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Objectives: The aim of this study is to provide relevant and accurate information on prevalence and treatment patterns of anaemia in Belgian cancer patients.Methods: The Anaemia Day 2008 survey was a single visit, multi-centre, non-interventional study in adult cancer patients under systemic therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal, immunological and/or targeted therapy) and/or radiotherapy. Efforts were made to enroll the maximum number of patients seen in each centre that day. Patients signed an informed consent and relevant data were collected from their files, i.e. disease and disease stage, cancer therapy and anti-anaemic treatment, including transfusions and the use of erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESA). A blood count of each included patient was performed. Haemoglobin (Hb) values (grams per decilitre) were classified into four categories to assess the severity of anaemia, as defined by WHO: no anaemia: Hb ≥ 12 g/dL; mild 10 ≤ Hb ≤ 11.9 g/dL; moderate 8 ≤ Hb ≤ 9.9 g/dL; severe Hb < 8 g/dL. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out with anaemia as the dependent variable.Results: A total of 1,403 eligible patients aged 63 ± 13 years (mean age ± SD) were enrolled in 106 oncology or haematology centres. The mean Hb level (± SD) was 11.6 g/dL (± 1.8 g/dL) and the prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 12 g/dL) was 55.7% (95% CI, 53.1-58.3%), respectively, 35.9% mild, 17.8% moderate and 2.1% severe anaemia. Anaemia was more frequent in females than in males, and in patients with haematological malignancies (73.4%) than in those with solid tumours (51.4%; p < 0.001). Anaemia prevalence was higher in hospitalised patients (75.5%) compared to those seen in one-day-clinic (54.3%) or in consultation (33.9%; p < 0.001), and in patients treated with chemotherapy (61.3%) compared to those receiving radiotherapy (34.4%) or hormonal therapy (19.5%; p < 0.001). There was a clear correlation between severity of anaemia and WHO performance status (p < 0.001). Among anaemic patients, 53.1% received no treatment (mean Hb 10.8 ± 0.9 g/dL). Among the anaemic patients who received therapy for their anaemia (mean Hb 9.7 ± 1.1 g/dL), the most frequent treatments were RBC transfusions (42%), ESA (34.6%), transfusions + ESA (12%), ESA + iron (7.9%) and iron alone (3.5%). Comparison to the ECAS survey shows that there has been no major change in attitude towards anaemia management in the last decade.Conclusion: This survey shows that cancer-related anaemia is still frequently observed in cancer patients. Even if in our study ESA were used more frequently than about 10 years ago, still a large amount of anaemic patients who could be treated for anaemia according to EORTC guidelines, were not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large surface area, good vascularization, immense capacity for solute exchange and ultra-thinness of the alveolar epithelium are unique features of the lung that can facilitate systemic delivery via pulmonary administration of peptides and proteins. Physical and biochemical barriers, lack of optimal dosage forms and delivery devices limit the systemic delivery of biotherapeutic agents by inhalation. Current efforts to overcome these difficulties in order to deliver metabolic hormones (insulin, calcitonin, thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and growth hormones) systemically, to induce systemic responses (immunoglobulins, cyclosporin A [CsA], recombinant-methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [r-huG-CSF], pancreatic islet autoantigen) and to modulate other biological processes via the lung are reviewed. Safety aspects of pulmonary peptide and protein administration are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparative aniiarrhythmic efficacy of three different intravenous drug regimens was evaluated in 12 symptomatic patients (mean age: 72 years) with chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias (mean: 834 PVCs h). In a cross-over study with latin square distribution the following drug regimens were administered intravenously to all patients (a) aprindine 2 mg kg, (b) sotalol 1.5 mg kg, (c) aprindine 1 mg kg & sotalol 0.75 mg kg. The mean percentage of PVC reduction was 41% (P <0.05) for aprindine 2 mg kg; 51% (P <0.05) for sotalol 1.5 mg kg and 72% (P <0.01) for the combined drug therapy (aprindine 1 mg kg and sotalol 0.75 mg kg). The mean plasma concentration was 1371 ng ml after administration of aprindine 2 mg kg and 1730 ng ml after infusion of sotalol 1.5 mg kg. After combined drug therapy, mean plasma levels were 942 ng ml for aprindine and 992 ng ml for sotalol. The different drug regimens were well tolerated in all patients and no side-effects occurred. Combination therapy consisting of a drug that prolongs action potential duration with an antiarrhythmic agent that has a high affinity for the inactivated channels may thus achieve an antiarrhythmic efficacy comparable to single agent therapy, permitting the use of lower dosages. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract The large surface area, good vascularization, immense capacity for solute exchange and ultra-thinness of the alveolar epithelium are unique features of the lung that can facilitate systemic delivery via pulmonary administration of peptides and proteins. Physical and biochemical barriers, lack of optimal dosage forms and delivery devices limit the systemic delivery of biotherapeutic agents by inhalation. Current efforts to overcome these difficulties in order to deliver metabolic hormones (insulin, calcitonin, thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and growth hormones) systemically, to induce systemic responses (immunoglobulins, cyclosporin A [CsA], recombinant-methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [r-huG-CSF], pancreatic islet autoantigen) and to modulate other biological processes via the lung are reviewed. Safety aspects of pulmonary peptide and protein administration are also discussed.