwent nerve conduction studies (n = 13). Before treatment, 194 (81%) of 239 patients had peripheral neuropathy by FACT/GOG-Ntx questionnaire, and 203 (83%) of 244 patients had peripheral neuropathy by neurologic examination. Treatment-emergent neuropathy was reported in 35% of patients, including 37% (84 of 228 patients) receiving bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 and 21% (six of 28 patients) receiving bortezomib 1.0 mg/m2. Grade 1 or 2, 3, and 4 neuropathy occurred in 22%, 13%, and 0.4% of patients, respectively. The incidence of grade > or = 3 neuropathy was higher among patients with baseline neuropathy by FACT/GOG-Ntx questionnaire compared with patients without baseline neuropathy (14% v 4%, respectively). In all 256 patients, neuropathy led to dose reduction in 12% and discontinuation in 5%. Of 35 patients with neuropathy > or = grade 3 and/or requiring discontinuation, resolution to baseline or improvement occurred in 71%. Bortezomib-associated peripheral neuropathy seemed reversible in the majority of patients after dose reduction or discontinuation. Although severe neuropathy was more frequent in the presence of baseline neuropathy, the overall occurrence was independent of baseline neuropathy or type of prior therapy.

Reversal of diabetic peripheral neuropathy with phototherapy (MIRE™) decreases falls and the fear of falling and improves activities of daily living in seniors

to determine whether restoration of sensation, impaired due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), would reduce the number of falls and the fear of falling and improve activities of daily living (ADL) in a Medicare-aged population. retrospective cohort study of patients with documented, monochromatic near-infrared phototherapy (MIRE)-mediated, symptomatic reversal of DPN. responses to a health status questionnaire following symptomatic reversal of DPN. 252 patients (mean age 76 years) provided health information following symptomatic reversal of diabetic neuropathy (mean duration 8.6 months). incidence of falls and fear of falling decreased within 1 month after reversal of peripheral neuropathy and remained low after 1 year. Likewise, improved ADL were evident soon after reversal of peripheral neuropathy and showed further improvement after 1 year. Overall, reversal of peripheral neuropathy in a clinician's office and subsequent use of MIRE at home was associated with a 78% reduction in falls, a 79% decrease in balance-related fear of falling and a 72% increase in ADL (P < 0.0002 for all results). reversal of peripheral neuropathy is associated with an immediate reduction in the absolute number of falls, a reduced fear of falling and improved ADL. These results suggest that symptomatic reversal of diabetic neuropathy will have a substantial favourable, long-term socioeconomic impact on patients with DPN and the Medicare system, and improve the quality of life for elderly patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

Frequency, Characteristics, and Reversibility of Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) in the APEX Trial.

Introduction: Bortezomib (Bz, VELCADE) is a proteasome inhibitor proven safe and effective for patients (pts) with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Pts in SUMMIT (NEJM 2003; 348:2609) and CREST (BJH 2004; 127:165) underwent rigorous testing (neurologic evaluations, FACT/GOG-Ntx questionnaires, nerve conduction studies) to determine the incidence, characteristics and reversibility of PN. In these phase 2 trials, the PN rate was 31–41% (grade [G] ≥ 3 in 11–12%). Specific dose modification (DM) guidelines for PN were not incorporated into the phase 2 trials but were developed for subsequent studies. The objective of this report was to evaluate the frequency, characteristics and reversibility of PN in an updated analysis of the randomized phase 3 APEX trial (NEJM 2005; 352:2487), in which specific DM guidelines for PN were implemented.Methods: Pts with relapsed MM were randomized to Bz 1.3 mg/m2 IV on d 1, 4, 8, 11 q3wk for 8 cycles then 3 cycles on d 1, 8, 15, 22 q5wk, or dexamethasone (Dex) 40 mg PO on d 1–4, 9–12, 17–20 q5wk for 4 cycles, then 5 cycles on d 1–4 q4wk. Pts with G ≥ 2 PN were excluded. Data were collected on incidence, severity and reversibility of PN.Results: Of 331 pts safety evaluable enrolled on Bz, 120 (36%) developed PN, including 30 (9%) with G ≥ 3. PN was classified as sensory or not specified in the vast majority of cases; motor neuropathies were rare. Of 91 pts with G ≥ 2 PN, 68 had DM, including 37 with doses reduced, held or schedule modification and 31 with Bz discontinuation (DC); 23 pts not following DM protocol. The majority (58 pts; 64%) of the 91 pts improved (9%) or had complete resolution (55%) of symptoms. Of 37 pts with DM without Bz DC, the majority (26 pts; 70%) had improvement, all with complete resolution of PN to baseline, with a median time to resolution of 78 d. Of 31 pts requiring Bz DC, 2 (6%) improved and 17 (55%) had complete resolution of PN with a median time to improvement/resolution of 121 d. Of 23 pts who did not follow the DM protocol, 12 (52%) had complete resolution with a median time to resolution of 106 d. The rates of PN (any G, G ≥ 3) were similar regardless of pt age or number/type of prior therapies (Table). The median TTP of 91 pts with G ≥ 2 PN, 68 pts with DM, and the Bz arm overall were 6.2, 6.9 and 6.2 months, respectively.Conclusion: The overall rate of PN in APEX was similar to that of SUMMIT and CREST, but the rate of G ≥ 3 PN was lower, perhaps because of specific DM guidelines. PN was reversible in the majority of pts, and DM did not compromise efficacy. Pt age or number/type of prior therapies did not appear to affect the rate or severity of PN.PNBz SubgroupAny G*, %G ≥3, %ge; 65 y359< 65 y379> 1 prior therapy36101 prior therapy378Steroids387Alkylating agent357Anthracycline397Vinca alkaloid388Thalidomide448Transplantation377*Bz related