Search results for "Continuation"
showing 10 items of 276 documents
One year study of efficacy and safety of infliximab in the treatment of patients with ocular and neurological Behçet's disease refractory to standard…
2011
Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of Infliximab therapy in the treatment of patients with Behçet’s disease refractory to standard immunosuppressive agents. Twenty-one patients that did not respond to corticosteroids and to at least one immunosuppressant (cyclosporin, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide) for the presence of ocular and/or CNS involvement were enrolled. Eighteen patients completed the study up to 54 weeks. Stable doses of prednisone (<10 mg/day) were permitted, immunosuppressants were discontinued at least 4 weeks prior baseline visit. The patients received three infusions of 5 mg/kg Infliximab (at weeks 0, 2 and 6) and then…
Clinical activity after fingolimod cessation: Disease reactivation or rebound?
2018
Background and purpose There is debate as to whether the apparent rebound after fingolimod discontinuation is related to the discontinuation itself or whether it is due to the natural course of highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to survey the prevalence of severe reactivation and rebound after discontinuation of fingolimod in a cohort of Italian patients with MS. Methods Patients with relapsing-remitting MS who were treated with fingolimod for at least 6 months and who stopped treatment for reasons that were unrelated to inefficacy were included in the analysis. Results A total of 100 patients who had discontinued fingolimod were included in the study. Fourteen patients (14%…
Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis after 24 doses of natalizumab: evidence from an Italian spontaneous, prospective, and observation…
2014
Importance The evaluation of therapeutic choices is needed after 24 doses of natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To evaluate the effect of therapeutic choices on the mean annualized relapse rate and on magnetic resonance imaging MS activity after 24 doses of natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Design, Setting, and Participants The TY-STOP study, which recruited participants between October 22, 2010, and October 22, 2012, at 8 Italian MS centers (secondary care outpatient clinics) among 124 adult patients who demonstrated no clinical or magnetic resonance imaging MS activity after 24 doses of natalizumab. Interventions Natalizumab, no treatment, i…
Comparison of two non-contemporaneous HCV-liver transplant cohorts: Strategies to improve the efficacy of antiviral therapy
2011
Background & Aims In a previous study, advanced fibrosis was associated with worsening efficacy of antiviral therapy in HCV-transplant patients. We aimed at assessing whether changes in treatment policy, that is starting therapy at lesser stages of fibrosis, have resulted in improved efficacy. Methods Efficacy (rapid, early, end-of-treatment, and sustained viral response (SVR)) and tolerability (peginterferon (pIFN)/ribavirin (RBV) doses, premature discontinuation, dose reductions, anemia, growth factors, transfusions) were compared between two non-contemporaneous cohorts of post-LT naive patients treated with pIFN-RBV: Group 1 (n=44), a historical cohort of patients treated during the peri…
Mycophenolate plus methylprednisolone versus methylprednisolone alone in active, moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy (MINGO): a randomised, observ…
2018
BACKGROUND: European guidelines recommend intravenous methylprednisolone as first-line treatment for active and severe Graves' orbitopathy; however, it is common for patients to have no response or have relapse after discontinuation of treatment. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of add-on mycophenolate to methylprednisolone in comparison with methylprednisolone alone in patients with moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy.METHODS: MINGO was an observer-masked, multicentre, block-randomised, centre-stratified trial done in two centres in Germany and two in Italy. Patients with active moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy were randomly assigned to receive intravenous methylprednis…
The Addition of an Immunosuppressant After Loss of Response to Anti-TNFα Monotherapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 2-Year Study
2018
Background The addition of an immunosuppressant (IM) after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy is an emerging strategy of therapeutic optimization in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, few clinical data have been reported to date. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this selective combination therapy in patients with IBD. Methods All consecutive patients with loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy despite an intensive dose optimization who added an IM from October 2014 to October 2016 were entered into a prospective database. Results Among 630 patients treated with anti-TNFα agents during the study period, 46 (7.3%) added an IM. A total of 31 patie…
Mycophenolate mofetil is a valid option in patients with inflammatory bowel disease resistant to TNF-α inhibitors and conventional immunosuppressants.
2017
Abstract Background Few studies investigated the role of mycophenolate mofetil in inflammatory bowel disease, and none of them had specifically focused on patients with previous multiple intolerances and/or nonresponses to conventional immunosuppressants and biologics. Aims To evaluate clinical benefit and tolerability profile of mycophenolate mofetil in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and limited treatment options. Methods All consecutive patients with previous multiple intolerances and/or nonresponses to immunosuppressants and biologics who started an off-label treatment with mycophenolate mofetil from January 2014 to February 2016 were entered in a prospectively maintained datab…
Clinical course and outcomes of drug-induced liver injury: Nimesulide as the first implicated medication
2010
Abstract Background and aims Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause of death from acute liver failure, and accounts for approximately 13% of cases of acute liver failure in the United States. The clinical presentation of DILI covers a wide spectrum, from asymptomatic liver test abnormalities to symptomatic acute liver disease, prolonged jaundice and disability, or overt acute or subacute liver failure. The aim of our study was to evaluate the number of DILI cases admitted to our Unit and to identify the drugs responsible. Thus, we reviewed all clinical records of patients with DILI admitted to our Unit from 1996 to 2006. Patients and methods A database was constructed, re…
Early discontinuation of ribavirin in HCV-2 and HCV-3 patients responding to Peg-interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin
2008
Guidelines for the treatment of patients infected with hepatitis C virus of genotypes 2 and 3 (HCV-2 and HCV-3, respectively) recommend a 24-week course of Peg-interferon (Peg-IFN) alpha-2a combined with ribavirin, despite 50% of patients in registration trials attaining a sustained virologic response (SVR) following Peg-IFN alpha-2a monotherapy. The aim of this study was to delineate patient characteristics that might help to identify individuals likely to benefit from ribavirin discontinuation. One hundred and forty-four HCV-2- and HCV-3-infected patients initiated Peg-IFN alpha-2a (180 microg/week) and ribavirin (1000 or 1200 mg/day); those with viral clearance at week 4 were randomized …
An open-safety study of dual antiviral therapy in real-world patients with chronic hepatitis C
2010
Purpose Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with alpha-interferon and ribavirin usually produces adverse events within the first 3 months. We aimed to assess safety and predictors of discontinuation or dose modification of these drugs. Methods Observational study of 312 patients with predominantly genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C treated openly along 5 years in a clinical practice setting. Results Eighty-four percent of patients experienced at least one adverse event (853 events in total, 3.3 per patient on average). Incidence rate was higher during the first 90 days and decreased thereafter (<5%). Discontinuation rates at 30 and 90 days and at end of treatment were 2, 4 and 8%, re…