If you work on the front lines of medical care, treating patients with hepatitis, you may not have time to review all the hepatitis research that enters the medical literature every month. Here’s a quick look at some notable news items and journal articles published over the past month, which cover a variety of the major hepatitis viruses.

Sequential therapy with pegylated interferon after long-term–nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy enhances the reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen and may represent a treatment option to promote HBsAg loss, a recent study revealed.

©vchal/Thinkstock

rpizzi@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @richpizzi

If you work on the front lines of medical care, treating patients with hepatitis, you may not have time to review all the hepatitis research that enters the medical literature every month. Here’s a quick look at some notable news items and journal articles published over the past month, which cover a variety of the major hepatitis viruses.

Sequential therapy with pegylated interferon after long-term–nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy enhances the reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen and may represent a treatment option to promote HBsAg loss, a recent study revealed.

©vchal/Thinkstock

rpizzi@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @richpizzi

If you work on the front lines of medical care, treating patients with hepatitis, you may not have time to review all the hepatitis research that enters the medical literature every month. Here’s a quick look at some notable news items and journal articles published over the past month, which cover a variety of the major hepatitis viruses.

Sequential therapy with pegylated interferon after long-term–nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy enhances the reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen and may represent a treatment option to promote HBsAg loss, a recent study revealed.

©vchal/Thinkstock

rpizzi@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @richpizzi

Question: Recent developments in malpractice include the following:

A. Severity and frequency rates continue to rise.

B. Apology laws appear to be very effective in reducing claims.

C. Litigation surrounds whether an assistant may obtain a patient’s informed consent on behalf of the doctor.

D. A and B.

E. A, B, and C.

Answer: C. Over the past decade, malpractice claims have in fact diminished, accompanied by a leveling or reduction in premiums.¹ Rates have plummeted to roughly half of previous levels, averaging six claims per 100 doctors in 2016.

According to The Doctors Company, internists paid an average premium of $15,853, compared with an average of $19,900 in 2006, general surgeons $52,905 instead of $68,186, and obstetricians $72,999, a drop from $93,230. Even claims-plagued Florida’s Dade County has seen a dramatic drop in internist premiums by some $27,000, down to $47,707.²

Dr. Tan is emeritus professor of medicine and former adjunct professor of law at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. This article is meant to be educational and does not constitute medical, ethical, or legal advice. Some of the materials have been taken from my earlier columns in Internal Medicine News. For additional information, readers may contact the author at siang@hawaii.edu.

References

1. JAMA. 2014 Nov 26;312(20):2146-55.

2. “Malpractice 2017: Do We Need Reform?” Internal Medicine News, March 1, 2017, page 1.

3. Fein v. Permanente, 38 Cal.3d 137 (1985).

4. Chan v. Curran, 237 CA 4th 601 (2015).

5. Estate of Johnson v. Randall Smith, Inc., 135 Ohio St.3d 440 (2013).

6. Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers2.cfm?abstract_id=2883693.

7. Shinal v. Toms, 122 A. 3d 1066 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

8. Q J Econ. (1996) 111 (2): 353-390.

9. Available at www.jacksonhealthcare.com/media/8968/defensivemedicine_ebook_final.pdf.

Question: Recent developments in malpractice include the following:

A. Severity and frequency rates continue to rise.

B. Apology laws appear to be very effective in reducing claims.

C. Litigation surrounds whether an assistant may obtain a patient’s informed consent on behalf of the doctor.

D. A and B.

E. A, B, and C.

Answer: C. Over the past decade, malpractice claims have in fact diminished, accompanied by a leveling or reduction in premiums.¹ Rates have plummeted to roughly half of previous levels, averaging six claims per 100 doctors in 2016.

According to The Doctors Company, internists paid an average premium of $15,853, compared with an average of $19,900 in 2006, general surgeons $52,905 instead of $68,186, and obstetricians $72,999, a drop from $93,230. Even claims-plagued Florida’s Dade County has seen a dramatic drop in internist premiums by some $27,000, down to $47,707.²

Dr. Tan is emeritus professor of medicine and former adjunct professor of law at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. This article is meant to be educational and does not constitute medical, ethical, or legal advice. Some of the materials have been taken from my earlier columns in Internal Medicine News. For additional information, readers may contact the author at siang@hawaii.edu.

References

1. JAMA. 2014 Nov 26;312(20):2146-55.

2. “Malpractice 2017: Do We Need Reform?” Internal Medicine News, March 1, 2017, page 1.

3. Fein v. Permanente, 38 Cal.3d 137 (1985).

4. Chan v. Curran, 237 CA 4th 601 (2015).

5. Estate of Johnson v. Randall Smith, Inc., 135 Ohio St.3d 440 (2013).

6. Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers2.cfm?abstract_id=2883693.

7. Shinal v. Toms, 122 A. 3d 1066 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

8. Q J Econ. (1996) 111 (2): 353-390.

9. Available at www.jacksonhealthcare.com/media/8968/defensivemedicine_ebook_final.pdf.

Question: Recent developments in malpractice include the following:

A. Severity and frequency rates continue to rise.

B. Apology laws appear to be very effective in reducing claims.

C. Litigation surrounds whether an assistant may obtain a patient’s informed consent on behalf of the doctor.

D. A and B.

E. A, B, and C.

Answer: C. Over the past decade, malpractice claims have in fact diminished, accompanied by a leveling or reduction in premiums.¹ Rates have plummeted to roughly half of previous levels, averaging six claims per 100 doctors in 2016.

According to The Doctors Company, internists paid an average premium of $15,853, compared with an average of $19,900 in 2006, general surgeons $52,905 instead of $68,186, and obstetricians $72,999, a drop from $93,230. Even claims-plagued Florida’s Dade County has seen a dramatic drop in internist premiums by some $27,000, down to $47,707.²

Dr. Tan is emeritus professor of medicine and former adjunct professor of law at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. This article is meant to be educational and does not constitute medical, ethical, or legal advice. Some of the materials have been taken from my earlier columns in Internal Medicine News. For additional information, readers may contact the author at siang@hawaii.edu.

References

1. JAMA. 2014 Nov 26;312(20):2146-55.

2. “Malpractice 2017: Do We Need Reform?” Internal Medicine News, March 1, 2017, page 1.

3. Fein v. Permanente, 38 Cal.3d 137 (1985).

4. Chan v. Curran, 237 CA 4th 601 (2015).

5. Estate of Johnson v. Randall Smith, Inc., 135 Ohio St.3d 440 (2013).

6. Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers2.cfm?abstract_id=2883693.

7. Shinal v. Toms, 122 A. 3d 1066 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

8. Q J Econ. (1996) 111 (2): 353-390.

9. Available at www.jacksonhealthcare.com/media/8968/defensivemedicine_ebook_final.pdf.

Case Report

A 39-year-old woman with a 20-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented to a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital with painful ulcerations on the bilateral dorsal feet that started as bullae 16 weeks prior to presentation. Initial skin biopsy performed by an outside dermatologist 8 weeks prior to presentation showed vasculitis and culture was positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. She was started on a prednisone taper and cephalexin, which did not improve the lower extremity ulcerations and the pain became progressively worse. At the time of presentation to our dermatology department, the patient was taking prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, and gabapentin. Prior therapy with sulfasalazine failed; etanercept and methotrexate were discontinued years prior due to side effects. The patient had no history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or miscarriage.

At presentation, the patient was afebrile and her vital signs were stable. Physical examination showed multiple ulcers and erosions on the bilateral dorsal feet with a few scattered retiform red-purple patches (Figure). One bulla was present on the right dorsal foot. All lesions were tender to the touch and edema was present on the bilateral feet. No oral ulcerations were present and no focal neuropathies or palpable cords were appreciated in the lower extremities. There were no other cutaneous abnormalities.

Laboratory studies showed a white blood cell count of 9.54×10³/µL (reference range, 4.16-9.95×10³/µL), hemoglobin count of 12.4 g/dL (reference range, 11.6-15.2 g/dL), and a platelet count of 175×10³/µL (reference range, 143-398×10³/µL). A basic metabolic panel was normal except for an elevated glucose level of 185 mg/dL (reference range, 65-100 mg/dL). Urinalysis was normal. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were not elevated. Antinuclear antibodies and double-stranded DNA antibodies were normal. Prothrombin time was 10.4 seconds (reference range, 9.2-11.5 seconds) and dilute viper's venom time was negative. Rheumatoid factor level was elevated at 76 IU/mL (reference range, <25 IU/mL) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody was moderately elevated at 42 U/mL (negative, <20 U/mL; weak positive, 20-39 U/mL; moderate positive, 40-59 U/mL; strong positive, >59 U/mL). The cardiolipin antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA were within reference range. Results of β₂-glycoprotein I IgG and IgM antibody tests were normal, but IgA was elevated at 34 µg/mL (reference range, <20 µg/mL). Wound cultures grew moderate Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

Slides from 2 prior punch biopsies obtained by an outside hospital approximately 8 weeks prior from the right and left dorsal foot lesions were reviewed. Both biopsies were histologically similar. Postcapillary venules showed extensive vasculitis with numerous fibrin thrombi in the lumens in both biopsy specimens. The biopsy from the right foot showed prominent ulceration of the epidermis, with a few of the affected vessels showing minimal accompanying nuclear dust; however, the predominant pattern was not that of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Biopsy from the left foot showed prominent epidermal necrosis with focal reepithelialization and scattered eosinophils. The pathologist felt that a vasculitis secondary to coagulopathy was most likely but that a drug reaction and rheumatoid vasculitis would be other entities to consider in the differential. A review of the laboratory findings from the outside hospital from approximately 12 weeks prior to presentation showed IgM was normal but IgG was elevated at 28 U/mL (reference range, 0-15 U/mL) and IgA was elevated at 8 U/mL (reference range, 0-7 U/mL); β₂-glycoprotein I IgG antibodies were elevated at 37 mg/dL (reference range, 0-25.0 mg/dL) and β₂-glycoprotein I IgA antibodies were elevated at 5 mg/dL (reference range, 0-4.0 mg/dL).

The clinical suspicion of a thrombotic event on the dorsal feet, which was confirmed histologically, and the persistently positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody titers helped to establish the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in the setting of RA. The dose of prednisone was increased from 10 mg daily on admission to 40 mg daily. The patient was started on enoxaparin 60 mg subcutaneously twice daily at initial presentation and was bridged to oral warfarin 2 mg daily after the diagnosis of APS was established. Oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily was started for wound infection. The ulcerations gradually improved over the course of her 7-day hospitalization. She was continued on prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and warfarin as an outpatient and has had no recurrence of lesions after 3 years of follow-up on this regimen.

Comment

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune condition defined by a venous and/or arterial thrombotic event and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of persistently elevated aPL antibody titers. The most frequently detected subgroups of aPL are anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies, anti-β₂-glycoprotein I antibodies, and lupus anticoagulants.¹ Primary APS occurs as an isolated entity, whereas secondary APS occurs in the setting of a preexisting autoimmune disease, infection, malignancy, or medication.² The diagnostic criteria for APS requires positive aPL titers at least 12 weeks apart and a clinically confirmed thrombotic event or pregnancy morbidity.³

About one-third to half of patients with APS exhibit cutaneous manifestations.^4,5 Livedo reticularis is most commonly observed and represents the first clinical sign of APS in 17.5% of cases.6 Cutaneous findings of APS also include anetoderma, cutaneous ulceration and necrosis, necrotizing vasculitis, livedoid vasculitis, thrombophlebitis, purpura, ecchymoses, painful skin nodules, and subungual hemorrhages.⁷ The various cutaneous manifestations of APS are associated with a range of histopathologic findings, but noninflammatory thrombosis in small arteries and/or veins in the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissue is the most common histologic feature.⁴ Our patient exhibited cutaneous ulceration and necrosis, and biopsy clearly showed the presence of vasculitis and fibrin thrombi within postcapillary venules. These findings along with the persistently elevated β₂-glycoprotein I IgA solidified the diagnosis of APS.

The most common cutaneous manifestations of RA are nodules (32%), Raynaud phenomenon (10%), and vasculitis (3%).⁸ The mean prevalence of aPL antibodies in patients with RA is 28%, though reports range from 5% to 75%.¹ The presence of aPL or aCL does not predict the development of thrombosis and/or thrombocytopenia in RA patients^9,10; however, aCL antibodies in RA patients are associated with a higher risk for developing rheumatoid nodules. It is hypothesized that the majority of aCL antibodies identified in RA patients have different specificities than those identified in other diseases that are associated with thrombotic events.¹

Anticoagulation has been proven to decrease the risk for recurrent thrombotic events in patients with APS.¹¹ Patients should discontinue the use of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives; avoid smoking cigarettes; and treat hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, if present. The type and duration of anticoagulation therapy, especially for the treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of APS, is less well defined. Antiplatelet therapies such as low-dose aspirin or dipyridamole often are used for less severe cutaneous manifestations such as livedoid vasculopathy. Warfarin with a target international normalized ratio of 2.0 to 3.0 is most commonly used following major thrombotic events, including cutaneous necrosis and digital gangrene. The role of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants is unclear; one study showed that these therapies did not prevent further thrombotic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.⁴

Conclusion

Although aPL antibodies are most prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, an estimated 28% of patients with RA have elevated aPL titers. The aPL antibodies recognized in RA patients are thought to have a different specificity than those recognized in other APS-associated diseases because elevated aPL antibody titers are not associated with an increased incidence of thrombotic events in RA patients; however, larger studies are needed to clarify this phenomenon. It remains to be determined if this case of APS and RA represents a coincidence or a true disease association, but the recognition of the cutaneous and histological features of APS is crucial for establishing a diagnosis and initiating anticoagulation therapy to prevent further morbidity and mortality.

Case Report

A 39-year-old woman with a 20-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented to a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital with painful ulcerations on the bilateral dorsal feet that started as bullae 16 weeks prior to presentation. Initial skin biopsy performed by an outside dermatologist 8 weeks prior to presentation showed vasculitis and culture was positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. She was started on a prednisone taper and cephalexin, which did not improve the lower extremity ulcerations and the pain became progressively worse. At the time of presentation to our dermatology department, the patient was taking prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, and gabapentin. Prior therapy with sulfasalazine failed; etanercept and methotrexate were discontinued years prior due to side effects. The patient had no history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or miscarriage.

At presentation, the patient was afebrile and her vital signs were stable. Physical examination showed multiple ulcers and erosions on the bilateral dorsal feet with a few scattered retiform red-purple patches (Figure). One bulla was present on the right dorsal foot. All lesions were tender to the touch and edema was present on the bilateral feet. No oral ulcerations were present and no focal neuropathies or palpable cords were appreciated in the lower extremities. There were no other cutaneous abnormalities.

Laboratory studies showed a white blood cell count of 9.54×10³/µL (reference range, 4.16-9.95×10³/µL), hemoglobin count of 12.4 g/dL (reference range, 11.6-15.2 g/dL), and a platelet count of 175×10³/µL (reference range, 143-398×10³/µL). A basic metabolic panel was normal except for an elevated glucose level of 185 mg/dL (reference range, 65-100 mg/dL). Urinalysis was normal. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were not elevated. Antinuclear antibodies and double-stranded DNA antibodies were normal. Prothrombin time was 10.4 seconds (reference range, 9.2-11.5 seconds) and dilute viper's venom time was negative. Rheumatoid factor level was elevated at 76 IU/mL (reference range, <25 IU/mL) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody was moderately elevated at 42 U/mL (negative, <20 U/mL; weak positive, 20-39 U/mL; moderate positive, 40-59 U/mL; strong positive, >59 U/mL). The cardiolipin antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA were within reference range. Results of β₂-glycoprotein I IgG and IgM antibody tests were normal, but IgA was elevated at 34 µg/mL (reference range, <20 µg/mL). Wound cultures grew moderate Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

Slides from 2 prior punch biopsies obtained by an outside hospital approximately 8 weeks prior from the right and left dorsal foot lesions were reviewed. Both biopsies were histologically similar. Postcapillary venules showed extensive vasculitis with numerous fibrin thrombi in the lumens in both biopsy specimens. The biopsy from the right foot showed prominent ulceration of the epidermis, with a few of the affected vessels showing minimal accompanying nuclear dust; however, the predominant pattern was not that of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Biopsy from the left foot showed prominent epidermal necrosis with focal reepithelialization and scattered eosinophils. The pathologist felt that a vasculitis secondary to coagulopathy was most likely but that a drug reaction and rheumatoid vasculitis would be other entities to consider in the differential. A review of the laboratory findings from the outside hospital from approximately 12 weeks prior to presentation showed IgM was normal but IgG was elevated at 28 U/mL (reference range, 0-15 U/mL) and IgA was elevated at 8 U/mL (reference range, 0-7 U/mL); β₂-glycoprotein I IgG antibodies were elevated at 37 mg/dL (reference range, 0-25.0 mg/dL) and β₂-glycoprotein I IgA antibodies were elevated at 5 mg/dL (reference range, 0-4.0 mg/dL).

The clinical suspicion of a thrombotic event on the dorsal feet, which was confirmed histologically, and the persistently positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody titers helped to establish the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in the setting of RA. The dose of prednisone was increased from 10 mg daily on admission to 40 mg daily. The patient was started on enoxaparin 60 mg subcutaneously twice daily at initial presentation and was bridged to oral warfarin 2 mg daily after the diagnosis of APS was established. Oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily was started for wound infection. The ulcerations gradually improved over the course of her 7-day hospitalization. She was continued on prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and warfarin as an outpatient and has had no recurrence of lesions after 3 years of follow-up on this regimen.

Comment

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune condition defined by a venous and/or arterial thrombotic event and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of persistently elevated aPL antibody titers. The most frequently detected subgroups of aPL are anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies, anti-β₂-glycoprotein I antibodies, and lupus anticoagulants.¹ Primary APS occurs as an isolated entity, whereas secondary APS occurs in the setting of a preexisting autoimmune disease, infection, malignancy, or medication.² The diagnostic criteria for APS requires positive aPL titers at least 12 weeks apart and a clinically confirmed thrombotic event or pregnancy morbidity.³

About one-third to half of patients with APS exhibit cutaneous manifestations.^4,5 Livedo reticularis is most commonly observed and represents the first clinical sign of APS in 17.5% of cases.6 Cutaneous findings of APS also include anetoderma, cutaneous ulceration and necrosis, necrotizing vasculitis, livedoid vasculitis, thrombophlebitis, purpura, ecchymoses, painful skin nodules, and subungual hemorrhages.⁷ The various cutaneous manifestations of APS are associated with a range of histopathologic findings, but noninflammatory thrombosis in small arteries and/or veins in the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissue is the most common histologic feature.⁴ Our patient exhibited cutaneous ulceration and necrosis, and biopsy clearly showed the presence of vasculitis and fibrin thrombi within postcapillary venules. These findings along with the persistently elevated β₂-glycoprotein I IgA solidified the diagnosis of APS.

The most common cutaneous manifestations of RA are nodules (32%), Raynaud phenomenon (10%), and vasculitis (3%).⁸ The mean prevalence of aPL antibodies in patients with RA is 28%, though reports range from 5% to 75%.¹ The presence of aPL or aCL does not predict the development of thrombosis and/or thrombocytopenia in RA patients^9,10; however, aCL antibodies in RA patients are associated with a higher risk for developing rheumatoid nodules. It is hypothesized that the majority of aCL antibodies identified in RA patients have different specificities than those identified in other diseases that are associated with thrombotic events.¹

Anticoagulation has been proven to decrease the risk for recurrent thrombotic events in patients with APS.¹¹ Patients should discontinue the use of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives; avoid smoking cigarettes; and treat hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, if present. The type and duration of anticoagulation therapy, especially for the treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of APS, is less well defined. Antiplatelet therapies such as low-dose aspirin or dipyridamole often are used for less severe cutaneous manifestations such as livedoid vasculopathy. Warfarin with a target international normalized ratio of 2.0 to 3.0 is most commonly used following major thrombotic events, including cutaneous necrosis and digital gangrene. The role of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants is unclear; one study showed that these therapies did not prevent further thrombotic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.⁴

Conclusion

Although aPL antibodies are most prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, an estimated 28% of patients with RA have elevated aPL titers. The aPL antibodies recognized in RA patients are thought to have a different specificity than those recognized in other APS-associated diseases because elevated aPL antibody titers are not associated with an increased incidence of thrombotic events in RA patients; however, larger studies are needed to clarify this phenomenon. It remains to be determined if this case of APS and RA represents a coincidence or a true disease association, but the recognition of the cutaneous and histological features of APS is crucial for establishing a diagnosis and initiating anticoagulation therapy to prevent further morbidity and mortality.

Case Report

A 39-year-old woman with a 20-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented to a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital with painful ulcerations on the bilateral dorsal feet that started as bullae 16 weeks prior to presentation. Initial skin biopsy performed by an outside dermatologist 8 weeks prior to presentation showed vasculitis and culture was positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. She was started on a prednisone taper and cephalexin, which did not improve the lower extremity ulcerations and the pain became progressively worse. At the time of presentation to our dermatology department, the patient was taking prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, and gabapentin. Prior therapy with sulfasalazine failed; etanercept and methotrexate were discontinued years prior due to side effects. The patient had no history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or miscarriage.

At presentation, the patient was afebrile and her vital signs were stable. Physical examination showed multiple ulcers and erosions on the bilateral dorsal feet with a few scattered retiform red-purple patches (Figure). One bulla was present on the right dorsal foot. All lesions were tender to the touch and edema was present on the bilateral feet. No oral ulcerations were present and no focal neuropathies or palpable cords were appreciated in the lower extremities. There were no other cutaneous abnormalities.

Laboratory studies showed a white blood cell count of 9.54×10³/µL (reference range, 4.16-9.95×10³/µL), hemoglobin count of 12.4 g/dL (reference range, 11.6-15.2 g/dL), and a platelet count of 175×10³/µL (reference range, 143-398×10³/µL). A basic metabolic panel was normal except for an elevated glucose level of 185 mg/dL (reference range, 65-100 mg/dL). Urinalysis was normal. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were not elevated. Antinuclear antibodies and double-stranded DNA antibodies were normal. Prothrombin time was 10.4 seconds (reference range, 9.2-11.5 seconds) and dilute viper's venom time was negative. Rheumatoid factor level was elevated at 76 IU/mL (reference range, <25 IU/mL) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody was moderately elevated at 42 U/mL (negative, <20 U/mL; weak positive, 20-39 U/mL; moderate positive, 40-59 U/mL; strong positive, >59 U/mL). The cardiolipin antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA were within reference range. Results of β₂-glycoprotein I IgG and IgM antibody tests were normal, but IgA was elevated at 34 µg/mL (reference range, <20 µg/mL). Wound cultures grew moderate Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

Slides from 2 prior punch biopsies obtained by an outside hospital approximately 8 weeks prior from the right and left dorsal foot lesions were reviewed. Both biopsies were histologically similar. Postcapillary venules showed extensive vasculitis with numerous fibrin thrombi in the lumens in both biopsy specimens. The biopsy from the right foot showed prominent ulceration of the epidermis, with a few of the affected vessels showing minimal accompanying nuclear dust; however, the predominant pattern was not that of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Biopsy from the left foot showed prominent epidermal necrosis with focal reepithelialization and scattered eosinophils. The pathologist felt that a vasculitis secondary to coagulopathy was most likely but that a drug reaction and rheumatoid vasculitis would be other entities to consider in the differential. A review of the laboratory findings from the outside hospital from approximately 12 weeks prior to presentation showed IgM was normal but IgG was elevated at 28 U/mL (reference range, 0-15 U/mL) and IgA was elevated at 8 U/mL (reference range, 0-7 U/mL); β₂-glycoprotein I IgG antibodies were elevated at 37 mg/dL (reference range, 0-25.0 mg/dL) and β₂-glycoprotein I IgA antibodies were elevated at 5 mg/dL (reference range, 0-4.0 mg/dL).

The clinical suspicion of a thrombotic event on the dorsal feet, which was confirmed histologically, and the persistently positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody titers helped to establish the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in the setting of RA. The dose of prednisone was increased from 10 mg daily on admission to 40 mg daily. The patient was started on enoxaparin 60 mg subcutaneously twice daily at initial presentation and was bridged to oral warfarin 2 mg daily after the diagnosis of APS was established. Oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily was started for wound infection. The ulcerations gradually improved over the course of her 7-day hospitalization. She was continued on prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and warfarin as an outpatient and has had no recurrence of lesions after 3 years of follow-up on this regimen.

Comment

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune condition defined by a venous and/or arterial thrombotic event and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of persistently elevated aPL antibody titers. The most frequently detected subgroups of aPL are anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies, anti-β₂-glycoprotein I antibodies, and lupus anticoagulants.¹ Primary APS occurs as an isolated entity, whereas secondary APS occurs in the setting of a preexisting autoimmune disease, infection, malignancy, or medication.² The diagnostic criteria for APS requires positive aPL titers at least 12 weeks apart and a clinically confirmed thrombotic event or pregnancy morbidity.³

About one-third to half of patients with APS exhibit cutaneous manifestations.^4,5 Livedo reticularis is most commonly observed and represents the first clinical sign of APS in 17.5% of cases.6 Cutaneous findings of APS also include anetoderma, cutaneous ulceration and necrosis, necrotizing vasculitis, livedoid vasculitis, thrombophlebitis, purpura, ecchymoses, painful skin nodules, and subungual hemorrhages.⁷ The various cutaneous manifestations of APS are associated with a range of histopathologic findings, but noninflammatory thrombosis in small arteries and/or veins in the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissue is the most common histologic feature.⁴ Our patient exhibited cutaneous ulceration and necrosis, and biopsy clearly showed the presence of vasculitis and fibrin thrombi within postcapillary venules. These findings along with the persistently elevated β₂-glycoprotein I IgA solidified the diagnosis of APS.

The most common cutaneous manifestations of RA are nodules (32%), Raynaud phenomenon (10%), and vasculitis (3%).⁸ The mean prevalence of aPL antibodies in patients with RA is 28%, though reports range from 5% to 75%.¹ The presence of aPL or aCL does not predict the development of thrombosis and/or thrombocytopenia in RA patients^9,10; however, aCL antibodies in RA patients are associated with a higher risk for developing rheumatoid nodules. It is hypothesized that the majority of aCL antibodies identified in RA patients have different specificities than those identified in other diseases that are associated with thrombotic events.¹

Anticoagulation has been proven to decrease the risk for recurrent thrombotic events in patients with APS.¹¹ Patients should discontinue the use of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives; avoid smoking cigarettes; and treat hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, if present. The type and duration of anticoagulation therapy, especially for the treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of APS, is less well defined. Antiplatelet therapies such as low-dose aspirin or dipyridamole often are used for less severe cutaneous manifestations such as livedoid vasculopathy. Warfarin with a target international normalized ratio of 2.0 to 3.0 is most commonly used following major thrombotic events, including cutaneous necrosis and digital gangrene. The role of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants is unclear; one study showed that these therapies did not prevent further thrombotic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.⁴

Conclusion

Although aPL antibodies are most prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, an estimated 28% of patients with RA have elevated aPL titers. The aPL antibodies recognized in RA patients are thought to have a different specificity than those recognized in other APS-associated diseases because elevated aPL antibody titers are not associated with an increased incidence of thrombotic events in RA patients; however, larger studies are needed to clarify this phenomenon. It remains to be determined if this case of APS and RA represents a coincidence or a true disease association, but the recognition of the cutaneous and histological features of APS is crucial for establishing a diagnosis and initiating anticoagulation therapy to prevent further morbidity and mortality.

Two anti–tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies, adalimumab and infliximab, showed evidence of being markedly more effective than the anti-TNF–receptor inhibitor etanercept at reducing the rate of anterior uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in a retrospective Swedish cohort study.

To compare the efficacy of the three TNF inhibitors, researchers analyzed data in nationwide Swedish population-based registries for 1,365 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients who initiated treatment during a 7-year period. Treatment began with adalimumab in 406 patients, infliximab in 605, and etanercept in 354, said Elisabeth Lie, MD, of the department of rheumatology and inflammation research at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), and her associates.

Jonathan Trobe, M.D./Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

Two anti–tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies, adalimumab and infliximab, showed evidence of being markedly more effective than the anti-TNF–receptor inhibitor etanercept at reducing the rate of anterior uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in a retrospective Swedish cohort study.

To compare the efficacy of the three TNF inhibitors, researchers analyzed data in nationwide Swedish population-based registries for 1,365 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients who initiated treatment during a 7-year period. Treatment began with adalimumab in 406 patients, infliximab in 605, and etanercept in 354, said Elisabeth Lie, MD, of the department of rheumatology and inflammation research at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), and her associates.

Jonathan Trobe, M.D./Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

Two anti–tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies, adalimumab and infliximab, showed evidence of being markedly more effective than the anti-TNF–receptor inhibitor etanercept at reducing the rate of anterior uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in a retrospective Swedish cohort study.

To compare the efficacy of the three TNF inhibitors, researchers analyzed data in nationwide Swedish population-based registries for 1,365 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients who initiated treatment during a 7-year period. Treatment began with adalimumab in 406 patients, infliximab in 605, and etanercept in 354, said Elisabeth Lie, MD, of the department of rheumatology and inflammation research at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), and her associates.

Jonathan Trobe, M.D./Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

WASHINGTON – A rise in the blood level of troponin T immediately after patients underwent noncardiac surgery identified a high risk group with a 30-day mortality rate nearly fivefold higher than that of patients who did not have a postoperative troponin T spike, according to a prospective study of more than 21,000 patients.

For 93% of the patients who have these perioperative spikes in troponin T, a marker of myocardial ischemia, the increased level was the only indicator of a heart problem, P.J. Devereaux, MD, said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The painkillers that patients receive following surgery generally mask the chest discomfort they might otherwise feel from their heart damage, he explained. The clinical condition is called myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery.

“We’re seeing more older patients with a high burden of vascular disease undergoing surgery, and surgery is a very significant stress, so a large proportion of these patients will have [myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery] and that affects 30-day survival,” said Dr. Devereaux, professor and director of cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

Based on the new findings, he recommended performing a baseline assessment of troponin T levels in patients scheduled for noncardiac surgery if they are at least 65 years of age, or if they are age 45-64 years with known vascular disease, followed by repeat testing 1 and 2 days after surgery to check whether a spike in the measure had occurred. The high sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) test he used in the study is relatively costly (and received Food and Drug Administration approval for U.S. marketing in January 2017), but Dr. Devereaux believed that, used in this way, the cost for testing would be reasonable, given its powerful ability to identify high-risk patients and relative to the cost of other screening tools routinely used in U.S. medical practice.

“It looks very cost-effective,” he said in a video interview.

If the baseline and two follow-up measures of hsTnT showed a postoperative level of at least 20 ng/L that rose above the baseline level by at least 5 ng/L, or if the postoperative level was at least 65 ng/L, Dr. Devereaux recommended starting daily treatment with aspirin and a statin to try to contain any perioperative myocardial damage the patient may have, and follow with comprehensive assessment of the patient by a cardiologist or other internal medicine physician.

“Given the risks associated with a rise in hsTnT in this study, Dr. Devereaux’s recommendations are very reasonable until we collect more data on this,” said Frank W. Sellke, MD, professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Brown Medical School and the Lifespan Hospitals in Providence, R.I. “What was surprising was how few patients had symptoms” of myocardial ischemia. “You can’t do hsTnT measurements on every patient who goes in for a hernia operation; it’s not practical. But his findings are fairly compelling, and hopefully the cost of this testing will come down,” Dr. Sellke said in an interview.

In the multicenter study of 21,842 patients, 24% had a postoperative hsTnT level of 20 ng/L or greater, including 5% with a level of 65 ng/L or greater. The 30-day mortality rate was 3% among those with a perioperative level of 20-64 ng/L, 9% among patients with perioperative hsTnT levels of 65-999 ng/L, and 30% among the 54 patients (0.2% of the study group) with perioperative levels that reached 1,000 ng/L or greater. Dr. Devereaux reported.

This iteration of the Vascular Events In Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation Study (VISION) enrolled patients who were at least 45 years of age and underwent noncardiac surgery at 23 centers in 13 countries, including the United States and Canada. All patients underwent hsTnT testing 6-12 hours after surgery and 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery, but only 40% also had a baseline measurement before their surgery began. Full 30-day follow-up occurred for 21,050. The patients’ average age was 63 years. The most common surgery was “low-risk,” in 35%, followed by “major” general surgery in 20%, and “major” orthopedic surgery in 16%. At 30 days, 266 patients (1.2%) had died.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @mitchelzoler

WASHINGTON – A rise in the blood level of troponin T immediately after patients underwent noncardiac surgery identified a high risk group with a 30-day mortality rate nearly fivefold higher than that of patients who did not have a postoperative troponin T spike, according to a prospective study of more than 21,000 patients.

For 93% of the patients who have these perioperative spikes in troponin T, a marker of myocardial ischemia, the increased level was the only indicator of a heart problem, P.J. Devereaux, MD, said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The painkillers that patients receive following surgery generally mask the chest discomfort they might otherwise feel from their heart damage, he explained. The clinical condition is called myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery.

“We’re seeing more older patients with a high burden of vascular disease undergoing surgery, and surgery is a very significant stress, so a large proportion of these patients will have [myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery] and that affects 30-day survival,” said Dr. Devereaux, professor and director of cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

Based on the new findings, he recommended performing a baseline assessment of troponin T levels in patients scheduled for noncardiac surgery if they are at least 65 years of age, or if they are age 45-64 years with known vascular disease, followed by repeat testing 1 and 2 days after surgery to check whether a spike in the measure had occurred. The high sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) test he used in the study is relatively costly (and received Food and Drug Administration approval for U.S. marketing in January 2017), but Dr. Devereaux believed that, used in this way, the cost for testing would be reasonable, given its powerful ability to identify high-risk patients and relative to the cost of other screening tools routinely used in U.S. medical practice.

“It looks very cost-effective,” he said in a video interview.

If the baseline and two follow-up measures of hsTnT showed a postoperative level of at least 20 ng/L that rose above the baseline level by at least 5 ng/L, or if the postoperative level was at least 65 ng/L, Dr. Devereaux recommended starting daily treatment with aspirin and a statin to try to contain any perioperative myocardial damage the patient may have, and follow with comprehensive assessment of the patient by a cardiologist or other internal medicine physician.

“Given the risks associated with a rise in hsTnT in this study, Dr. Devereaux’s recommendations are very reasonable until we collect more data on this,” said Frank W. Sellke, MD, professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Brown Medical School and the Lifespan Hospitals in Providence, R.I. “What was surprising was how few patients had symptoms” of myocardial ischemia. “You can’t do hsTnT measurements on every patient who goes in for a hernia operation; it’s not practical. But his findings are fairly compelling, and hopefully the cost of this testing will come down,” Dr. Sellke said in an interview.

In the multicenter study of 21,842 patients, 24% had a postoperative hsTnT level of 20 ng/L or greater, including 5% with a level of 65 ng/L or greater. The 30-day mortality rate was 3% among those with a perioperative level of 20-64 ng/L, 9% among patients with perioperative hsTnT levels of 65-999 ng/L, and 30% among the 54 patients (0.2% of the study group) with perioperative levels that reached 1,000 ng/L or greater. Dr. Devereaux reported.

This iteration of the Vascular Events In Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation Study (VISION) enrolled patients who were at least 45 years of age and underwent noncardiac surgery at 23 centers in 13 countries, including the United States and Canada. All patients underwent hsTnT testing 6-12 hours after surgery and 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery, but only 40% also had a baseline measurement before their surgery began. Full 30-day follow-up occurred for 21,050. The patients’ average age was 63 years. The most common surgery was “low-risk,” in 35%, followed by “major” general surgery in 20%, and “major” orthopedic surgery in 16%. At 30 days, 266 patients (1.2%) had died.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @mitchelzoler

WASHINGTON – A rise in the blood level of troponin T immediately after patients underwent noncardiac surgery identified a high risk group with a 30-day mortality rate nearly fivefold higher than that of patients who did not have a postoperative troponin T spike, according to a prospective study of more than 21,000 patients.

For 93% of the patients who have these perioperative spikes in troponin T, a marker of myocardial ischemia, the increased level was the only indicator of a heart problem, P.J. Devereaux, MD, said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The painkillers that patients receive following surgery generally mask the chest discomfort they might otherwise feel from their heart damage, he explained. The clinical condition is called myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery.

“We’re seeing more older patients with a high burden of vascular disease undergoing surgery, and surgery is a very significant stress, so a large proportion of these patients will have [myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery] and that affects 30-day survival,” said Dr. Devereaux, professor and director of cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

Based on the new findings, he recommended performing a baseline assessment of troponin T levels in patients scheduled for noncardiac surgery if they are at least 65 years of age, or if they are age 45-64 years with known vascular disease, followed by repeat testing 1 and 2 days after surgery to check whether a spike in the measure had occurred. The high sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) test he used in the study is relatively costly (and received Food and Drug Administration approval for U.S. marketing in January 2017), but Dr. Devereaux believed that, used in this way, the cost for testing would be reasonable, given its powerful ability to identify high-risk patients and relative to the cost of other screening tools routinely used in U.S. medical practice.

“It looks very cost-effective,” he said in a video interview.

If the baseline and two follow-up measures of hsTnT showed a postoperative level of at least 20 ng/L that rose above the baseline level by at least 5 ng/L, or if the postoperative level was at least 65 ng/L, Dr. Devereaux recommended starting daily treatment with aspirin and a statin to try to contain any perioperative myocardial damage the patient may have, and follow with comprehensive assessment of the patient by a cardiologist or other internal medicine physician.

“Given the risks associated with a rise in hsTnT in this study, Dr. Devereaux’s recommendations are very reasonable until we collect more data on this,” said Frank W. Sellke, MD, professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Brown Medical School and the Lifespan Hospitals in Providence, R.I. “What was surprising was how few patients had symptoms” of myocardial ischemia. “You can’t do hsTnT measurements on every patient who goes in for a hernia operation; it’s not practical. But his findings are fairly compelling, and hopefully the cost of this testing will come down,” Dr. Sellke said in an interview.

In the multicenter study of 21,842 patients, 24% had a postoperative hsTnT level of 20 ng/L or greater, including 5% with a level of 65 ng/L or greater. The 30-day mortality rate was 3% among those with a perioperative level of 20-64 ng/L, 9% among patients with perioperative hsTnT levels of 65-999 ng/L, and 30% among the 54 patients (0.2% of the study group) with perioperative levels that reached 1,000 ng/L or greater. Dr. Devereaux reported.

This iteration of the Vascular Events In Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation Study (VISION) enrolled patients who were at least 45 years of age and underwent noncardiac surgery at 23 centers in 13 countries, including the United States and Canada. All patients underwent hsTnT testing 6-12 hours after surgery and 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery, but only 40% also had a baseline measurement before their surgery began. Full 30-day follow-up occurred for 21,050. The patients’ average age was 63 years. The most common surgery was “low-risk,” in 35%, followed by “major” general surgery in 20%, and “major” orthopedic surgery in 16%. At 30 days, 266 patients (1.2%) had died.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @mitchelzoler

ORLANDO – Women with breast cancer who look for well-rounded information about treatment on the websites of prominent U.S. cancer centers are likely to come up short, suggests a study presented at a symposium on quality care sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Research has shown that nearly all women with breast cancer search the Internet for information about its treatment, and two-thirds report that what they find has a strong influence on their decision-making process (J Cancer Educ. 2013;28[4]:662-8).

But the analysis of content on the websites of 63 National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer centers or clinical cancer centers found that, on average, they addressed only 21% of a set of key concepts that women need to understand to make informed decisions about surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction. This contrasted starkly with 85% for the National Cancer Institute’s own website (cancer.gov) and 88% for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s website (komen.org).

Susan London/Frontline Medical News

Study details

For the study, the investigators developed a list of 33 decision-specific knowledge questions about breast cancer treatment by drawing on decision quality instruments that assess how informed a woman’s decision-making process is. The primary outcome was whether the website provided sufficient information to answer each question. The researchers assessed seven measures of accessibility as secondary outcomes.

Results showed that websites contained sufficient content to address only 21% of the decision-specific knowledge questions, Dr. Dulaney reported in a poster session. The value was 17% for questions pertaining to breast surgery and radiation therapy, 18% for those pertaining to chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and 21% for those pertaining to breast reconstruction.

In addition, “a lot of websites put the information in silos,” he noted. “You can read about mastectomy, you can read about lumpectomy, you can read about chemo. But you can’t really get the big picture, which is how do these compare to each other, and which treatment is best for me.”

Even the most commonly addressed single question – what type of reconstruction is most likely to require more than one surgery or procedure – was addressed by only 51% of sites. Proportions were similar for questions pertaining to the type of tumors against which hormone therapy works best (48%) and the schedule for radiation therapy after lumpectomy (47%).

At the other extreme, however, very small proportions of sites addressed questions pertaining to how many women with treated early breast cancer will die from the disease (7%), how many undergoing breast reconstruction will experience complications requiring hospitalization or an unplanned procedure (4%), how skipping chemotherapy and hormone therapy influences risk of death (2%), and whether waiting several weeks to decide about those therapies affects survival (2%). These topics are more negative, Dr. Dulaney observed, “but these are things women need to know.”

None of the websites provided sufficient information to answer all 33 knowledge questions. But perhaps more worrisome, 16% did not provide sufficient information to answer any of them, he said.

When it came to accessibility of information, 94% of sites clearly had a breast cancer–specific page, 87% had information about breast cancer–specific trials, and 86% showed members of the center’s breast cancer team. But only 59% were mobile device friendly as assessed with a Google tool, and merely 24% had obvious links to view information in Spanish.

“A lot of minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status exclusively access the Internet via mobile devices, so they may not have a computer or [other] access to the Internet. But they have a cell phone that is probably a smartphone, and they can get online and search for information that way,” Dr. Dulaney said.

Many oncologists may not have had any say regarding the content and accessibility features of their institution’s website, he acknowledged.

“So we should maybe, number one, try to have more involvement in what information goes on to the website, and two, take a look at our own websites to see what’s on there, because patients are going to look for you, and they are going to associate this information with you,” he said. “If you are at a big institution and you really can’t make a change on your website, you can use alternatives such as social media platforms, things like that, to try and get information out to people.”

From a larger perspective, oncologists have often simply counseled patients that they can’t rely on information they have found online, according to Dr. Dulaney.

“But in this day and age, that can’t really be an answer,” he concluded. “Information on the web is ubiquitous, and there is good information out there. We need to do a better job of speaking up in the conversation. We have the answers to a lot of these questions, we just need to make our voices heard and also direct patients to reliable sources of information.”

ORLANDO – Women with breast cancer who look for well-rounded information about treatment on the websites of prominent U.S. cancer centers are likely to come up short, suggests a study presented at a symposium on quality care sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Research has shown that nearly all women with breast cancer search the Internet for information about its treatment, and two-thirds report that what they find has a strong influence on their decision-making process (J Cancer Educ. 2013;28[4]:662-8).

But the analysis of content on the websites of 63 National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer centers or clinical cancer centers found that, on average, they addressed only 21% of a set of key concepts that women need to understand to make informed decisions about surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction. This contrasted starkly with 85% for the National Cancer Institute’s own website (cancer.gov) and 88% for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s website (komen.org).

Susan London/Frontline Medical News

Study details

For the study, the investigators developed a list of 33 decision-specific knowledge questions about breast cancer treatment by drawing on decision quality instruments that assess how informed a woman’s decision-making process is. The primary outcome was whether the website provided sufficient information to answer each question. The researchers assessed seven measures of accessibility as secondary outcomes.

Results showed that websites contained sufficient content to address only 21% of the decision-specific knowledge questions, Dr. Dulaney reported in a poster session. The value was 17% for questions pertaining to breast surgery and radiation therapy, 18% for those pertaining to chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and 21% for those pertaining to breast reconstruction.

In addition, “a lot of websites put the information in silos,” he noted. “You can read about mastectomy, you can read about lumpectomy, you can read about chemo. But you can’t really get the big picture, which is how do these compare to each other, and which treatment is best for me.”

Even the most commonly addressed single question – what type of reconstruction is most likely to require more than one surgery or procedure – was addressed by only 51% of sites. Proportions were similar for questions pertaining to the type of tumors against which hormone therapy works best (48%) and the schedule for radiation therapy after lumpectomy (47%).

At the other extreme, however, very small proportions of sites addressed questions pertaining to how many women with treated early breast cancer will die from the disease (7%), how many undergoing breast reconstruction will experience complications requiring hospitalization or an unplanned procedure (4%), how skipping chemotherapy and hormone therapy influences risk of death (2%), and whether waiting several weeks to decide about those therapies affects survival (2%). These topics are more negative, Dr. Dulaney observed, “but these are things women need to know.”

None of the websites provided sufficient information to answer all 33 knowledge questions. But perhaps more worrisome, 16% did not provide sufficient information to answer any of them, he said.

When it came to accessibility of information, 94% of sites clearly had a breast cancer–specific page, 87% had information about breast cancer–specific trials, and 86% showed members of the center’s breast cancer team. But only 59% were mobile device friendly as assessed with a Google tool, and merely 24% had obvious links to view information in Spanish.

“A lot of minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status exclusively access the Internet via mobile devices, so they may not have a computer or [other] access to the Internet. But they have a cell phone that is probably a smartphone, and they can get online and search for information that way,” Dr. Dulaney said.

Many oncologists may not have had any say regarding the content and accessibility features of their institution’s website, he acknowledged.

“So we should maybe, number one, try to have more involvement in what information goes on to the website, and two, take a look at our own websites to see what’s on there, because patients are going to look for you, and they are going to associate this information with you,” he said. “If you are at a big institution and you really can’t make a change on your website, you can use alternatives such as social media platforms, things like that, to try and get information out to people.”

From a larger perspective, oncologists have often simply counseled patients that they can’t rely on information they have found online, according to Dr. Dulaney.

“But in this day and age, that can’t really be an answer,” he concluded. “Information on the web is ubiquitous, and there is good information out there. We need to do a better job of speaking up in the conversation. We have the answers to a lot of these questions, we just need to make our voices heard and also direct patients to reliable sources of information.”

ORLANDO – Women with breast cancer who look for well-rounded information about treatment on the websites of prominent U.S. cancer centers are likely to come up short, suggests a study presented at a symposium on quality care sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Research has shown that nearly all women with breast cancer search the Internet for information about its treatment, and two-thirds report that what they find has a strong influence on their decision-making process (J Cancer Educ. 2013;28[4]:662-8).

But the analysis of content on the websites of 63 National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer centers or clinical cancer centers found that, on average, they addressed only 21% of a set of key concepts that women need to understand to make informed decisions about surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction. This contrasted starkly with 85% for the National Cancer Institute’s own website (cancer.gov) and 88% for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s website (komen.org).

Susan London/Frontline Medical News

Study details

For the study, the investigators developed a list of 33 decision-specific knowledge questions about breast cancer treatment by drawing on decision quality instruments that assess how informed a woman’s decision-making process is. The primary outcome was whether the website provided sufficient information to answer each question. The researchers assessed seven measures of accessibility as secondary outcomes.

Results showed that websites contained sufficient content to address only 21% of the decision-specific knowledge questions, Dr. Dulaney reported in a poster session. The value was 17% for questions pertaining to breast surgery and radiation therapy, 18% for those pertaining to chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and 21% for those pertaining to breast reconstruction.

In addition, “a lot of websites put the information in silos,” he noted. “You can read about mastectomy, you can read about lumpectomy, you can read about chemo. But you can’t really get the big picture, which is how do these compare to each other, and which treatment is best for me.”

Even the most commonly addressed single question – what type of reconstruction is most likely to require more than one surgery or procedure – was addressed by only 51% of sites. Proportions were similar for questions pertaining to the type of tumors against which hormone therapy works best (48%) and the schedule for radiation therapy after lumpectomy (47%).

At the other extreme, however, very small proportions of sites addressed questions pertaining to how many women with treated early breast cancer will die from the disease (7%), how many undergoing breast reconstruction will experience complications requiring hospitalization or an unplanned procedure (4%), how skipping chemotherapy and hormone therapy influences risk of death (2%), and whether waiting several weeks to decide about those therapies affects survival (2%). These topics are more negative, Dr. Dulaney observed, “but these are things women need to know.”

None of the websites provided sufficient information to answer all 33 knowledge questions. But perhaps more worrisome, 16% did not provide sufficient information to answer any of them, he said.

When it came to accessibility of information, 94% of sites clearly had a breast cancer–specific page, 87% had information about breast cancer–specific trials, and 86% showed members of the center’s breast cancer team. But only 59% were mobile device friendly as assessed with a Google tool, and merely 24% had obvious links to view information in Spanish.

“A lot of minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status exclusively access the Internet via mobile devices, so they may not have a computer or [other] access to the Internet. But they have a cell phone that is probably a smartphone, and they can get online and search for information that way,” Dr. Dulaney said.

Many oncologists may not have had any say regarding the content and accessibility features of their institution’s website, he acknowledged.

“So we should maybe, number one, try to have more involvement in what information goes on to the website, and two, take a look at our own websites to see what’s on there, because patients are going to look for you, and they are going to associate this information with you,” he said. “If you are at a big institution and you really can’t make a change on your website, you can use alternatives such as social media platforms, things like that, to try and get information out to people.”

From a larger perspective, oncologists have often simply counseled patients that they can’t rely on information they have found online, according to Dr. Dulaney.

“But in this day and age, that can’t really be an answer,” he concluded. “Information on the web is ubiquitous, and there is good information out there. We need to do a better job of speaking up in the conversation. We have the answers to a lot of these questions, we just need to make our voices heard and also direct patients to reliable sources of information.”

The herpes zoster vaccine reduces the risk of shingles in older adults with autoimmune disease, even if they are taking immunosuppressants for their condition, but the protection begins to wane after about 5 years, a recent retrospective study found.

“There has been some concern that patients with autoimmune conditions might have a lower immunogenic response to herpes zoster vaccination, especially when treated with immunosuppressive medications such as glucocorticoids,” wrote Huifeng Yun, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her colleagues.

copyright clsgraphics/iStockphoto.com

rhnews@frontlinemedcom.com

The herpes zoster vaccine reduces the risk of shingles in older adults with autoimmune disease, even if they are taking immunosuppressants for their condition, but the protection begins to wane after about 5 years, a recent retrospective study found.

“There has been some concern that patients with autoimmune conditions might have a lower immunogenic response to herpes zoster vaccination, especially when treated with immunosuppressive medications such as glucocorticoids,” wrote Huifeng Yun, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her colleagues.

copyright clsgraphics/iStockphoto.com

rhnews@frontlinemedcom.com

The herpes zoster vaccine reduces the risk of shingles in older adults with autoimmune disease, even if they are taking immunosuppressants for their condition, but the protection begins to wane after about 5 years, a recent retrospective study found.

“There has been some concern that patients with autoimmune conditions might have a lower immunogenic response to herpes zoster vaccination, especially when treated with immunosuppressive medications such as glucocorticoids,” wrote Huifeng Yun, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her colleagues.

copyright clsgraphics/iStockphoto.com

rhnews@frontlinemedcom.com

The Department of Health & Human Services would see an 18% funding cut under the first budget proposal from the Trump administration.

The proposal, submitted to Congress March 16, would cut $15.1 billion from fiscal 2017 levels, funding the agency at $69 billion for fiscal year 2018. More than a third of the cuts come from the National Institutes of Health.

The NIH’s overall budget would drop to $25.9 billion in FY 2018, down $5.8 billion from this year (fiscal 2017). The proposal includes “a major reorganization of NIH’s institutes and centers to help focus resources on the highest priority research and training activities, including: eliminating the Fogarty International Center, consolidating the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the NIH, and other consolidations and structural changes across NIH organizations and activities,” according to summary documents from the Office of Management and Budget.

The proposed cuts also account for the funds that are to be appropriated for the 21st Century Cures Act, which was supposed to add $4.8 billion in new appropriated funding, including funds dedicated to the Cancer Moonshot and the BRAIN Initiative.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also would be reformed, getting a new $500 million block grant “to increase state flexibility and focus on the leading public health challenges specific to each state.” It also creates a new Federal Emergency Response Fund to respond to public health outbreaks such as the Zika virus.

tupungato/Thinkstock

of GI practice and research remains viable. Contact AGA to learn more about how to get involved in your community at advocacy@gastro.org, and learn more about AGA PAC at www.gastro.org/agapac.

gtwachtman@frontlinemedcom.com

The Department of Health & Human Services would see an 18% funding cut under the first budget proposal from the Trump administration.

The proposal, submitted to Congress March 16, would cut $15.1 billion from fiscal 2017 levels, funding the agency at $69 billion for fiscal year 2018. More than a third of the cuts come from the National Institutes of Health.

The NIH’s overall budget would drop to $25.9 billion in FY 2018, down $5.8 billion from this year (fiscal 2017). The proposal includes “a major reorganization of NIH’s institutes and centers to help focus resources on the highest priority research and training activities, including: eliminating the Fogarty International Center, consolidating the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the NIH, and other consolidations and structural changes across NIH organizations and activities,” according to summary documents from the Office of Management and Budget.

The proposed cuts also account for the funds that are to be appropriated for the 21st Century Cures Act, which was supposed to add $4.8 billion in new appropriated funding, including funds dedicated to the Cancer Moonshot and the BRAIN Initiative.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also would be reformed, getting a new $500 million block grant “to increase state flexibility and focus on the leading public health challenges specific to each state.” It also creates a new Federal Emergency Response Fund to respond to public health outbreaks such as the Zika virus.

tupungato/Thinkstock

of GI practice and research remains viable. Contact AGA to learn more about how to get involved in your community at advocacy@gastro.org, and learn more about AGA PAC at www.gastro.org/agapac.

gtwachtman@frontlinemedcom.com

The Department of Health & Human Services would see an 18% funding cut under the first budget proposal from the Trump administration.

The proposal, submitted to Congress March 16, would cut $15.1 billion from fiscal 2017 levels, funding the agency at $69 billion for fiscal year 2018. More than a third of the cuts come from the National Institutes of Health.

The NIH’s overall budget would drop to $25.9 billion in FY 2018, down $5.8 billion from this year (fiscal 2017). The proposal includes “a major reorganization of NIH’s institutes and centers to help focus resources on the highest priority research and training activities, including: eliminating the Fogarty International Center, consolidating the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the NIH, and other consolidations and structural changes across NIH organizations and activities,” according to summary documents from the Office of Management and Budget.

The proposed cuts also account for the funds that are to be appropriated for the 21st Century Cures Act, which was supposed to add $4.8 billion in new appropriated funding, including funds dedicated to the Cancer Moonshot and the BRAIN Initiative.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also would be reformed, getting a new $500 million block grant “to increase state flexibility and focus on the leading public health challenges specific to each state.” It also creates a new Federal Emergency Response Fund to respond to public health outbreaks such as the Zika virus.

tupungato/Thinkstock

of GI practice and research remains viable. Contact AGA to learn more about how to get involved in your community at advocacy@gastro.org, and learn more about AGA PAC at www.gastro.org/agapac.

gtwachtman@frontlinemedcom.com

In 2021, the first obstetrician-gynecologist trained on a separate rural residency track will graduate from the University of Wisconsin.

Program leaders are gambling that the investment in specialized training – including a quarter of the training time spent in smaller, community hospitals – will eventually pay off in terms of more ob.gyns. living and practicing in Wisconsin’s underserved rural settings.

“The key premise that we’re working on and that’s been borne out in the literature on rural training in family medicine is that people who are ultimately going to practice in a rural setting are people who are interested in it, who have a rural background, and people who have experience in a clinical environment in the rural setting,” said Ellen Hartenbach, MD, ob.gyn. residency program director at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Courtesy John Maniaci/UW Health

Maldistribution

This trend is national as well. Nearly half of the 3,107 U.S. counties lack ob.gyns. These counties are located in all states but primarily in the Midwest and Mountain West, according to a 2011 workforce report from ACOG.

As of 2010, the national ratio of ob.gyns. per 10,000 women was 2.1, but that ratio decreases from 2.9 in metropolitan counties to 0.7 in rural counties.

William F. Rayburn, MD, distinguished professor and emeritus chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, is working on an update to the workforce report, expected to be released in May 2017 at ACOG’s annual scientific meeting in San Diego.

GME funding cap

The Association of American Medical Colleges is focused on easing physician shortages by getting lawmakers to lift the cap on federal funding for graduate medical education (GME) positions that was put in place as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

“The population is getting larger and aging, which increases the need for more physicians and thus we have to work with Congress to lift the cap,” said Janis Orlowski, MD, Chief Health Care Officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @maryellenny

In 2021, the first obstetrician-gynecologist trained on a separate rural residency track will graduate from the University of Wisconsin.

Program leaders are gambling that the investment in specialized training – including a quarter of the training time spent in smaller, community hospitals – will eventually pay off in terms of more ob.gyns. living and practicing in Wisconsin’s underserved rural settings.

“The key premise that we’re working on and that’s been borne out in the literature on rural training in family medicine is that people who are ultimately going to practice in a rural setting are people who are interested in it, who have a rural background, and people who have experience in a clinical environment in the rural setting,” said Ellen Hartenbach, MD, ob.gyn. residency program director at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Courtesy John Maniaci/UW Health

Maldistribution

This trend is national as well. Nearly half of the 3,107 U.S. counties lack ob.gyns. These counties are located in all states but primarily in the Midwest and Mountain West, according to a 2011 workforce report from ACOG.

As of 2010, the national ratio of ob.gyns. per 10,000 women was 2.1, but that ratio decreases from 2.9 in metropolitan counties to 0.7 in rural counties.

William F. Rayburn, MD, distinguished professor and emeritus chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, is working on an update to the workforce report, expected to be released in May 2017 at ACOG’s annual scientific meeting in San Diego.

GME funding cap

The Association of American Medical Colleges is focused on easing physician shortages by getting lawmakers to lift the cap on federal funding for graduate medical education (GME) positions that was put in place as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

“The population is getting larger and aging, which increases the need for more physicians and thus we have to work with Congress to lift the cap,” said Janis Orlowski, MD, Chief Health Care Officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @maryellenny

In 2021, the first obstetrician-gynecologist trained on a separate rural residency track will graduate from the University of Wisconsin.

Program leaders are gambling that the investment in specialized training – including a quarter of the training time spent in smaller, community hospitals – will eventually pay off in terms of more ob.gyns. living and practicing in Wisconsin’s underserved rural settings.

“The key premise that we’re working on and that’s been borne out in the literature on rural training in family medicine is that people who are ultimately going to practice in a rural setting are people who are interested in it, who have a rural background, and people who have experience in a clinical environment in the rural setting,” said Ellen Hartenbach, MD, ob.gyn. residency program director at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Courtesy John Maniaci/UW Health

Maldistribution

This trend is national as well. Nearly half of the 3,107 U.S. counties lack ob.gyns. These counties are located in all states but primarily in the Midwest and Mountain West, according to a 2011 workforce report from ACOG.

As of 2010, the national ratio of ob.gyns. per 10,000 women was 2.1, but that ratio decreases from 2.9 in metropolitan counties to 0.7 in rural counties.

William F. Rayburn, MD, distinguished professor and emeritus chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, is working on an update to the workforce report, expected to be released in May 2017 at ACOG’s annual scientific meeting in San Diego.

GME funding cap

The Association of American Medical Colleges is focused on easing physician shortages by getting lawmakers to lift the cap on federal funding for graduate medical education (GME) positions that was put in place as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

“The population is getting larger and aging, which increases the need for more physicians and thus we have to work with Congress to lift the cap,” said Janis Orlowski, MD, Chief Health Care Officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @maryellenny

Addition of 10 cm H₂O to positive end-expiratory volume (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation was followed by significantly lessened pulmonary complications in hospitalized patients who developed hypoxemia after cardiac surgery, participating in a single-center, randomized trial.

This “intensive” alveolar recruitment strategy yielded a median pulmonary complications score of 1.7 (interquartile range, 1.0-2.0), compared with 2.0 (IQR, 1.5-3.0) among patients who underwent ventilation with a PEEP of 20 cm H₂O, Alcino Costa Leme, RRT, PhD, said at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. The report was published simultaneously online March 21 in JAMA.

Intensive alveolar recruitment nearly doubled the odds of a lower pulmonary complications score (common odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.8; P = .003), Dr. Leme and his associates reported.

The study comprised 320 adults who developed hypoxemia immediately after undergoing elective cardiac surgery at the Heart Institute (Incor) of the University of São Paulo. The median age of the patients was 62 years, and none had a history of lung disease. Pulmonary complications were scored between 0 (no signs or symptoms) and 5 (death), the investigators noted (JAMA. 2017 Mar 21. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.2297).

The intensive alveolar recruitment strategy consisted of three 60-second cycles of lung inflation with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 30 cm H₂O, pressure-controlled ventilation, driving pressure of 15 cm H₂O, respiratory rate of 15/min, inspiratory time of 1.5 seconds, and FIO₂ of 0.40. Between and after inflations, patients received assist-controlled or pressure-controlled ventilation, with driving pressures set to achieve a tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, an inspiratory time of 1 second, PEEP of 13 cm H₂O, and minimum respiratory rate to maintain PaCO₂ between 35 and 45 mm Hg.

The “moderate strategy” consisted of three 30-second inflations under continuous positive airway pressure mode at 20 cm H₂O and FIO₂ of 0.60. Between and after inflations, patients received assist or control volume-controlled ventilation (decelerating-flow waveform), tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, inspiratory time of 1 second, PEEP of 8 cm H₂O, and FIO₂ of 0.60, at a minimum respiratory rate that maintained PaCO₂ at 35-45 mm Hg.

“[The] use of an intensive alveolar recruitment strategy compared with a moderate recruitment strategy resulted in less severe pulmonary complications during the hospital stay,” the investigators wrote. On average, intensively managed patients had shorter stays in the hospital (10.9 vs. 12.4 days; P = .04) and in the intensive care unit (3.8 vs. 4.8 days; P = .01) than did moderately managed patients. Intensive management also was associated with lower rates of hospital mortality and barotrauma, but the differences in these less common outcomes did not reach statistical significance.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a significant effect of lung recruitment maneuvers on clinical outcomes, which objectively resulted in modest reductions in ICU and hospital length of stay,” the researchers wrote. “This is especially noteworthy considering that the control group was also receiving protective lung ventilation with low [tidal volume] and moderate PEEP levels. Thus, the major difference between treatment groups was the intensity of lung recruitment.”

FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo e Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) and FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos) provided partial funding. Dr. Leme had no disclosures. Senior author Marcelo Britto Passos Amato, MD, PhD, disclosed research funding from Covidien/Medtronics, Dixtal Biomedica Ltd, and Timpel SA.

Addition of 10 cm H₂O to positive end-expiratory volume (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation was followed by significantly lessened pulmonary complications in hospitalized patients who developed hypoxemia after cardiac surgery, participating in a single-center, randomized trial.

This “intensive” alveolar recruitment strategy yielded a median pulmonary complications score of 1.7 (interquartile range, 1.0-2.0), compared with 2.0 (IQR, 1.5-3.0) among patients who underwent ventilation with a PEEP of 20 cm H₂O, Alcino Costa Leme, RRT, PhD, said at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. The report was published simultaneously online March 21 in JAMA.

Intensive alveolar recruitment nearly doubled the odds of a lower pulmonary complications score (common odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.8; P = .003), Dr. Leme and his associates reported.

The study comprised 320 adults who developed hypoxemia immediately after undergoing elective cardiac surgery at the Heart Institute (Incor) of the University of São Paulo. The median age of the patients was 62 years, and none had a history of lung disease. Pulmonary complications were scored between 0 (no signs or symptoms) and 5 (death), the investigators noted (JAMA. 2017 Mar 21. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.2297).

The intensive alveolar recruitment strategy consisted of three 60-second cycles of lung inflation with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 30 cm H₂O, pressure-controlled ventilation, driving pressure of 15 cm H₂O, respiratory rate of 15/min, inspiratory time of 1.5 seconds, and FIO₂ of 0.40. Between and after inflations, patients received assist-controlled or pressure-controlled ventilation, with driving pressures set to achieve a tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, an inspiratory time of 1 second, PEEP of 13 cm H₂O, and minimum respiratory rate to maintain PaCO₂ between 35 and 45 mm Hg.

The “moderate strategy” consisted of three 30-second inflations under continuous positive airway pressure mode at 20 cm H₂O and FIO₂ of 0.60. Between and after inflations, patients received assist or control volume-controlled ventilation (decelerating-flow waveform), tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, inspiratory time of 1 second, PEEP of 8 cm H₂O, and FIO₂ of 0.60, at a minimum respiratory rate that maintained PaCO₂ at 35-45 mm Hg.

“[The] use of an intensive alveolar recruitment strategy compared with a moderate recruitment strategy resulted in less severe pulmonary complications during the hospital stay,” the investigators wrote. On average, intensively managed patients had shorter stays in the hospital (10.9 vs. 12.4 days; P = .04) and in the intensive care unit (3.8 vs. 4.8 days; P = .01) than did moderately managed patients. Intensive management also was associated with lower rates of hospital mortality and barotrauma, but the differences in these less common outcomes did not reach statistical significance.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a significant effect of lung recruitment maneuvers on clinical outcomes, which objectively resulted in modest reductions in ICU and hospital length of stay,” the researchers wrote. “This is especially noteworthy considering that the control group was also receiving protective lung ventilation with low [tidal volume] and moderate PEEP levels. Thus, the major difference between treatment groups was the intensity of lung recruitment.”

FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo e Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) and FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos) provided partial funding. Dr. Leme had no disclosures. Senior author Marcelo Britto Passos Amato, MD, PhD, disclosed research funding from Covidien/Medtronics, Dixtal Biomedica Ltd, and Timpel SA.

Addition of 10 cm H₂O to positive end-expiratory volume (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation was followed by significantly lessened pulmonary complications in hospitalized patients who developed hypoxemia after cardiac surgery, participating in a single-center, randomized trial.

This “intensive” alveolar recruitment strategy yielded a median pulmonary complications score of 1.7 (interquartile range, 1.0-2.0), compared with 2.0 (IQR, 1.5-3.0) among patients who underwent ventilation with a PEEP of 20 cm H₂O, Alcino Costa Leme, RRT, PhD, said at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. The report was published simultaneously online March 21 in JAMA.

Intensive alveolar recruitment nearly doubled the odds of a lower pulmonary complications score (common odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.8; P = .003), Dr. Leme and his associates reported.

The study comprised 320 adults who developed hypoxemia immediately after undergoing elective cardiac surgery at the Heart Institute (Incor) of the University of São Paulo. The median age of the patients was 62 years, and none had a history of lung disease. Pulmonary complications were scored between 0 (no signs or symptoms) and 5 (death), the investigators noted (JAMA. 2017 Mar 21. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.2297).

The intensive alveolar recruitment strategy consisted of three 60-second cycles of lung inflation with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 30 cm H₂O, pressure-controlled ventilation, driving pressure of 15 cm H₂O, respiratory rate of 15/min, inspiratory time of 1.5 seconds, and FIO₂ of 0.40. Between and after inflations, patients received assist-controlled or pressure-controlled ventilation, with driving pressures set to achieve a tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, an inspiratory time of 1 second, PEEP of 13 cm H₂O, and minimum respiratory rate to maintain PaCO₂ between 35 and 45 mm Hg.

The “moderate strategy” consisted of three 30-second inflations under continuous positive airway pressure mode at 20 cm H₂O and FIO₂ of 0.60. Between and after inflations, patients received assist or control volume-controlled ventilation (decelerating-flow waveform), tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, inspiratory time of 1 second, PEEP of 8 cm H₂O, and FIO₂ of 0.60, at a minimum respiratory rate that maintained PaCO₂ at 35-45 mm Hg.

“[The] use of an intensive alveolar recruitment strategy compared with a moderate recruitment strategy resulted in less severe pulmonary complications during the hospital stay,” the investigators wrote. On average, intensively managed patients had shorter stays in the hospital (10.9 vs. 12.4 days; P = .04) and in the intensive care unit (3.8 vs. 4.8 days; P = .01) than did moderately managed patients. Intensive management also was associated with lower rates of hospital mortality and barotrauma, but the differences in these less common outcomes did not reach statistical significance.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a significant effect of lung recruitment maneuvers on clinical outcomes, which objectively resulted in modest reductions in ICU and hospital length of stay,” the researchers wrote. “This is especially noteworthy considering that the control group was also receiving protective lung ventilation with low [tidal volume] and moderate PEEP levels. Thus, the major difference between treatment groups was the intensity of lung recruitment.”

FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo e Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) and FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos) provided partial funding. Dr. Leme had no disclosures. Senior author Marcelo Britto Passos Amato, MD, PhD, disclosed research funding from Covidien/Medtronics, Dixtal Biomedica Ltd, and Timpel SA.