Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jun 2023
[Current management and new treatment strategies of chronic myeloid leukemia].
The introduction of orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) into the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 25 years ago has substantially improved the clinical outcome of affected patients and resulted in a near-normal life expectancy in chronic phase (CP). Despite of a significant fraction of currently about one third of newly diagnosed CP patients eventually reaching treatment-free remission, the majority of patients still remain on life-long treatment with TKIs. ⋯ Given that nowadays, severity and degree of preexisting comorbidities might predict long-term survival of individual patients more significantly than the underlying CML itself, it becomes most important to properly and thoroughly select the TKI of choice on this basis as well as on the individually required co-medications. Given the variety of 2nd, 3rd and now allosteric TKIs available for the molecular targeting of the disease-driving BCR-ABL oncogene in addition to the "class-defining" Imatinib, personalization of CML therapy should now be further extended towards a better appreciation of comorbidities and co-medications before selection of an individual's TKI treatment complemented by a long-term oriented, patient-centered management and prevention of (sometimes irreversible) TKI side effects.
-
The physician has to make numerous and legally far-reaching determinations in the course of the post-mortem examination. These can have considerable consequences for relatives and, moreover, for society. Therefore, the correct performance of post-mortem examinations and the correct evaluation of the findings is an extremely responsible task that every physician should master.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jun 2023
Review[Clinical Application Examples of a Next-Generation Sequencing based Multi-Genepanel Analysis].
This review provides an overview of clinically useful applications of a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based multi-gene panel testing strategy in the areas of oncology, hereditary tumor syndromes, and hematology. In the case of solid tumors (e.g. lung carcinoma, colon-rectal carcinoma), the detection of somatic mutations contributes not only to a better diagnostic but also therapeutic stratification of those affected. ⋯ Another useful indication for a multi-gene panel diagnostics and prognosis assessment are acute and chronic myeloid diseases. The criteria of the WHO-classification and the European LeukemiaNet-prognosis system for acute myeloid leukemia can only be met by a multi-gene panel test strategy.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jun 2023
Randomized Controlled Trial[Endovascular Therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease - Therapeutic Options for Treatment of Severe Calcification].
Calcified lesions are a major limitation of endovascular therapy of peripheral artery disease. Recently published studies evaluating the impact of lithotripsy (Disrupt III) and directional atherectomy (REALITY) as vessel preparation devices for calcified femoro-popliteal lesions prior to the final treatment with drug-coated balloons (DCB). Disrupt III, a randomized controlled trial comparing lithotripsy and regular balloon angioplasty for vessel preparation prior to DCB, and REALITY, a single-arm study of directional atherectomy prior to DCB angioplasty resulted in low provisional stent and dissection rates. ⋯ Importantly, both vessel preparation strategies resulted in a low rate of post-procedural residual stenosis of >30%, the major predictor for loss of patency following DCB angioplasty in long-term. Lithotripsy is an emerging therapy concept for vessel preparation of calcified pelvic arteries prior to trans-femoral aortic valve implantation. In summary, vessel preparation of calcified arterial lesions by improving vessel compliance or reducing the plaque load represent promising technical methods reducing provisional stent rates and improving longer-term outcomes.