Acceptability of intramuscular injection of tranexamic acid in postpartum hemorrhage prevention

BACKGROUND: Newer research comparing routes of medication administration has extended beyond efficacy as a primary endpoint to incorporate patient preference. However, little is known about the preferences of pregnant women in terms of routes of medication administration, specifically with regards to hemorrhage prevention and control. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the preferences of pregnant women in terms of medical interventions to prevent hemorrhage at the time of delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Surveys were distributed from April 2022 to September 2022 using electronic tablets at a single urban center with an annual delivery volume of 3000 women per year to women \u3e18 years of age who were either currently pregnant or have been pregnant in the past. Subjects were asked to choose their preferred route of administration from the following options: intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous. The primary outcome was patient preference on the route of medication administration during a hemorrhage event. RESULTS: The study cohort included 300 patients, mostly African American (39.8%) followed by White (32.1%), and the majority of the participants ranged from 30 to 34 years of age (31.7%). When asked which method of administration they would prefer to prevent hemorrhage before birth, the results were as follows: 31.1% would prefer intravenous, 23.0% had no preference, 21.2% were unsure, 15.9% preferred subcutaneous, and 8.8% preferred intramuscular administration. In addition, 69.4% of respondents reported that they have never declined or avoided intramuscular administration of medication if recommended by their physician. CONCLUSION: Although some survey participants preferred an intravenous route of administration, 68.9% of subjects were unsure, had no preference, or preferred nonintravenous routes. This information is helpful particularly in low-resource settings where intravenous treatments are not readily available or in urgent clinical situations in which intravenous administration routes are not easily obtainable in high-risk patients

Acceptability of intramuscular injection of tranexamic acid in postpartum hemorrhage preventionAJOG Global Reports at a Glance

BACKGROUND: Newer research comparing routes of medication administration has extended beyond efficacy as a primary endpoint to incorporate patient preference. However, little is known about the preferences of pregnant women in terms of routes of medication administration, specifically with regards to hemorrhage prevention and control. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the preferences of pregnant women in terms of medical interventions to prevent hemorrhage at the time of delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Surveys were distributed from April 2022 to September 2022 using electronic tablets at a single urban center with an annual delivery volume of 3000 women per year to women >18 years of age who were either currently pregnant or have been pregnant in the past. Subjects were asked to choose their preferred route of administration from the following options: intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous. The primary outcome was patient preference on the route of medication administration during a hemorrhage event. RESULTS: The study cohort included 300 patients, mostly African American (39.8%) followed by White (32.1%), and the majority of the participants ranged from 30 to 34 years of age (31.7%). When asked which method of administration they would prefer to prevent hemorrhage before birth, the results were as follows: 31.1% would prefer intravenous, 23.0% had no preference, 21.2% were unsure, 15.9% preferred subcutaneous, and 8.8% preferred intramuscular administration. In addition, 69.4% of respondents reported that they have never declined or avoided intramuscular administration of medication if recommended by their physician. CONCLUSION: Although some survey participants preferred an intravenous route of administration, 68.9% of subjects were unsure, had no preference, or preferred nonintravenous routes. This information is helpful particularly in low-resource settings where intravenous treatments are not readily available or in urgent clinical situations in which intravenous administration routes are not easily obtainable in high-risk patients

A Phase Ib Study of Sotrastaurin, a PKC Inhibitor, and Alpelisib, a PI3Kα Inhibitor, in Patients with Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare subset of melanoma characterized by the presence of early initiating GNAQ/11 mutations, with downstream activation of the PKC, MAPK, and PI3Kα pathways. Activity has been observed with the PKC inhibitors sotrastaurin (AEB071) and darovasertib (IDE196) in patients with UM. Inhibition of the PI3K pathway enhances PKC inhibition in in vivo models. We therefore conducted a phase Ib study of sotrastaurin in combination with the PI3Kα inhibitor alpelisib to identify a tolerable regimen that may enhance the activity of PKC inhibition alone. Patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (n = 24) or GNAQ/11 mutant cutaneous melanoma (n = 1) were enrolled on escalating dose levels of sotrastaurin (100–400 mg BID) and alpelisib (200–350 mg QD). The primary objective was to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of these agents when administered in combination. Treatment-related adverse events (AE) occurred in 86% (any grade) and 29% (Grade 3). No Grade 4–5-related AEs occurred. Dose Level 4 (sotrastaurin 200 mg BID and alpelisib 350 mg QD) was identified as the maximum tolerated dose. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated increasing concentration levels with increasing doses of sotrastaurin and alpelisib, without evidence of interaction between agents. Pharmacodynamic assessment of pMARCKS and pAKT protein expression with drug exposure suggested modest target inhibition that did not correlate with clinical response. No objective responses were observed, and median progression-free survival was 8 weeks (range, 3–51 weeks). Although a tolerable dose of sotrastaurin and alpelisib was identified with pharmacodynamic evidence of target inhibition and without evidence of a corresponding immunosuppressive effect, limited clinical activity was observed

Adjuvant crizotinib in high-risk uveal melanoma following definitive therapy

IntroductionApproximately 40% of patients with uveal melanoma (UM) will develop metastatic disease. Tumors measuring at least 12mm in basal diameter with a class 2 signature, as defined by a widely used gene expression-profiling test, are associated with significantly higher risk of metastasis, with a median time to recurrence of 32 months. No therapy has been shown to reduce this risk. Materials and MethodsThis was a single-arm, multicenter study in patients with high-risk UM who received definitive treatment of primary disease and had no evidence of metastasis. Patients were consecutively enrolled to receive 12 four-week cycles of adjuvant crizotinib at a starting dose of 250mg twice daily and were subsequently monitored for 36 months. The primary outcome of this study was to assess recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with high-risk UM who received adjuvant crizotinib. Results34 patients enrolled and received at least one dose of crizotinib. Two patients were unevaluable due to early withdrawal and loss to follow-up, leaving 32 patients evaluable for efficacy. Eight patients (25%) did not complete the planned 48-week course of treatment due to disease recurrence (n=5) or toxicity (n=3). All patients experienced at least one adverse event (AE), with 11/34 (32%) experiencing a Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 3 or 4 AE. After a median duration of follow up of 47.1 months, 21 patients developed distant recurrent disease. The median RFS was 34.9 months (95% CI (Confidence Interval), 23-55 months), with a 32-month recurrence rate of 50% (95% CI, 33-67%). Analysis of protein contents from peripheral blood extracellular vesicles in a subset of patient samples from baseline, on-treatment, and off-treatment, revealed a change in protein content associated with crizotinib exposure, however without a clear association with disease outcome. ConclusionsThe use of adjuvant crizotinib in patients with high-risk UM did not result in improved RFS when compared to historical controls. Analysis of blood extracellular vesicles revealed changes in protein content associated with treatment, raising the possibility of future use as a biomarker. Further investigation of adjuvant treatment options are necessary for this challenging disease