Biomedical subjects

T J Postma

Publications and source records attributed to T J Postma.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Cost analysis of the treatment of severe spinal spasticity with a continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion system.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to analyse and evaluate the costs of continuous intrathecal baclofen administration as a modality in the treatment of severe spasticity in the Netherlands. DESIGN: A cost analysis was conducted as part of a prospective, multicentre, multidisciplinary, randomised and placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study covered the period from December 1991 to September 1995. The data on medical consumption and costs were collected over a 3-year period from different sources: administrative databases of health insurance companies, hospital registries and a patient survey. These data were structured by means of a flowchart analysis of the medical decision-making by specialists and general practitioners (GPs). They included data on in- and outpatient care, home care and care in nursing homes. The cost analysis was conducted using data from 18 patients included in the trial and from 15 so-called 'match' patients. The latter group are patients with comparable diseases leading to spasticity and living in comparable circumstances. Next to absolute costs (direct and indirect) of care and treatment for the 2 groups of patients, cost differences between the 2 groups were considered (differential cost analysis). SETTING: Per patient cost data, collected prospectively for 2 years during the phase of clinical evaluation, and retrospectively 1 year before implantation. The data were collected on patients from in- and outpatient care, home care and care in nursing home settings. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: The trial patients (8 men) had a mean age of 46 years; 11 patients had multiple sclerosis and 7 patients had spinal cord injuries. The match patients (7 men) had a mean age of 48 years; 9 patients had multiple sclerosis and 6 patients had spinal cord injuries. INTERVENTIONS: Trial patients were treated with a subcutaneously implanted programmable continuous infusion pump (SynchroMed, Medtronic), filled with baclofen (a muscle relaxant) to treat patients with chronic disabling spasticity who did not respond to a maximum dose of oral baclofen, dantrolene and tizanidine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: An analysis of hospital stay between both groups showed a significant difference during the implantation year. The average number of hospital days per patient in the year in the treated group was 31.5 days and in the match group was 18.7 days. Significant cost differences between both groups in the year that started with pump implantation and the following year can be attributed mostly to the costs of implantation of the pump and related hospitalisation days. The total costs of patient selection, testing, implanting the pump and follow-up amounted to $US28,473 for the first year. Savings must be taken into consideration as well. The savings of direct costs were due to withdrawal of oral medication (estimated annual total of between $US1950 and $US2800 per patient). Indirect savings on employment and nursing home costs, amounted annually to $US1047 and $US5814, respectively. Scenarios make it possible to consider policy consequences. The case of 'extending' the indications for this treatment to a larger population has been calculated and visualised. CONCLUSIONS: The costs of the therapy (continuous intrathecal infusion of baclofen) can be attributed mostly to implantation of the pump and related hospitalisation days. Savings originated from withdrawal of oral medication, job preservation and avoidance or delay of admission to a nursing home.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Neurotoxicity of combination chemotherapy with procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine (PCV) for recurrent glioma.

In cerebral glioma combination chemotherapy with procabazine, CCNU and vincristine (PCV) is used as adjuvant therapy in cases of recurrence. Standard PCV is usually well tolerated, but intensive PCV (CCNU 130 mg/m2 on day 1, procarbazine 75 mg/m2 on day 8-21, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 on day 8 and 29; 6 courses every 6 weeks) is less well tolerated. We observed central neurotoxic side effects (focal neurological deficit, cognitive disturbances, slowing of EEG background activity, atrophy on cerebral MR) in combination with hematological and hepatic toxicity in four of 26 PCV treated patients with recurrent glioma. Prolonged myelo-suppression and/or ongoing (partial reversible in two patients) neurological deficit still influence daily life in three of four patients months after discontinuation of chemotherapy. Despite the fact that all four patients used anticonvulsants and have been treated with radiotherapy in the past, we have the strong impression that central neurotoxic side effects are related to intensive PCV therapy. We advocate to use the standard PCV regimen in patients with recurrent glioma, because of this potential toxicity and the lack of evidence that intensive PCV leads to better tumor control than standard PCV in cerebral glioma.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Thallium-201 SPECT as response parameter for PCV chemotherapy in recurrent glioma.

Combination chemotherapy with procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine (PCV) may be effective in patients with recurrent glioma. Response monitoring is mandatory, but radiological response evaluation is often difficult. We evaluated Thallium-201 (201Tl) SPECT as a response parameter in ten patients treated with intensive PCV chemotherapy for recurrent glioma. 201Tl-SPECT studies showed early changes (decreasing volume and intensity) in nine patients and these changes were more pronounced than radiological findings. 201Tl-SPECT results after completion of chemotherapy seemed to correlate with clininal findings during follow up. We conclude that 201Tl-SPECT may contribute to the assessment of response in patients treated with PCV chemotherapy for recurrent glioma.

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PubMed1998

Pitfalls in grading severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Reliable reporting of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity is important. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the differences in the peripheral neurotoxicity sections of several widely used chemotherapy-related toxicity grading systems, and the differences in the way in which observers interpret these scales. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two neurologists independently rated the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, according to WHO, ECOG, Ajani, and NCIC-CTC criteria in 37 patients. RESULTS: The highest percentage grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 peripheral neurotoxicity was noted when employing the WHO, Ajani and NCIC-CTC scales, respectively. Percentage inter-observer agreement across all grades of severity ranged from 45.9 (NCIC-CTC) to 83.8 (WHO). The degree of agreement varied from 'poor to fair' to 'substantial'. Percentage inter-observer agreement for the dichotomy grade < or = 2 and grade 3 ranged from 81.1 (NCIC-CTC) to 94.6 (Ajani and WHO), however, exact agreement on grade 3 peripheral neurotoxicity ranged from 0 (Ajani and WHO) to 42% (NCIC-CTC). Percentage interscale agreement for the dichotomy grade < or = 2 and grade 3 varied from 67.6 (WHO and NCIC-CTC) to 100 (WHO and ECOG). Interobserver disagreement of severity grading was partly due to different interpretation of scale parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that caution should be used in interpreting results across studies using different scales for neurotoxicity grading in chemotherapy-related peripheral neuropathy. When (multicentre) trials are to be undertaken with potential neurotoxic or neuroprotective agents, consensus should be sought regarding the toxicity rating scale used, and its interpretation by participating physicians.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a new antineoplastic agent derived from the bark of the western yew, Taxus brevifolia, with important activity against several tumors such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and head and neck cancer. Because it promotes microtubule assembly, neuropathy occurs as one of its toxic side effects. Our purpose was to evaluate the incidence, severity, dose-dependency and reversibility of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 27 patients treated with single-agent paclitaxel at three dose levels. Paclitaxel was administered by 3-hour intravenous infusion every three weeks in all patients, and if possible, all were evaluated neurologically before paclitaxel, after every other cycle and after discontinuation of therapy. We used a standardized questionnaire and neurologic examination with emphasis on neuropathic symptoms and signs. The severity of symptoms and signs was scored. Quantitatively, vibratory perception threshold (vibrameter) and grip strength (dynamometer) were measured. RESULTS: Six, 14 and seven patients were treated with 135 mg/m2, 175 mg/m2 and 250-300 mg/m2, respectively. Neuropathic symptoms occurred in 50%, 79% and 100%, neuropathic signs in 83%, 86% and 100%, and dose-limiting neurotoxicity in 0%, 21% and 71% of patients, respectively. Neurotoxicity progressed with higher cumulative dose and was more pronounced with higher dose per course. Paclitaxel-induced neuropathy was predominantly sensory in character, though minor motor signs were present. Follow-up data of 12 patients after discontinuation of paclitaxel therapy showed that paclitaxel-induced neuropathy is at least partially reversible. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel-induced neuropathy is a dose-dependent phenomenon, occurring with higher cumulative dose and higher dose per cycle. Using 3-weekly 3-hour infusions of paclitaxel, dose-limiting neurotoxicity can be expected in patients treated with 250 mg/m2 or more each cycle.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

High-dose paclitaxel with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracycline therapy: a European Cancer Center trial.

Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) is a novel cytostatic agent that has shown interesting antitumor activity in patients with advanced breast cancer. Depending on variable patient characteristics and amount and type of prior therapy, as well as the applied dose and schedule of paclitaxel, response rates have varied from 13% to 62%. However, optimal dose and schedule are still unknown. We studied a high-dose (250 to 300 mg/m2) 3-hour paclitaxel infusion schedule in a poor prognostic group of breast cancer patients who progressed or relapsed while taking anthracyclines. This regimen was given every 3 weeks. Twenty-one of the 36 patients studied had increased liver enzymes and 18 had documented liver metastases. The objective response rate was only 6%, but response rate by disease site indicated that soft tissue lesions responded in 30% of cases. For a better comparison with other reported data a uniform definition of "anthracycline refractory" is needed. Neuropathy, which was found to be dose limiting, and arthralgia/myalgia syndrome were the most frequently occurring toxicities. Both severe myelosuppression (and infections) and severe diarrhea and mucositis were reported more frequently in patients with liver dysfunction. As higher peak levels, increased areas under the concentration time curves, and longer times during which plasma concentrations were above the threshold level of 0.1 mumol/L were found in patients with elevated liver enzymes, a correlation with the observed toxicities is assumed. Further pharmacodynamic studies in such patients receiving a 3-hour infusion seem warranted.

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PubMed1993

Long-term effects of vincristine on the peripheral nervous system.

Forty patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma treated with vincristine between 1984 and 1990 (cumulative dose 12 mg in 18-24 weeks) were investigated in order to evaluate the long term effects of vincristine on the peripheral nervous system. The patients were interviewed with emphasis on neuropathic symptoms. Physical and quantitative sensory examination with determination of vibratory perception and thermal discrimination thresholds were performed, four to 77 months (median 34 months) after vincristine treatment. Twenty-seven patients reported neuropathic symptoms. In 13 of these 27 patients symptoms were still present at the time of examination. In these patients sensory signs and symptoms predominated. In the other 14 patients symptoms had been present in the past. Symptoms persisted maximally 40 months since cessation of therapy. There was no age difference between patients with and without complaints at the time of examination. Normal reflexes were found in two third of patients. Neuropathic complaints were not very troublesome on the long term. It is concluded that with the above mentioned vincristine dose schedule signs and symptoms of vincristine neuropathy are reversible for a great deal and prognosis is fairly good.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[A patient with botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum type B].

A case of botulism type B acquired in The Netherlands is presented. The diagnosis was made on clinical grounds and positive mouse bio-assay. The patient was a man aged 37 years. Additional evidence was obtained by electromyography, single fibre electromyography and autonomic function tests. Antitoxin was administered without side effects. The clinical outcome was good.

Adult↗