Specific IgE and Basophil Activation Test by Microarray: A Promising Tool for Diagnosis of Platinum Compound Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) to platinum-based compounds (PCs) are on the rise, and their personalized and safe management is essential to enable first-line treatment for these cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the basophil activation test by flow cytometry (BAT-FC) and the newly developed sIgE-microarray and BAT-microarray in diagnosing IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to PCs. A total of 24 patients with DHRs to PCs (20 oxaliplatin and four carboplatin) were evaluated: thirteen patients were diagnosed as allergic with positive skin tests (STs) or drug provocation tests (DPTs), six patients were diagnosed as non-allergic with negative STs and DPTs, and five patients were classified as suspected allergic because DPTs could not be performed.

Safe Handling of Antineoplastic Drugs During Allergy Diagnostic Workup and Desensitization: A Single Experience of the Allergy Department in a Tertiary Hospital.

The increased use of antineoplastic drugs has been associated with a rising number of hypersensitivity reactions to these drugs, which has led to a growth in the demand for assistance from allergy services. The involvement of an allergist is essential to ensure that these patients with hypersensitivity reactions continue to be able to receive appropriate first-line treatment. Chemotherapy and biological agents have specific handling requirements and all the allergy departments involved in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients reacting to these drugs should find the means to guarantee safety.

[Analysis of patient safety in the process of drug prescription in research.].

Objective: The increasing complexity of clinical trial protocols and the very nature of investigational drugs increase the likelihood of prescribing errors and require comprehensive control and monitoring of treatments. The aim of this study was to measure and analyze the potential risks of prescribing errors in investigational drugs.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive, and observational study was carried out in a third-level hospital in Madrid, for one month in 2017.

Healthcare failure mode and effect analysis in the chemotherapy preparation process.

Purpose: To conduct a Health Care Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (HFMEA) of the chemotherapy preparation process to identify the steps with the potential to cause errors, and to develop further strategies to improve the process and thus minimize the risk of errors.

Methods: An HFMEA was conducted to identify and reduce preparation errors during the chemotherapy preparation process. A multidisciplinary team mapped the preparation process, formally identified all the steps, and then conducted a brainstorming session to determine potential failure modes and their potential effects.

Evaluation of adherence and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: To measure adherence to cyclosporine, tacrolimus and  sirolimus prophylaxis against secondary graft failure; cyclosporine,  tacrolimus, sirolimus and mycophenolate prophylaxis against graft- versus-host disease; and posaconazole, voriconazole, valganciclovir  prophylaxis against infection in patients undergo to transplantation of  haematopoietic stem cells; and to analise the incidence of acute  complications based on adherence.

Method: Retrospective observational study of patients who underwent  allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation between May 2017  and May 2018. Analyses were carried out between 0 and +100 days  post-engraftment.

Chemotherapy Near the End of Life in Onco-Hematological Adult Patients.

Objective: The use of chemotherapy near the end of life is not advisable. There are scarce data in Europe but shows signs of aggressiveness. We designed this study to analyze the proportion of onco-hematological patients receiving chemotherapy within their last 2 weeks of life as well as starting a new chemotherapy regimen in the 30 days prior to death.