Validation of a novel approach for dose individualization in pharmacotherapy using gabapentin in a proof of principles study.

Study Objective: To demonstrate the premise of individualized dosing charts (IDCs) as a clinical-bedside decision-support tool to individualize dosage regimens for drugs in which the interpatient variability is controlled by the pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of the patient, to calculate the optimal sampling schedule (OSS), which minimizes the number of blood samples per patient. The approach is illustrated with available PK data for gabapentin.

Design: Retrospective proof of principles study using gabapentin PK data from a published clinical trial.

Desensitization to imatinib in patients with leukemia.

Background: Imatinib mesylate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and hypereosinophilic syndrome. Imatinib is associated with a variety of adverse cutaneous reactions, including urticaria, maculopapular exanthem, generalized exanthematous pustulosis, exfoliative dermatitis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral desensitization by administering incremental dosages of imatinib mesylate to patients with leukemia who have had rashes associated with prior exposure.