Arterial events in cancer patients treated with apixaban for venous thrombosis.

Introduction: In a recent interventional study of cancer patients with newly diagnosed venous thrombosis (VT), we found a high risk of arterial thrombotic events (AT) during treatment with therapeutic doses of apixaban.

Methods: Total 298 cancer patients with VT received apixaban as treatment and secondary prophylaxis for up to 36 months. AT was registered as a serious adverse event, and this is a post hoc analysis of risk factors for AT.

[Factor Xa inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients].

Venous thromboembolism is a common complication of cancer. The prevalence varies according to cancer type and increases proportionally with the stage of cancer. In the past 15-20 years, low molecular weight heparin has been recommended as the first-line treatment.

Low dose apixaban as secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients - 30 months follow-up.

Background: There are no data on the effect of low-dose anticoagulation as secondary prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients. We assessed the efficacy and safety of low-dose apixaban for 30 months, after initial 6 months of full-dose treatment.

Methods: We included 298 patients with cancer and any type of VTE in a single arm interventional clinical trial.

Thrombosis and bleedings in a cohort of cancer patients treated with apixaban for venous thromboembolism.

Introduction: The direct oral anti-coagulants (DOAC) edoxaban and rivaroxaban are suggested treatment alternatives for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) together with low molecular-weight heparins. New studies indicate that the DOAC apixaban also is an option for cancer-associated VTE. The current study assessed recurrent VTE, arterial thrombosis, bleedings and adverse events in a cohort of apixaban treated cancer patients with VTE.

The Norwegian experience with penicillin G plus an aminoglycoside as initial empiric therapy in febrile neutropenia; a review.

Background: The occurrence of antibiotic resistance and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics are relatively low in Norway. The national recommendation in febrile neutropenia (FN) is prompt initial therapy with penicillin G plus an aminoglycoside. We sought to evaluate the evidence behind this recommendation.

Rituximab blocks protective serologic response to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccination in lymphoma patients during or within 6 months after treatment.

Cancer patients are often encouraged to receive seasonal influenza vaccination. The monoclonal antibody rituximab is widely used in treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This results in a prolonged depletion of normal B cells, which might impair humoral responses.

A large outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection with short incubation period in a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen with a high mortality rate. We report a large, nosocomial outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Methods: Patients with L.

[Penicillin and aminoglycoside in febrile neutropenia].

Background: Fever in patients with neutropenia may indicate a serious/lethal underlying bacterial sepsis. In Norway, penicillin G in combination with an aminoglycoside is the therapy of choice for this indication. In most countries, empiric monotherapy starts with a broadspectrum betalactam antibiotic.

Tobramycin once versus three times daily, given with penicillin G, to febrile neutropenic cancer patients in Norway: a prospective, randomized, multicentre trial.

Objectives: Penicillin G with an aminoglycoside is the standard initial empirical treatment in febrile neutropenia in Norway. It has been argued that giving the aminoglycoside once daily to neutropenic patients with Gram-negative bacteraemia may be hazardous when penicillin G is the beta-lactam antibiotic. We questioned this argument and hypothesized that tobramycin once daily was as efficacious as three times daily.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in B-cell lymphoma patients treated with the rituximab-CHOEP-14 regimen.

We report six cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) verified by immunoflourescence/polymerase chain reaction of bronchoalveolar fluid among 46 lymphoma patients (13%) who received rituximab-CHOEP-14 at our institution. PCP prophylaxis should be standard management for this group of patients and also considered for patients treated with rituximab-CHOP-14, CHOP-14 or CHOEP-14.

Invasive fungal infections at The Norwegian Radium Hospital 1998-2003.

The study evaluates the clinical and microbiological data from patients with documented invasive fungal infections at a comprehensive cancer centre in Norway. Relevant microbiology and pathology databases were screened and medical records were reviewed. 17 yeast infections, including 1 case of cryptococcal meningitis, and no mould infections were found.

[Cryptococcal meningitis].

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans causes systemic disease in patients with immunodeficiency. The incidence of cryptococcal meningitis has increased in parallel with that of HIV infection. Cancer is also a known predisposing factor.