Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is being used increasingly in an attempt to cure many hematological disorders. Obesity has become a world wide phenomenon and is a known risk factor for numerous medical conditions, but its role in transplant outcomes remained controversial. Total of 192 patients with acute leukemia who underwent sibling HLA matched HSCT were analyzed to find the effect of pre-transplant body mass index (BMI) on transplant outcomes such as time to engraftment, infections, graft vs. host disease (GvHD), and overall survival (OS) for the period of three yr (April 2006-March 2009). There was a significant correlation between higher pre-transplant BMI and shorter engraftment time (p = 0.010); but no relation between BMI and GvHD, infection, and OS was found. The results of this study showed that patients with higher BMI may have a shorter engraftment time; but lower, although not significant, survival rate compared to non-obese patients.

IntroductionTo achieve target concentrations, the application of higher-than-standard doses of amikacin is proposed for the treatment of sepsis due to an increase in volume of distribution and clearance, but little data are available on aminoglycoside administration in critically ill elderly patients.Patients and methodsForty critically ill elderly patients (aged over 65 years) who required amikacin therapy due to severe documented, or suspected gram-negative infections, were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group A (20 patients) received 15 mg/kg amikacin and Group B (20 patients) received 25 mg/kg amikacin per day as a single daily dose. All the patients were monitored for renal damage by the daily monitoring of serum creatinine. The amikacin peak (Cmax) and trough (Cmin) serum concentrations were measured on Days 3 and 7 postadministration.ResultsData from 18 patients in Group A and 15 patients in Group B were finally analyzed. On Day 3, the amikacin mean Cmax levels in the standard and high-dose treatment groups were 30.4±11 and 52.3±16.1 µg/mL (P<0.001), and the Cmin levels were 3.2±2.1 and 5.2±2.8 µg/mL, respectively (P=0.035). On Day 7, the Cmax levels in the standard and high-dose groups were 33±7.3 and 60.0±17.6 µg/mL (P=0.001), and the Cmin levels were 3.2±2.9 and 9.3±5.6 µg/mL, respectively (P=0.002). In only six (40%) of the patients in the high-dose groups and none of the patients in the standard-dose group, amikacin Cmax reached the target levels (>64 µg/mL), whereas the amikacin mean Cmin levels in the high-dose group were above the threshold of toxicity (5 µg/mL).ConclusionOur results suggest that the optimum dose of amikacin should be determined for elderly critically ill patients. It seems that higher-than-standard doses of amikacin with more extended intervals might be more appropriate than standard once-daily dosing in the elderly critically ill patients.

Background and the purpose of the studyThe febrile reaction is a complex response involving immunologic and other physiologic systems. Antipyretics are commonly used in critically ill patients with fever. We investigated the inflammatory responses following application of antipyretic therapy in febrile critically ill patients with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS).Patients and methodsIn a prospective, randomized controlled study, critically ill patients with fever (T ≥ 38.3°C), SIRS diagnosed within 24 hours of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score ≥10 were randomized into two groups. Upon appearance of fever, one group received intravenous paracetamol 650 mg every 6 hours for 10 days and other group received no treatment unless temperature reached 40°C. Body temperature, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, length of ICU stay, ICU mortality and infectious complications were recorded. Levels of Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), IL-6, IL-10, Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) and High-Sensitive C-Reactive Protein (HS-CRP) were assessed at baseline and 2, 6 and 24 hours after intervention.Results and discussionDuring a period of 15-month screening, 20 patients met the criteria and randomized to the control or paracetamol group. Body temperature decreased significantly in the paracetamol group (p = 0.004) and control group (p = 0.001) after 24 hours, but there was no significant difference between two groups at this time point (p = 0.649). Levels of IL-6 and IL-10 decreased significantly (p = 0.025 and p = 0.047, respectively) in the paracetamol group at 24 hours but this was not of statistical significance in control group. No patterns over time in each group or differences across two groups were found for HS-CRP, TNFα, and IL-1α (p > 0.05). There were no differences regarding ICU length of stay, mortality and infectious complications between both groups.ConclusionThese results suggest that antipyretic therapy may not be indicated in all ICU patients. Allowing fever to take its natural course does not appear to have detrimental effects on critically ill patients with SIRS and may avoid unnecessary expenses.

Background: Methadone is used for the pain management worldwide. Its special characteristics make it a potential alternative for pain management in critically ill and geriatric patients. Due to lack of studies in this population, we aimed to compare the pharmacokinetic behavior of Methadone following intramuscular and intravenous administration in geriatric ICU patients and with previously reports in healthy volunteers. Methods: According to the limitations in ICU setting, we could include 11 patients over 65 years old, who required opioid for pain relief in this study. Patients were randomized to receive 5 mg of Methadone IM or IV injection every 8 hours for 6 days. The Methadone plasma level detected with LC-mass tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetics parameters were evaluated for each subject in both 1st and 6th days of treatment. Results: Based on our results, bioavailability of intramuscular Methadone in geriatric ICU patients was low and less than 40% of the dose was absorbed within first 12 hours. The volume of distribution of Methadone in the first day was significantly lower than the previously reported values in healthy subjects and significantly increased during these 6 days. The Methadone half-life in this population also significantly increased through this period. Conclusion: Pharmacokinetic behavior of Methadone in geriatric ICU patients is unpredictable. Reduced volume of distribution and half-life may be observed initially, following with an increase to the normal range. It seems that IM administration of Methadone in geriatric critically ill patients may not provide target analgesic Methadone serum levels.

Background: Renal colic is one of the most common urologic diseases that constitutes the majority of the emergency department (ED) patients. Intravenous ketorolac is usually prescribed for adequate pain control, but it is usually insufficient and morphine is required. The starting time and amount of morphine needed for acute renal colic is still under discussion. Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted for 6 months at ED of Sina hospital, Tehran, Iran. 44 patients were investigated. pain intensity with numeric rating scale (NRS) were observed at baseline and then continued every 5 min for 2hr. Patients were received ketorolac (30 mg) and if NRS>6 morphine loading dose (0.05mg/kg) initially if NRS>6. morphine rescue dose ordered if the NRS remain >6. Morphine consumption pattern was the primary outcome. Also total morphine dose, time to reach NRS<4, and adverse reaction were evaluated. Results: At baseline, almost all patients had NRS>6, and about 65.8% had history of renal colic. The mean NRS was 8.98(±0.98), Therefore, all patients required a loading dose of morphine and 50% received at least one rescue dose. The patient with history of renal colic had higher NRS score at baseline, prolonged pain, higher total morphine dose and rescue dose. There wasn’t any significant side effect occurred. Conclusion: Patients with acute renal colic have severe pain and should receive morphine primarily. In addition, patients with a history of renal colic had higher pain intensity scores, and required higher morphine doses.