Among women who have a coincidental appendectomy during surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis, about 15% have appendiceal endometriosis confirmed by pathological examination, according to a study.

“In the women with appendiceal endometriosis, only 26% had an appendix that looked abnormal,” said Whitney T. Ross, MD, of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State Health, Hershey.

The results, presented at the virtual annual scientific meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, indicate that “appendiceal endometriosis is common in women receiving surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis,” she said. “This study and multiple other studies have also demonstrated that coincidental appendectomy is safe.”

The long-term impact of coincidental appendectomy and its effect on quality of life are not known, however, which may make it difficult to weigh the costs and benefits of the procedure, Dr. Ross said. “It is important to talk to patients about this procedure and determine which approach is the right approach for your institution.”

The study of 609 coincidental appendectomies did not include patients with retrocecal appendices, which may confound the true rate of appendiceal endometriosis, commented Saifuddin T. Mama, MD, MPH, of Rowan University, Camden, N.J.

When the investigators started the study, they were not sure of the risks and benefits of the procedure in patients with retrocecal appendices. An anecdotal report from another research group suggests that outcomes with retrocecal appendices may not be significantly different. “But that is certainly an important question and one that we would like to address in a future prospective study,” Dr. Ross said.

Surgeons have debated the role of coincidental appendectomy during gynecologic surgery. Concerns about safety and questions about the prevalence of appendiceal pathology are reasons that coincidental appendectomy has not been more widely adopted. On the other hand, the procedure may benefit patients and aid diagnosis.

To evaluate the role of coincidental appendectomy in the surgical excision of endometriosis, Dr. Ross and colleagues analyzed data from consecutive coincidental appendectomies performed at one institution between 2013 and 2019. They identified cases in a prospectively maintained surgical database to assess safety and the prevalence of appendiceal pathology.

iStockphoto.com

The indication for surgery was chronic pelvic pain but no visualized endometriosis for 42 patients, stage I-II endometriosis for 388 patients, and stage III-IV endometriosis for 179 patients.

Surgeries included laparoscopic hysterectomy (77.5%), operative laparoscopy (19.9%), and laparoscopic trachelectomy (2.6%). Pathological analysis of the appendices identified endometriosis in 14.9%, malignancy in 0.7%, polyps in 0.5%, and appendicitis in 0.3%.

Among women with chronic pelvic pain but no visualized endometriosis, 2.4% had appendiceal endometriosis. Among those with stage I-II endometriosis, 7% had appendiceal endometriosis, and in patients with stage III-IV endometriosis, the rate of appendiceal endometriosis was 35.2%.

In about 6% of patients with appendiceal endometriosis, the appendix was the only site of pathologically confirmed endometriosis.

Compared with chronic pelvic pain, stage III-IV endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of appendiceal endometriosis (odds ratio, 22.2). The likelihood of appendiceal endometriosis also increased when the appendix looked abnormal (odds ratio, 6.5).

The probability of diagnosing appendiceal endometriosis also increases with the number of other locations of confirmed endometriosis.

“Our surgical decision making is based off of intraoperative findings. However, the final gold-standard diagnosis can’t take place until the pathologic specimen is analyzed,” she said. “We also know that there is a significant discordance, as high as 50%, in early-stage endometriosis between visual inspection and pathology findings.”

There were no complications related to the performance of a coincidental appendectomy during surgery or in the 12 weeks after.

Dr. Ross outlined surgeons’ three main options for performing coincidental appendectomy in patients undergoing surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis: universal coincidental appendectomy, targeted appendectomy based on operative findings, and performing the procedure based on the appearance of the appendix.

Basing the decision on appearance “is going to miss a lot of appendiceal endometriosis,” Dr. Ross said. In the present study, 67 of the 91 cases, about 74%, would have been missed.

Dr. Ross and Dr. Mama had no relevant financial disclosures. The study coauthors disclosed ties to Titan Medical, Merck, and AbbVie.

jremaly@mdedge.com

SOURCE: Ross WT et al. SGS 2020, Abstract 14.

Among women who have a coincidental appendectomy during surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis, about 15% have appendiceal endometriosis confirmed by pathological examination, according to a study.

“In the women with appendiceal endometriosis, only 26% had an appendix that looked abnormal,” said Whitney T. Ross, MD, of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State Health, Hershey.

The results, presented at the virtual annual scientific meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, indicate that “appendiceal endometriosis is common in women receiving surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis,” she said. “This study and multiple other studies have also demonstrated that coincidental appendectomy is safe.”

The long-term impact of coincidental appendectomy and its effect on quality of life are not known, however, which may make it difficult to weigh the costs and benefits of the procedure, Dr. Ross said. “It is important to talk to patients about this procedure and determine which approach is the right approach for your institution.”

The study of 609 coincidental appendectomies did not include patients with retrocecal appendices, which may confound the true rate of appendiceal endometriosis, commented Saifuddin T. Mama, MD, MPH, of Rowan University, Camden, N.J.

When the investigators started the study, they were not sure of the risks and benefits of the procedure in patients with retrocecal appendices. An anecdotal report from another research group suggests that outcomes with retrocecal appendices may not be significantly different. “But that is certainly an important question and one that we would like to address in a future prospective study,” Dr. Ross said.

Surgeons have debated the role of coincidental appendectomy during gynecologic surgery. Concerns about safety and questions about the prevalence of appendiceal pathology are reasons that coincidental appendectomy has not been more widely adopted. On the other hand, the procedure may benefit patients and aid diagnosis.

To evaluate the role of coincidental appendectomy in the surgical excision of endometriosis, Dr. Ross and colleagues analyzed data from consecutive coincidental appendectomies performed at one institution between 2013 and 2019. They identified cases in a prospectively maintained surgical database to assess safety and the prevalence of appendiceal pathology.

iStockphoto.com

The indication for surgery was chronic pelvic pain but no visualized endometriosis for 42 patients, stage I-II endometriosis for 388 patients, and stage III-IV endometriosis for 179 patients.

Surgeries included laparoscopic hysterectomy (77.5%), operative laparoscopy (19.9%), and laparoscopic trachelectomy (2.6%). Pathological analysis of the appendices identified endometriosis in 14.9%, malignancy in 0.7%, polyps in 0.5%, and appendicitis in 0.3%.

Among women with chronic pelvic pain but no visualized endometriosis, 2.4% had appendiceal endometriosis. Among those with stage I-II endometriosis, 7% had appendiceal endometriosis, and in patients with stage III-IV endometriosis, the rate of appendiceal endometriosis was 35.2%.

In about 6% of patients with appendiceal endometriosis, the appendix was the only site of pathologically confirmed endometriosis.

Compared with chronic pelvic pain, stage III-IV endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of appendiceal endometriosis (odds ratio, 22.2). The likelihood of appendiceal endometriosis also increased when the appendix looked abnormal (odds ratio, 6.5).

The probability of diagnosing appendiceal endometriosis also increases with the number of other locations of confirmed endometriosis.

“Our surgical decision making is based off of intraoperative findings. However, the final gold-standard diagnosis can’t take place until the pathologic specimen is analyzed,” she said. “We also know that there is a significant discordance, as high as 50%, in early-stage endometriosis between visual inspection and pathology findings.”

There were no complications related to the performance of a coincidental appendectomy during surgery or in the 12 weeks after.

Dr. Ross outlined surgeons’ three main options for performing coincidental appendectomy in patients undergoing surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis: universal coincidental appendectomy, targeted appendectomy based on operative findings, and performing the procedure based on the appearance of the appendix.

Basing the decision on appearance “is going to miss a lot of appendiceal endometriosis,” Dr. Ross said. In the present study, 67 of the 91 cases, about 74%, would have been missed.

Dr. Ross and Dr. Mama had no relevant financial disclosures. The study coauthors disclosed ties to Titan Medical, Merck, and AbbVie.

jremaly@mdedge.com

SOURCE: Ross WT et al. SGS 2020, Abstract 14.

Among women who have a coincidental appendectomy during surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis, about 15% have appendiceal endometriosis confirmed by pathological examination, according to a study.

“In the women with appendiceal endometriosis, only 26% had an appendix that looked abnormal,” said Whitney T. Ross, MD, of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State Health, Hershey.

The results, presented at the virtual annual scientific meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, indicate that “appendiceal endometriosis is common in women receiving surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis,” she said. “This study and multiple other studies have also demonstrated that coincidental appendectomy is safe.”

The long-term impact of coincidental appendectomy and its effect on quality of life are not known, however, which may make it difficult to weigh the costs and benefits of the procedure, Dr. Ross said. “It is important to talk to patients about this procedure and determine which approach is the right approach for your institution.”

The study of 609 coincidental appendectomies did not include patients with retrocecal appendices, which may confound the true rate of appendiceal endometriosis, commented Saifuddin T. Mama, MD, MPH, of Rowan University, Camden, N.J.

When the investigators started the study, they were not sure of the risks and benefits of the procedure in patients with retrocecal appendices. An anecdotal report from another research group suggests that outcomes with retrocecal appendices may not be significantly different. “But that is certainly an important question and one that we would like to address in a future prospective study,” Dr. Ross said.

Surgeons have debated the role of coincidental appendectomy during gynecologic surgery. Concerns about safety and questions about the prevalence of appendiceal pathology are reasons that coincidental appendectomy has not been more widely adopted. On the other hand, the procedure may benefit patients and aid diagnosis.

To evaluate the role of coincidental appendectomy in the surgical excision of endometriosis, Dr. Ross and colleagues analyzed data from consecutive coincidental appendectomies performed at one institution between 2013 and 2019. They identified cases in a prospectively maintained surgical database to assess safety and the prevalence of appendiceal pathology.

iStockphoto.com

The indication for surgery was chronic pelvic pain but no visualized endometriosis for 42 patients, stage I-II endometriosis for 388 patients, and stage III-IV endometriosis for 179 patients.

Surgeries included laparoscopic hysterectomy (77.5%), operative laparoscopy (19.9%), and laparoscopic trachelectomy (2.6%). Pathological analysis of the appendices identified endometriosis in 14.9%, malignancy in 0.7%, polyps in 0.5%, and appendicitis in 0.3%.

Among women with chronic pelvic pain but no visualized endometriosis, 2.4% had appendiceal endometriosis. Among those with stage I-II endometriosis, 7% had appendiceal endometriosis, and in patients with stage III-IV endometriosis, the rate of appendiceal endometriosis was 35.2%.

In about 6% of patients with appendiceal endometriosis, the appendix was the only site of pathologically confirmed endometriosis.

Compared with chronic pelvic pain, stage III-IV endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of appendiceal endometriosis (odds ratio, 22.2). The likelihood of appendiceal endometriosis also increased when the appendix looked abnormal (odds ratio, 6.5).

The probability of diagnosing appendiceal endometriosis also increases with the number of other locations of confirmed endometriosis.

“Our surgical decision making is based off of intraoperative findings. However, the final gold-standard diagnosis can’t take place until the pathologic specimen is analyzed,” she said. “We also know that there is a significant discordance, as high as 50%, in early-stage endometriosis between visual inspection and pathology findings.”

There were no complications related to the performance of a coincidental appendectomy during surgery or in the 12 weeks after.

Dr. Ross outlined surgeons’ three main options for performing coincidental appendectomy in patients undergoing surgery for chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis: universal coincidental appendectomy, targeted appendectomy based on operative findings, and performing the procedure based on the appearance of the appendix.

Basing the decision on appearance “is going to miss a lot of appendiceal endometriosis,” Dr. Ross said. In the present study, 67 of the 91 cases, about 74%, would have been missed.

Dr. Ross and Dr. Mama had no relevant financial disclosures. The study coauthors disclosed ties to Titan Medical, Merck, and AbbVie.

jremaly@mdedge.com

SOURCE: Ross WT et al. SGS 2020, Abstract 14.

Skin eruptions could help physicians identify people with severe COVID-19 who are more likely to develop coagulopathies, new evidence suggests.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork–Presbyterian Medical Center in New York linked livedoid and purpuric skin eruptions to a greater likelihood for occlusive vascular disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a small case series.

These skin signs could augment coagulation assays in this patient population. “Physicians should consider a hematology consult for potential anticoagulation in patients with these skin presentations and severe COVID-19,” senior author Joanna Harp, MD, said in an interview.

“Physicians should also consider D-dimer, fibrinogen, coagulation studies, and a skin biopsy given that there are other diagnoses on the differential as well.”

The research letter was published online on Aug. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.

The findings build on multiple previous reports of skin manifestations associated with COVID-19, including a study of 375 patients in Spain. Among people with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, senior author of the Spanish research, Ignacio Garcia-Doval, MD, PhD, also observed livedoid and necrotic skin eruptions more commonly in severe disease.

“I think that this case series [from Harp and colleagues] confirms the findings of our previous paper – that patients with livedoid or necrotic lesions have a worse prognosis, as these are markers of vascular occlusion,” he said in an interview.

Dr. Harp and colleagues reported their observations with four patients aged 40-80 years. Each had severe COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome and required intubation. Treating clinicians requested a dermatology consult to assess acral fixed livedo racemosa and retiform purpura presentations.

D-dimer levels exceeded 3 mcg/mL in each case. All four patients had a suspected pulmonary embolism within 1-5 days of the dermatologic findings. Prophylactic anticoagulation at admission was changed to therapeutic anticoagulation because of increasing D-dimer levels and the suspected thrombotic events.

“I think that the paper is interesting because it shows the associated histopathological findings and has important clinical implications due to the association with pulmonary embolism,” said Dr. Garcia-Doval, a researcher at the Spanish Academy of Dermatology in Madrid. “These patients should probably be anticoagulated.”
 

Skin biopsy results

Punch biopsies revealed pauci-inflammatory thrombogenic vasculopathy involving capillaries, venules, arterioles, or small arteries.

Livedo racemosa skin findings point to partial occlusion of cutaneous blood vessels, whereas retiform purpura indicate full occlusion of cutaneous blood vessels.

An inability to confirm the exact timing of the onset of the skin rash was a limitation of the study.

“The findings suggest that clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19 should be aware of livedoid and purpuric rashes as potential manifestations of an underlying hypercoagulable state,” the authors noted. “If these skin findings are identified, a skin biopsy should be considered because the result may guide anticoagulation management.”

Observations during an outbreak

The researchers observed these cases between March 13 and April 3, during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York.

“We did see additional cases since our study period. However, it has decreased significantly with the falling number of COVID-19 cases in the city,” said Dr. Harp, a dermatologist at NewYork–Presbyterian.

Another contributing factor in the drop in cases was “implementation of earlier, more aggressive anticoagulation in many of these patients at our institution,” she added.

The investigators plan to continue the research. “We are working on a more formalized study,” lead author Caren Droesch, MD, said in an interview.

“But given very low patient numbers in our area we have not started recruiting patients,” said Dr. Droesch, a resident at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork–Presbyterian at the time of the study. She is now a dermatologist at Mass General Brigham in Wellesley, Mass.
 

Consider a dermatology consult

“This is a small case series of four patients, but mirrors what we have seen at our institution and what others have reported about individual patients around the world,” Anthony Fernandez, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, said in an interview. “The skin, like many other organ systems, can be affected by thrombotic events within the setting of COVID-19 disease.”

As in the current study, Dr. Fernandez observed skin manifestations in people with severe COVID-19 with elevated D-dimer levels. These patients typically require mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, he added.

“As these authors point out, it is important for all clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients to look for these rashes,” said Dr. Fernandez, who coauthored a report on skin manifestations in this patient population. “We also agree that clinicians should have a low threshold for consulting dermatology. A skin biopsy is minimally invasive and can be important in confirming or refuting that such rashes are truly reflective of thrombotic vasculopathy.”

Dr. Harp, Dr. Droesch and Dr. Garcia-Doval have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Fernandez received funding from the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative at Case Western Reserve University to study skin manifestations of COVID-19.
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Skin eruptions could help physicians identify people with severe COVID-19 who are more likely to develop coagulopathies, new evidence suggests.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork–Presbyterian Medical Center in New York linked livedoid and purpuric skin eruptions to a greater likelihood for occlusive vascular disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a small case series.

These skin signs could augment coagulation assays in this patient population. “Physicians should consider a hematology consult for potential anticoagulation in patients with these skin presentations and severe COVID-19,” senior author Joanna Harp, MD, said in an interview.

“Physicians should also consider D-dimer, fibrinogen, coagulation studies, and a skin biopsy given that there are other diagnoses on the differential as well.”

The research letter was published online on Aug. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.

The findings build on multiple previous reports of skin manifestations associated with COVID-19, including a study of 375 patients in Spain. Among people with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, senior author of the Spanish research, Ignacio Garcia-Doval, MD, PhD, also observed livedoid and necrotic skin eruptions more commonly in severe disease.

“I think that this case series [from Harp and colleagues] confirms the findings of our previous paper – that patients with livedoid or necrotic lesions have a worse prognosis, as these are markers of vascular occlusion,” he said in an interview.

Dr. Harp and colleagues reported their observations with four patients aged 40-80 years. Each had severe COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome and required intubation. Treating clinicians requested a dermatology consult to assess acral fixed livedo racemosa and retiform purpura presentations.

D-dimer levels exceeded 3 mcg/mL in each case. All four patients had a suspected pulmonary embolism within 1-5 days of the dermatologic findings. Prophylactic anticoagulation at admission was changed to therapeutic anticoagulation because of increasing D-dimer levels and the suspected thrombotic events.

“I think that the paper is interesting because it shows the associated histopathological findings and has important clinical implications due to the association with pulmonary embolism,” said Dr. Garcia-Doval, a researcher at the Spanish Academy of Dermatology in Madrid. “These patients should probably be anticoagulated.”
 

Skin biopsy results

Punch biopsies revealed pauci-inflammatory thrombogenic vasculopathy involving capillaries, venules, arterioles, or small arteries.

Livedo racemosa skin findings point to partial occlusion of cutaneous blood vessels, whereas retiform purpura indicate full occlusion of cutaneous blood vessels.

An inability to confirm the exact timing of the onset of the skin rash was a limitation of the study.

“The findings suggest that clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19 should be aware of livedoid and purpuric rashes as potential manifestations of an underlying hypercoagulable state,” the authors noted. “If these skin findings are identified, a skin biopsy should be considered because the result may guide anticoagulation management.”

Observations during an outbreak

The researchers observed these cases between March 13 and April 3, during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York.

“We did see additional cases since our study period. However, it has decreased significantly with the falling number of COVID-19 cases in the city,” said Dr. Harp, a dermatologist at NewYork–Presbyterian.

Another contributing factor in the drop in cases was “implementation of earlier, more aggressive anticoagulation in many of these patients at our institution,” she added.

The investigators plan to continue the research. “We are working on a more formalized study,” lead author Caren Droesch, MD, said in an interview.

“But given very low patient numbers in our area we have not started recruiting patients,” said Dr. Droesch, a resident at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork–Presbyterian at the time of the study. She is now a dermatologist at Mass General Brigham in Wellesley, Mass.
 

Consider a dermatology consult

“This is a small case series of four patients, but mirrors what we have seen at our institution and what others have reported about individual patients around the world,” Anthony Fernandez, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, said in an interview. “The skin, like many other organ systems, can be affected by thrombotic events within the setting of COVID-19 disease.”

As in the current study, Dr. Fernandez observed skin manifestations in people with severe COVID-19 with elevated D-dimer levels. These patients typically require mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, he added.

“As these authors point out, it is important for all clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients to look for these rashes,” said Dr. Fernandez, who coauthored a report on skin manifestations in this patient population. “We also agree that clinicians should have a low threshold for consulting dermatology. A skin biopsy is minimally invasive and can be important in confirming or refuting that such rashes are truly reflective of thrombotic vasculopathy.”

Dr. Harp, Dr. Droesch and Dr. Garcia-Doval have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Fernandez received funding from the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative at Case Western Reserve University to study skin manifestations of COVID-19.
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Skin eruptions could help physicians identify people with severe COVID-19 who are more likely to develop coagulopathies, new evidence suggests.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork–Presbyterian Medical Center in New York linked livedoid and purpuric skin eruptions to a greater likelihood for occlusive vascular disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a small case series.

These skin signs could augment coagulation assays in this patient population. “Physicians should consider a hematology consult for potential anticoagulation in patients with these skin presentations and severe COVID-19,” senior author Joanna Harp, MD, said in an interview.

“Physicians should also consider D-dimer, fibrinogen, coagulation studies, and a skin biopsy given that there are other diagnoses on the differential as well.”

The research letter was published online on Aug. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.

The findings build on multiple previous reports of skin manifestations associated with COVID-19, including a study of 375 patients in Spain. Among people with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, senior author of the Spanish research, Ignacio Garcia-Doval, MD, PhD, also observed livedoid and necrotic skin eruptions more commonly in severe disease.

“I think that this case series [from Harp and colleagues] confirms the findings of our previous paper – that patients with livedoid or necrotic lesions have a worse prognosis, as these are markers of vascular occlusion,” he said in an interview.

Dr. Harp and colleagues reported their observations with four patients aged 40-80 years. Each had severe COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome and required intubation. Treating clinicians requested a dermatology consult to assess acral fixed livedo racemosa and retiform purpura presentations.

D-dimer levels exceeded 3 mcg/mL in each case. All four patients had a suspected pulmonary embolism within 1-5 days of the dermatologic findings. Prophylactic anticoagulation at admission was changed to therapeutic anticoagulation because of increasing D-dimer levels and the suspected thrombotic events.

“I think that the paper is interesting because it shows the associated histopathological findings and has important clinical implications due to the association with pulmonary embolism,” said Dr. Garcia-Doval, a researcher at the Spanish Academy of Dermatology in Madrid. “These patients should probably be anticoagulated.”
 

Skin biopsy results

Punch biopsies revealed pauci-inflammatory thrombogenic vasculopathy involving capillaries, venules, arterioles, or small arteries.

Livedo racemosa skin findings point to partial occlusion of cutaneous blood vessels, whereas retiform purpura indicate full occlusion of cutaneous blood vessels.

An inability to confirm the exact timing of the onset of the skin rash was a limitation of the study.

“The findings suggest that clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19 should be aware of livedoid and purpuric rashes as potential manifestations of an underlying hypercoagulable state,” the authors noted. “If these skin findings are identified, a skin biopsy should be considered because the result may guide anticoagulation management.”

Observations during an outbreak

The researchers observed these cases between March 13 and April 3, during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York.

“We did see additional cases since our study period. However, it has decreased significantly with the falling number of COVID-19 cases in the city,” said Dr. Harp, a dermatologist at NewYork–Presbyterian.

Another contributing factor in the drop in cases was “implementation of earlier, more aggressive anticoagulation in many of these patients at our institution,” she added.

The investigators plan to continue the research. “We are working on a more formalized study,” lead author Caren Droesch, MD, said in an interview.

“But given very low patient numbers in our area we have not started recruiting patients,” said Dr. Droesch, a resident at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork–Presbyterian at the time of the study. She is now a dermatologist at Mass General Brigham in Wellesley, Mass.
 

Consider a dermatology consult

“This is a small case series of four patients, but mirrors what we have seen at our institution and what others have reported about individual patients around the world,” Anthony Fernandez, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, said in an interview. “The skin, like many other organ systems, can be affected by thrombotic events within the setting of COVID-19 disease.”

As in the current study, Dr. Fernandez observed skin manifestations in people with severe COVID-19 with elevated D-dimer levels. These patients typically require mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, he added.

“As these authors point out, it is important for all clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients to look for these rashes,” said Dr. Fernandez, who coauthored a report on skin manifestations in this patient population. “We also agree that clinicians should have a low threshold for consulting dermatology. A skin biopsy is minimally invasive and can be important in confirming or refuting that such rashes are truly reflective of thrombotic vasculopathy.”

Dr. Harp, Dr. Droesch and Dr. Garcia-Doval have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Fernandez received funding from the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative at Case Western Reserve University to study skin manifestations of COVID-19.
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Hospitalists continue to face challenges balancing appropriate management of acute pain in the inpatient setting with responsible opioid prescribing, particularly with the number of inpatients suffering from both pain and substance use disorders continuing to increase nationwide.

During my virtual session, “Inpatient Management in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic,” I will cover best practices on how to balance appropriate management of acute pain with responsible opioid prescribing and will examine which nonopioid analgesics and nonpharmacologic treatments have been demonstrated to be effective for management of acute pain in hospitalized patients, specifically risk-mitigation strategies designed to increase the number of patients to whom we can safely prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Additionally, I will cover best practices in treating the hospitalized patient with chronic pain on long-term opioid therapy and managing acute pain in hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder. Real world patient scenarios will be the basis of the session.

Key points to be covered include the following:

• Tips for effective patient communication around pain management in the hospital.
• Responsible opioid prescribing in opioid naive patients, including time of discharge.
• Risk-mitigation strategies for use of NSAID medications for acute pain, including expanded use in patients with risk of GI complications, cardiovascular complications, and chronic kidney disease.
• Review of effective and available nonopioid and nonpharmacologic treatments for acute pain.
• Best practices in managing acute pain in patients with active opioid use disorder.
• Best practices in managing acute pain in patients with opioid use disorder who are treated with opioid agonists.
• Treatment of opioid use disorder in the hospital setting.

Inpatient management in the era of the opioid epidemic

Live Q&A: Wednesday, August 19, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Dr. Vettese is associate professor in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

Hospitalists continue to face challenges balancing appropriate management of acute pain in the inpatient setting with responsible opioid prescribing, particularly with the number of inpatients suffering from both pain and substance use disorders continuing to increase nationwide.

During my virtual session, “Inpatient Management in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic,” I will cover best practices on how to balance appropriate management of acute pain with responsible opioid prescribing and will examine which nonopioid analgesics and nonpharmacologic treatments have been demonstrated to be effective for management of acute pain in hospitalized patients, specifically risk-mitigation strategies designed to increase the number of patients to whom we can safely prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Additionally, I will cover best practices in treating the hospitalized patient with chronic pain on long-term opioid therapy and managing acute pain in hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder. Real world patient scenarios will be the basis of the session.

Key points to be covered include the following:

• Tips for effective patient communication around pain management in the hospital.
• Responsible opioid prescribing in opioid naive patients, including time of discharge.
• Risk-mitigation strategies for use of NSAID medications for acute pain, including expanded use in patients with risk of GI complications, cardiovascular complications, and chronic kidney disease.
• Review of effective and available nonopioid and nonpharmacologic treatments for acute pain.
• Best practices in managing acute pain in patients with active opioid use disorder.
• Best practices in managing acute pain in patients with opioid use disorder who are treated with opioid agonists.
• Treatment of opioid use disorder in the hospital setting.

Inpatient management in the era of the opioid epidemic

Live Q&A: Wednesday, August 19, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Dr. Vettese is associate professor in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

Hospitalists continue to face challenges balancing appropriate management of acute pain in the inpatient setting with responsible opioid prescribing, particularly with the number of inpatients suffering from both pain and substance use disorders continuing to increase nationwide.

During my virtual session, “Inpatient Management in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic,” I will cover best practices on how to balance appropriate management of acute pain with responsible opioid prescribing and will examine which nonopioid analgesics and nonpharmacologic treatments have been demonstrated to be effective for management of acute pain in hospitalized patients, specifically risk-mitigation strategies designed to increase the number of patients to whom we can safely prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Additionally, I will cover best practices in treating the hospitalized patient with chronic pain on long-term opioid therapy and managing acute pain in hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder. Real world patient scenarios will be the basis of the session.

Key points to be covered include the following:

• Tips for effective patient communication around pain management in the hospital.
• Responsible opioid prescribing in opioid naive patients, including time of discharge.
• Risk-mitigation strategies for use of NSAID medications for acute pain, including expanded use in patients with risk of GI complications, cardiovascular complications, and chronic kidney disease.
• Review of effective and available nonopioid and nonpharmacologic treatments for acute pain.
• Best practices in managing acute pain in patients with active opioid use disorder.
• Best practices in managing acute pain in patients with opioid use disorder who are treated with opioid agonists.
• Treatment of opioid use disorder in the hospital setting.

Inpatient management in the era of the opioid epidemic

Live Q&A: Wednesday, August 19, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Dr. Vettese is associate professor in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

Welcome to the HM20 virtual conference! We’re glad to have you join us to virtually experience sessions from our most popular SHM annual conference tracks including Rapid Fire, Clinical Updates, and High-Value Care! We also have added some new timely topics given our current times that you won’t want to miss. We encourage you to engage with the larger community via social media at #HM20Virtual.

HM20 in San Diego, scheduled originally for April 2020, was trending to be the highest in-person attended SHM annual conference with a fantastic line-up of offerings. Unfortunately, then came our pandemic, or pandemics. In mid-March, the Society of Hospital Medicine board of directors concluded that it was impossible for SHM to move forward with Hospital Medicine 2020 in San Diego because of the continued spread of COVID-19. Canceling the in-person conference during this unprecedented time was the right thing to do. I have valued the SHM leadership team and the larger SHM community for their support in being even more engaged on the front lines and with each other across our world during this time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a systemic challenge for health care systems across the nation. As hospitalists continue to be on the front lines of care and also innovations, organizations have leveraged telemedicine to support their patients, protect their clinicians, and conserve scarce resources. It is hospital medicine that has been on the front lines of change and adaptations and have led in this pandemic in many organizations across the nation and the world.

Unfortunately, known health disparities have also been amplified and there came an acute worsening of the chronic issues in this nation. On March 13, 2020, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot after police forcibly entered her home. Armaud Arbery was shot and killed by armed neighbors while running through a neighborhood in Brunswick, Ga. Then on May 25, 5 miles from where I call home here in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, George Floyd, a 46-year-old father arrested for suspected use of a counterfeit $20 bill, died after police kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes. This pandemic has also shaken up the status quo and laid bare a lot of our country’s long and deep-seated issues – from massive economic inequities to ongoing racial disparities to immigration concerns. It’s woken a lot of our valued hospitalists to the fact that the old ways of doing things just don’t work.

I’m grateful our society has taken steps to speak into these timely topics, and to share via publications, Twitter chats, advocacy items, and more! I want to encourage all of us to use the immense network of our hospitalist communities to comfort each other, learn, grow, and engage. We have not achieved big changes by ourselves. We’ve created valued offerings and innovative changes, and we’ve led on the front lines, in policies and procedures, by doing it together. Meaningful change requires allies in a common cause. We stand with our black and brown brothers and sisters who are particularly attuned to injustice, inequality, and struggle. We in hospital medicine stand up with many others who are struggling, our African American, Latin American, Native American, immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities. This intersection of the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racism pandemic have led us to a pivotal point in the arc of change and justice. I invite you to comfort each other, learn from each other, and act together in this community. To this end we have included timely resources in our HM20 virtual offering on these topics.

This year has been a big transition year. Not only did 2020 usher in a new decade, along with COVID-19 and our double pandemic, SHM has also had important transitions within its senior leadership. We say farewell to Larry Wellikson, MD, who has been at the helm of SHM since the beginning. On behalf of this annual conference, we want to celebrate and thank you, Larry, for your years of dedication and service to SHM. You have taken the specialty of hospital medicine and created a movement in SHM, where the entire hospital medicine team may gather under a bigger tent for education, community, and for the betterment of care for our patients.

We extend a welcome to Eric Howell, MD, who succeeds Dr. Wellikson as SHM’s CEO. We also welcome Danielle Scheurer, MD, as the new SHM president, succeeding the great leadership offered this past year by Christopher Frost, MD. In addition, Jerome C. Siy, MD, was voted president-elect, Dr. Rachel Thompson, MD, was elected treasurer, Kris Rehm, MD, was voted secretary, and Darlene Tad-y, MD, was elected to the board of directors. We welcome these new officers.

HM20 Virtual will consist of prerecorded on-demand sessions that can be viewed at your convenience as well as live Q&A and attendee networking that will take place during specific dates/times. A few of the top-rated sessions from our historically popular tracks include: Update in Clinical Practice Guidelines, Antibiotics Made Ridiculously Simple, Getting to Know Oncology Emergencies, Inpatient Pain Management in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic, Updates in Heart Failure, and Hyponatremia: Don’t Drink the Water. Additionally, we have some of our perennial favorites including the Update in Hospital Medicine and Top Pediatric Articles of 2019. There will be COVID-19 specific content from expertise throughout the nation focusing on care pathways, clinical updates, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and more! To view the HM20 Virtual Opening Session and discover what you can expect in this educational experience, click here.

The Journal of Hospital Medicine has had a large presence in our meetings for many years. We are grateful for Samir Shah, MD, and his leadership during this double pandemic, for identifying areas where we can advance the field responsibly in the face of relatively limited evidence, and rapidly evolving news. As part of his commitment, all JHM articles related to COVID-19 and published during the pandemic are open access. A pre-COVID goal that has been realized during the pandemic was to bring more of the journal into our annual conference and the conference contents into the journal. We are proud to say this has been a great collaboration, particularly during this pandemic, and much thanks to Dr. Shah’s leadership for highlighting timely pieces. Kimberly Manning, MD, had an especially powerful piece on the topic of racism and our double pandemic, and she is a featured speaker during our HM20 Virtual offering, under the same title as her article: “When Grief and Crises Intersect: Perspectives of a Black Physician in the Time of Two Pandemics.” Additionally, Manpreet Malik, MD, and I will be copresenting on a timely topic about the “Immigrant Hospitalist during COVID-19.”

Aside from these sessions for HM20 Virtual, the real can’t miss(es) for the conference are the Research, Innovations, and Clinical Vignette (RIV) posters sessions. I am grateful for the leadership of Stephanie Mueller, MD, who served as chair for this year’s RIV. This unique year has led to the hosting of a virtual poster competition with judging and the opening of a virtual gallery. We are so pleased to be able to share and highlight the work of many of learners and staff hospitalists! I love that a hospitalist on one side of the country can help provide pearls on a case, an innovation, or a research idea that can help improve diagnosis for a patient at the other side of the country. Keep an eye on SHM’s social media and the presentation by Dr. Mueller for announcements of the winners.

A favorite reason many of us attend the annual conference is for the people and community. We wanted to keep this value as we shifted to a virtual offering. Networking will occur through a variety of offerings including Simulive sessions and Special Interest Forums. Simulive sessions will run for 3 weeks from August 11 to August 27. For those of you new to the term, Simulive may sound like a made-up word, but it is an actual amalgamation of a prerecorded webinar and a live interaction (simulated + live = Simulive). Simulive allows the faculty to sit in on their prerecorded session and interact with the audience via the chat feature during the live scheduled recording and spend time afterwards for a live Q&A from the audience.

There will also be over 20 Special Interest Forums hosted in the evenings after these Simulive sessions have concluded to give you a chance to connect with individuals, share experiences, and have meaningful discussions that can directly impact your practice. Samples of the forums include: Diversity and Inclusion, Rural Hospital Medicine, Pediatrics, NP/PA, Perioperative and Comanagement, Health Information Technology, and Point of Care Ultrasound! Take a look at the HM20 registration page for further information. You will receive direct information on how to attend. We encourage you to join!

HM20 also features a virtual 5K! Whether you run on a treadmill or jog in your neighborhood or local park, you can participate in HM20’s Virtual Fun Run or Walk. To participate, simply run your 5K during the weeks of HM20 Virtual and when you’re done, fill out our form to log your time. We encourage you to post a picture on social media as well with #HM20Virtual. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion at the close of HM20 Virtual.

All HM20 Virtual sessions will be available as on-demand after August 31. HM20 virtual offers more than 60 CME hours and over 35 MOC hours that you can claim at your convenience! That’s the most amount of CME and MOC ever offered at SHM for an event! This conference would not be possible without the tireless and relentless effort of SHM staff and leadership, our terrific speakers and faculty, and all the volunteer committee members of SHM. A huge thanks to the Annual Conference Committee who had the charge to develop the content for the Annual Conference, including topics, speakers, and learning objectives. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on this committee for the past 7 years and to lead HM20 this year. Thanks to Brittany Evans, Hayleigh Lawrence, and Michelle Kann for their valued support this past year from an SHM staff perspective; to my assistant course director, Dan Steinberg, MD; and to the immediate past course director, Dustin Smith, MD, for their support.

Once again, we are excited to have you join, and we hope this conference elevates your education in hospital medicine, advances your career, stimulates innovative thinking, and provides you with enduring networking opportunities. We sincerely thank you for attending HM20 Virtual. Welcome!

Dr. Mathews is chief of hospital medicine at Regions Hospital, HealthPartners in St. Paul, Minn., an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and course director of HM20.

Welcome to the HM20 virtual conference! We’re glad to have you join us to virtually experience sessions from our most popular SHM annual conference tracks including Rapid Fire, Clinical Updates, and High-Value Care! We also have added some new timely topics given our current times that you won’t want to miss. We encourage you to engage with the larger community via social media at #HM20Virtual.

HM20 in San Diego, scheduled originally for April 2020, was trending to be the highest in-person attended SHM annual conference with a fantastic line-up of offerings. Unfortunately, then came our pandemic, or pandemics. In mid-March, the Society of Hospital Medicine board of directors concluded that it was impossible for SHM to move forward with Hospital Medicine 2020 in San Diego because of the continued spread of COVID-19. Canceling the in-person conference during this unprecedented time was the right thing to do. I have valued the SHM leadership team and the larger SHM community for their support in being even more engaged on the front lines and with each other across our world during this time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a systemic challenge for health care systems across the nation. As hospitalists continue to be on the front lines of care and also innovations, organizations have leveraged telemedicine to support their patients, protect their clinicians, and conserve scarce resources. It is hospital medicine that has been on the front lines of change and adaptations and have led in this pandemic in many organizations across the nation and the world.

Unfortunately, known health disparities have also been amplified and there came an acute worsening of the chronic issues in this nation. On March 13, 2020, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot after police forcibly entered her home. Armaud Arbery was shot and killed by armed neighbors while running through a neighborhood in Brunswick, Ga. Then on May 25, 5 miles from where I call home here in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, George Floyd, a 46-year-old father arrested for suspected use of a counterfeit $20 bill, died after police kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes. This pandemic has also shaken up the status quo and laid bare a lot of our country’s long and deep-seated issues – from massive economic inequities to ongoing racial disparities to immigration concerns. It’s woken a lot of our valued hospitalists to the fact that the old ways of doing things just don’t work.

I’m grateful our society has taken steps to speak into these timely topics, and to share via publications, Twitter chats, advocacy items, and more! I want to encourage all of us to use the immense network of our hospitalist communities to comfort each other, learn, grow, and engage. We have not achieved big changes by ourselves. We’ve created valued offerings and innovative changes, and we’ve led on the front lines, in policies and procedures, by doing it together. Meaningful change requires allies in a common cause. We stand with our black and brown brothers and sisters who are particularly attuned to injustice, inequality, and struggle. We in hospital medicine stand up with many others who are struggling, our African American, Latin American, Native American, immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities. This intersection of the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racism pandemic have led us to a pivotal point in the arc of change and justice. I invite you to comfort each other, learn from each other, and act together in this community. To this end we have included timely resources in our HM20 virtual offering on these topics.

This year has been a big transition year. Not only did 2020 usher in a new decade, along with COVID-19 and our double pandemic, SHM has also had important transitions within its senior leadership. We say farewell to Larry Wellikson, MD, who has been at the helm of SHM since the beginning. On behalf of this annual conference, we want to celebrate and thank you, Larry, for your years of dedication and service to SHM. You have taken the specialty of hospital medicine and created a movement in SHM, where the entire hospital medicine team may gather under a bigger tent for education, community, and for the betterment of care for our patients.

We extend a welcome to Eric Howell, MD, who succeeds Dr. Wellikson as SHM’s CEO. We also welcome Danielle Scheurer, MD, as the new SHM president, succeeding the great leadership offered this past year by Christopher Frost, MD. In addition, Jerome C. Siy, MD, was voted president-elect, Dr. Rachel Thompson, MD, was elected treasurer, Kris Rehm, MD, was voted secretary, and Darlene Tad-y, MD, was elected to the board of directors. We welcome these new officers.

HM20 Virtual will consist of prerecorded on-demand sessions that can be viewed at your convenience as well as live Q&A and attendee networking that will take place during specific dates/times. A few of the top-rated sessions from our historically popular tracks include: Update in Clinical Practice Guidelines, Antibiotics Made Ridiculously Simple, Getting to Know Oncology Emergencies, Inpatient Pain Management in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic, Updates in Heart Failure, and Hyponatremia: Don’t Drink the Water. Additionally, we have some of our perennial favorites including the Update in Hospital Medicine and Top Pediatric Articles of 2019. There will be COVID-19 specific content from expertise throughout the nation focusing on care pathways, clinical updates, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and more! To view the HM20 Virtual Opening Session and discover what you can expect in this educational experience, click here.

The Journal of Hospital Medicine has had a large presence in our meetings for many years. We are grateful for Samir Shah, MD, and his leadership during this double pandemic, for identifying areas where we can advance the field responsibly in the face of relatively limited evidence, and rapidly evolving news. As part of his commitment, all JHM articles related to COVID-19 and published during the pandemic are open access. A pre-COVID goal that has been realized during the pandemic was to bring more of the journal into our annual conference and the conference contents into the journal. We are proud to say this has been a great collaboration, particularly during this pandemic, and much thanks to Dr. Shah’s leadership for highlighting timely pieces. Kimberly Manning, MD, had an especially powerful piece on the topic of racism and our double pandemic, and she is a featured speaker during our HM20 Virtual offering, under the same title as her article: “When Grief and Crises Intersect: Perspectives of a Black Physician in the Time of Two Pandemics.” Additionally, Manpreet Malik, MD, and I will be copresenting on a timely topic about the “Immigrant Hospitalist during COVID-19.”

Aside from these sessions for HM20 Virtual, the real can’t miss(es) for the conference are the Research, Innovations, and Clinical Vignette (RIV) posters sessions. I am grateful for the leadership of Stephanie Mueller, MD, who served as chair for this year’s RIV. This unique year has led to the hosting of a virtual poster competition with judging and the opening of a virtual gallery. We are so pleased to be able to share and highlight the work of many of learners and staff hospitalists! I love that a hospitalist on one side of the country can help provide pearls on a case, an innovation, or a research idea that can help improve diagnosis for a patient at the other side of the country. Keep an eye on SHM’s social media and the presentation by Dr. Mueller for announcements of the winners.

A favorite reason many of us attend the annual conference is for the people and community. We wanted to keep this value as we shifted to a virtual offering. Networking will occur through a variety of offerings including Simulive sessions and Special Interest Forums. Simulive sessions will run for 3 weeks from August 11 to August 27. For those of you new to the term, Simulive may sound like a made-up word, but it is an actual amalgamation of a prerecorded webinar and a live interaction (simulated + live = Simulive). Simulive allows the faculty to sit in on their prerecorded session and interact with the audience via the chat feature during the live scheduled recording and spend time afterwards for a live Q&A from the audience.

There will also be over 20 Special Interest Forums hosted in the evenings after these Simulive sessions have concluded to give you a chance to connect with individuals, share experiences, and have meaningful discussions that can directly impact your practice. Samples of the forums include: Diversity and Inclusion, Rural Hospital Medicine, Pediatrics, NP/PA, Perioperative and Comanagement, Health Information Technology, and Point of Care Ultrasound! Take a look at the HM20 registration page for further information. You will receive direct information on how to attend. We encourage you to join!

HM20 also features a virtual 5K! Whether you run on a treadmill or jog in your neighborhood or local park, you can participate in HM20’s Virtual Fun Run or Walk. To participate, simply run your 5K during the weeks of HM20 Virtual and when you’re done, fill out our form to log your time. We encourage you to post a picture on social media as well with #HM20Virtual. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion at the close of HM20 Virtual.

All HM20 Virtual sessions will be available as on-demand after August 31. HM20 virtual offers more than 60 CME hours and over 35 MOC hours that you can claim at your convenience! That’s the most amount of CME and MOC ever offered at SHM for an event! This conference would not be possible without the tireless and relentless effort of SHM staff and leadership, our terrific speakers and faculty, and all the volunteer committee members of SHM. A huge thanks to the Annual Conference Committee who had the charge to develop the content for the Annual Conference, including topics, speakers, and learning objectives. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on this committee for the past 7 years and to lead HM20 this year. Thanks to Brittany Evans, Hayleigh Lawrence, and Michelle Kann for their valued support this past year from an SHM staff perspective; to my assistant course director, Dan Steinberg, MD; and to the immediate past course director, Dustin Smith, MD, for their support.

Once again, we are excited to have you join, and we hope this conference elevates your education in hospital medicine, advances your career, stimulates innovative thinking, and provides you with enduring networking opportunities. We sincerely thank you for attending HM20 Virtual. Welcome!

Dr. Mathews is chief of hospital medicine at Regions Hospital, HealthPartners in St. Paul, Minn., an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and course director of HM20.

Welcome to the HM20 virtual conference! We’re glad to have you join us to virtually experience sessions from our most popular SHM annual conference tracks including Rapid Fire, Clinical Updates, and High-Value Care! We also have added some new timely topics given our current times that you won’t want to miss. We encourage you to engage with the larger community via social media at #HM20Virtual.

HM20 in San Diego, scheduled originally for April 2020, was trending to be the highest in-person attended SHM annual conference with a fantastic line-up of offerings. Unfortunately, then came our pandemic, or pandemics. In mid-March, the Society of Hospital Medicine board of directors concluded that it was impossible for SHM to move forward with Hospital Medicine 2020 in San Diego because of the continued spread of COVID-19. Canceling the in-person conference during this unprecedented time was the right thing to do. I have valued the SHM leadership team and the larger SHM community for their support in being even more engaged on the front lines and with each other across our world during this time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a systemic challenge for health care systems across the nation. As hospitalists continue to be on the front lines of care and also innovations, organizations have leveraged telemedicine to support their patients, protect their clinicians, and conserve scarce resources. It is hospital medicine that has been on the front lines of change and adaptations and have led in this pandemic in many organizations across the nation and the world.

Unfortunately, known health disparities have also been amplified and there came an acute worsening of the chronic issues in this nation. On March 13, 2020, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot after police forcibly entered her home. Armaud Arbery was shot and killed by armed neighbors while running through a neighborhood in Brunswick, Ga. Then on May 25, 5 miles from where I call home here in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, George Floyd, a 46-year-old father arrested for suspected use of a counterfeit $20 bill, died after police kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes. This pandemic has also shaken up the status quo and laid bare a lot of our country’s long and deep-seated issues – from massive economic inequities to ongoing racial disparities to immigration concerns. It’s woken a lot of our valued hospitalists to the fact that the old ways of doing things just don’t work.

I’m grateful our society has taken steps to speak into these timely topics, and to share via publications, Twitter chats, advocacy items, and more! I want to encourage all of us to use the immense network of our hospitalist communities to comfort each other, learn, grow, and engage. We have not achieved big changes by ourselves. We’ve created valued offerings and innovative changes, and we’ve led on the front lines, in policies and procedures, by doing it together. Meaningful change requires allies in a common cause. We stand with our black and brown brothers and sisters who are particularly attuned to injustice, inequality, and struggle. We in hospital medicine stand up with many others who are struggling, our African American, Latin American, Native American, immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities. This intersection of the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racism pandemic have led us to a pivotal point in the arc of change and justice. I invite you to comfort each other, learn from each other, and act together in this community. To this end we have included timely resources in our HM20 virtual offering on these topics.

This year has been a big transition year. Not only did 2020 usher in a new decade, along with COVID-19 and our double pandemic, SHM has also had important transitions within its senior leadership. We say farewell to Larry Wellikson, MD, who has been at the helm of SHM since the beginning. On behalf of this annual conference, we want to celebrate and thank you, Larry, for your years of dedication and service to SHM. You have taken the specialty of hospital medicine and created a movement in SHM, where the entire hospital medicine team may gather under a bigger tent for education, community, and for the betterment of care for our patients.

We extend a welcome to Eric Howell, MD, who succeeds Dr. Wellikson as SHM’s CEO. We also welcome Danielle Scheurer, MD, as the new SHM president, succeeding the great leadership offered this past year by Christopher Frost, MD. In addition, Jerome C. Siy, MD, was voted president-elect, Dr. Rachel Thompson, MD, was elected treasurer, Kris Rehm, MD, was voted secretary, and Darlene Tad-y, MD, was elected to the board of directors. We welcome these new officers.

HM20 Virtual will consist of prerecorded on-demand sessions that can be viewed at your convenience as well as live Q&A and attendee networking that will take place during specific dates/times. A few of the top-rated sessions from our historically popular tracks include: Update in Clinical Practice Guidelines, Antibiotics Made Ridiculously Simple, Getting to Know Oncology Emergencies, Inpatient Pain Management in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic, Updates in Heart Failure, and Hyponatremia: Don’t Drink the Water. Additionally, we have some of our perennial favorites including the Update in Hospital Medicine and Top Pediatric Articles of 2019. There will be COVID-19 specific content from expertise throughout the nation focusing on care pathways, clinical updates, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and more! To view the HM20 Virtual Opening Session and discover what you can expect in this educational experience, click here.

The Journal of Hospital Medicine has had a large presence in our meetings for many years. We are grateful for Samir Shah, MD, and his leadership during this double pandemic, for identifying areas where we can advance the field responsibly in the face of relatively limited evidence, and rapidly evolving news. As part of his commitment, all JHM articles related to COVID-19 and published during the pandemic are open access. A pre-COVID goal that has been realized during the pandemic was to bring more of the journal into our annual conference and the conference contents into the journal. We are proud to say this has been a great collaboration, particularly during this pandemic, and much thanks to Dr. Shah’s leadership for highlighting timely pieces. Kimberly Manning, MD, had an especially powerful piece on the topic of racism and our double pandemic, and she is a featured speaker during our HM20 Virtual offering, under the same title as her article: “When Grief and Crises Intersect: Perspectives of a Black Physician in the Time of Two Pandemics.” Additionally, Manpreet Malik, MD, and I will be copresenting on a timely topic about the “Immigrant Hospitalist during COVID-19.”

Aside from these sessions for HM20 Virtual, the real can’t miss(es) for the conference are the Research, Innovations, and Clinical Vignette (RIV) posters sessions. I am grateful for the leadership of Stephanie Mueller, MD, who served as chair for this year’s RIV. This unique year has led to the hosting of a virtual poster competition with judging and the opening of a virtual gallery. We are so pleased to be able to share and highlight the work of many of learners and staff hospitalists! I love that a hospitalist on one side of the country can help provide pearls on a case, an innovation, or a research idea that can help improve diagnosis for a patient at the other side of the country. Keep an eye on SHM’s social media and the presentation by Dr. Mueller for announcements of the winners.

A favorite reason many of us attend the annual conference is for the people and community. We wanted to keep this value as we shifted to a virtual offering. Networking will occur through a variety of offerings including Simulive sessions and Special Interest Forums. Simulive sessions will run for 3 weeks from August 11 to August 27. For those of you new to the term, Simulive may sound like a made-up word, but it is an actual amalgamation of a prerecorded webinar and a live interaction (simulated + live = Simulive). Simulive allows the faculty to sit in on their prerecorded session and interact with the audience via the chat feature during the live scheduled recording and spend time afterwards for a live Q&A from the audience.

There will also be over 20 Special Interest Forums hosted in the evenings after these Simulive sessions have concluded to give you a chance to connect with individuals, share experiences, and have meaningful discussions that can directly impact your practice. Samples of the forums include: Diversity and Inclusion, Rural Hospital Medicine, Pediatrics, NP/PA, Perioperative and Comanagement, Health Information Technology, and Point of Care Ultrasound! Take a look at the HM20 registration page for further information. You will receive direct information on how to attend. We encourage you to join!

HM20 also features a virtual 5K! Whether you run on a treadmill or jog in your neighborhood or local park, you can participate in HM20’s Virtual Fun Run or Walk. To participate, simply run your 5K during the weeks of HM20 Virtual and when you’re done, fill out our form to log your time. We encourage you to post a picture on social media as well with #HM20Virtual. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion at the close of HM20 Virtual.

All HM20 Virtual sessions will be available as on-demand after August 31. HM20 virtual offers more than 60 CME hours and over 35 MOC hours that you can claim at your convenience! That’s the most amount of CME and MOC ever offered at SHM for an event! This conference would not be possible without the tireless and relentless effort of SHM staff and leadership, our terrific speakers and faculty, and all the volunteer committee members of SHM. A huge thanks to the Annual Conference Committee who had the charge to develop the content for the Annual Conference, including topics, speakers, and learning objectives. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on this committee for the past 7 years and to lead HM20 this year. Thanks to Brittany Evans, Hayleigh Lawrence, and Michelle Kann for their valued support this past year from an SHM staff perspective; to my assistant course director, Dan Steinberg, MD; and to the immediate past course director, Dustin Smith, MD, for their support.

Once again, we are excited to have you join, and we hope this conference elevates your education in hospital medicine, advances your career, stimulates innovative thinking, and provides you with enduring networking opportunities. We sincerely thank you for attending HM20 Virtual. Welcome!

Dr. Mathews is chief of hospital medicine at Regions Hospital, HealthPartners in St. Paul, Minn., an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and course director of HM20.

First responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, who have cognitive impairment show cortical thinning across multiple brain regions, including those commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease, suggest results from the first structural neuroimaging study conducted in this population. The study clarifies that a neurodegenerative condition is present in first responders who experience cognitive impairment in midlife, which “is incredibly important to know,” said lead author Sean Clouston, PhD, of Stony Brook (N.Y.) University.

The findings were presented at the virtual annual meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and were published online in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring.
 

Brain atrophy in midlife

During the 9/11 attack and in its aftermath, WTC responders were exposed to a range of inhaled neurotoxicants, as well as extreme psychosocial stressors. A growing number of WTC responders who are now in their 50s and early 60s are experiencing early cognitive impairment.

Using MRI, the investigators examined cortical thickness (CTX), a surrogate marker for neurodegeneration, in 99 mostly male WTC responders; 48 had cognitive impairment, and 51 did not. The age range of the participants was 45 to 65 years, a range during which cortical atrophy is uncommon in the general population, the researchers noted.

Compared with cognitively normal responders, those with cognitive impairment were found to have reductions in CTX across the whole brain and across 21 of 34 cortical regions, including frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

In both cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired WTC responders, CTX was reduced in the entorhinal and temporal cortices compared with normative data, but reductions were greater with cognitive impairment. Posttraumatic distress disorder (PTSD) status was not predictive of a reduction in CTX across groups.

Dr. Clouston said the level of reduction in CTX in many responders is similar to that commonly found in patients with dementia and may reflect early-stage dementia occurring in midlife.

Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the cross-sectional design, the unique nature of the exposure, and a lack of a non-WTC external control group.
 

‘Illuminating’ study

Keith N. Fargo, PhD, director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association, called the findings “interesting and illuminating” but cautioned that it is not possible to show cause and effect with this type of study.

“We also don’t know when cortical thinning might have started or how quickly it might be progressing,” Dr. Fargo said in an interview.

He noted that the pattern of cortical thinning is “somewhat consistent with what we see among people who live with high levels of air pollution, which is an emerging risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.”

The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care added air pollution to its list of modifiable risk factors for dementia, which was recently updated.

Clinicians “need to be aware that their middle-aged 9/11 first responders are at a higher risk level for cognitive impairment, as well as PTSD and depression,” Dr. Fargo said.

The study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Clouston and Dr. Fargo have reported no relevant financial relationships.
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

First responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, who have cognitive impairment show cortical thinning across multiple brain regions, including those commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease, suggest results from the first structural neuroimaging study conducted in this population. The study clarifies that a neurodegenerative condition is present in first responders who experience cognitive impairment in midlife, which “is incredibly important to know,” said lead author Sean Clouston, PhD, of Stony Brook (N.Y.) University.

The findings were presented at the virtual annual meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and were published online in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring.
 

Brain atrophy in midlife

During the 9/11 attack and in its aftermath, WTC responders were exposed to a range of inhaled neurotoxicants, as well as extreme psychosocial stressors. A growing number of WTC responders who are now in their 50s and early 60s are experiencing early cognitive impairment.

Using MRI, the investigators examined cortical thickness (CTX), a surrogate marker for neurodegeneration, in 99 mostly male WTC responders; 48 had cognitive impairment, and 51 did not. The age range of the participants was 45 to 65 years, a range during which cortical atrophy is uncommon in the general population, the researchers noted.

Compared with cognitively normal responders, those with cognitive impairment were found to have reductions in CTX across the whole brain and across 21 of 34 cortical regions, including frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

In both cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired WTC responders, CTX was reduced in the entorhinal and temporal cortices compared with normative data, but reductions were greater with cognitive impairment. Posttraumatic distress disorder (PTSD) status was not predictive of a reduction in CTX across groups.

Dr. Clouston said the level of reduction in CTX in many responders is similar to that commonly found in patients with dementia and may reflect early-stage dementia occurring in midlife.

Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the cross-sectional design, the unique nature of the exposure, and a lack of a non-WTC external control group.
 

‘Illuminating’ study

Keith N. Fargo, PhD, director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association, called the findings “interesting and illuminating” but cautioned that it is not possible to show cause and effect with this type of study.

“We also don’t know when cortical thinning might have started or how quickly it might be progressing,” Dr. Fargo said in an interview.

He noted that the pattern of cortical thinning is “somewhat consistent with what we see among people who live with high levels of air pollution, which is an emerging risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.”

The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care added air pollution to its list of modifiable risk factors for dementia, which was recently updated.

Clinicians “need to be aware that their middle-aged 9/11 first responders are at a higher risk level for cognitive impairment, as well as PTSD and depression,” Dr. Fargo said.

The study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Clouston and Dr. Fargo have reported no relevant financial relationships.
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

First responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, who have cognitive impairment show cortical thinning across multiple brain regions, including those commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease, suggest results from the first structural neuroimaging study conducted in this population. The study clarifies that a neurodegenerative condition is present in first responders who experience cognitive impairment in midlife, which “is incredibly important to know,” said lead author Sean Clouston, PhD, of Stony Brook (N.Y.) University.

The findings were presented at the virtual annual meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and were published online in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring.
 

Brain atrophy in midlife

During the 9/11 attack and in its aftermath, WTC responders were exposed to a range of inhaled neurotoxicants, as well as extreme psychosocial stressors. A growing number of WTC responders who are now in their 50s and early 60s are experiencing early cognitive impairment.

Using MRI, the investigators examined cortical thickness (CTX), a surrogate marker for neurodegeneration, in 99 mostly male WTC responders; 48 had cognitive impairment, and 51 did not. The age range of the participants was 45 to 65 years, a range during which cortical atrophy is uncommon in the general population, the researchers noted.

Compared with cognitively normal responders, those with cognitive impairment were found to have reductions in CTX across the whole brain and across 21 of 34 cortical regions, including frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

In both cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired WTC responders, CTX was reduced in the entorhinal and temporal cortices compared with normative data, but reductions were greater with cognitive impairment. Posttraumatic distress disorder (PTSD) status was not predictive of a reduction in CTX across groups.

Dr. Clouston said the level of reduction in CTX in many responders is similar to that commonly found in patients with dementia and may reflect early-stage dementia occurring in midlife.

Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the cross-sectional design, the unique nature of the exposure, and a lack of a non-WTC external control group.
 

‘Illuminating’ study

Keith N. Fargo, PhD, director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association, called the findings “interesting and illuminating” but cautioned that it is not possible to show cause and effect with this type of study.

“We also don’t know when cortical thinning might have started or how quickly it might be progressing,” Dr. Fargo said in an interview.

He noted that the pattern of cortical thinning is “somewhat consistent with what we see among people who live with high levels of air pollution, which is an emerging risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.”

The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care added air pollution to its list of modifiable risk factors for dementia, which was recently updated.

Clinicians “need to be aware that their middle-aged 9/11 first responders are at a higher risk level for cognitive impairment, as well as PTSD and depression,” Dr. Fargo said.

The study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Clouston and Dr. Fargo have reported no relevant financial relationships.
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Background: Studies have demonstrated the increased risk for ischemic stroke in patients diagnosed with acute PE, and data support the mechanism of paradoxical embolism via PFO. However, the frequency of this phenomenon is unknown and the strength of the association between PFO and ischemic stroke in patients with PE is unclear.

This study adds to the growing body of data which supports the association of ischemic stroke with PFO and PE. Given the moderate indication for indefinite anticoagulation in patients at high risk for recurrent PE and stroke, there may be a role for screening for PFO in patients with acute PE so that they can be appropriately risk stratified.

Bottom line: The presence of ischemic stroke in patients with acute pulmonary embolism is high, and there is a strong association with PFO.

Citation: Le Moigne E et al. Patent Foramen Ovale and Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism: A Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170:756-63.
 

Dr. McIntyre is a hospitalist at Ochsner Health System, New Orleans.

Background: Studies have demonstrated the increased risk for ischemic stroke in patients diagnosed with acute PE, and data support the mechanism of paradoxical embolism via PFO. However, the frequency of this phenomenon is unknown and the strength of the association between PFO and ischemic stroke in patients with PE is unclear.

This study adds to the growing body of data which supports the association of ischemic stroke with PFO and PE. Given the moderate indication for indefinite anticoagulation in patients at high risk for recurrent PE and stroke, there may be a role for screening for PFO in patients with acute PE so that they can be appropriately risk stratified.

Bottom line: The presence of ischemic stroke in patients with acute pulmonary embolism is high, and there is a strong association with PFO.

Citation: Le Moigne E et al. Patent Foramen Ovale and Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism: A Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170:756-63.
 

Dr. McIntyre is a hospitalist at Ochsner Health System, New Orleans.

Background: Studies have demonstrated the increased risk for ischemic stroke in patients diagnosed with acute PE, and data support the mechanism of paradoxical embolism via PFO. However, the frequency of this phenomenon is unknown and the strength of the association between PFO and ischemic stroke in patients with PE is unclear.

This study adds to the growing body of data which supports the association of ischemic stroke with PFO and PE. Given the moderate indication for indefinite anticoagulation in patients at high risk for recurrent PE and stroke, there may be a role for screening for PFO in patients with acute PE so that they can be appropriately risk stratified.

Bottom line: The presence of ischemic stroke in patients with acute pulmonary embolism is high, and there is a strong association with PFO.

Citation: Le Moigne E et al. Patent Foramen Ovale and Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism: A Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170:756-63.
 

Dr. McIntyre is a hospitalist at Ochsner Health System, New Orleans.

Over the last several decades science has fallen off this country’s radar screen. Yes, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has recently had a brief moment in the spotlight as a buzzword de jour. But the critical importance of careful and systematic investigation into the world around us using observation and trial and error is a tough sell to a large segment of our population.

SDI Productions/iStock/Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic is providing an excellent opportunity for science and medicine to showcase their star qualities. Of course some people in leadership positions persist in disregarding the value of scientific investigation. But I get the feeling that the fear generated by the pandemic is creating some converts among many previous science skeptics. This gathering enthusiasm among the general population is a predictably slow process because that’s the way science works. It often doesn’t provide quick answers. And it is difficult for the nonscientist to see the beauty in the reality that the things we thought were true 2 months ago are likely to be proven wrong today as more observations accumulate.

Unfortunately, even in this time of renewal, science and medicine continue to generate a bumper crop of bad apples. A recent New York Times article examines the career of one such unscrupulous physician/scientist whose recent exploits threaten to undo much of the positive image the pandemic has cast on science (“The Doctor Behind the Disputed Covid Data,” by Ellen Gabler and Roni Caryn Rabin, The New York Times, July 27, 2020). The subject of the article is the physician who was responsible for providing some of the large data sets on which several papers were published about the apparent ineffectiveness and danger of using hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients. The authenticity of the data sets recently has been seriously questioned, and the articles have been retracted by the journals in which they had appeared.

Based on numerous interviews with coworkers, the Times reporters present a strong case that this individual’s long history of unreliability make his association with allegedly fraudulent data set not surprising but maybe even predictable. At one point in his training, there appears to have been serious questions about advancing the physician to the next level. Despite these concerns, he was allowed to continue and complete his specialty training. It is of note that in his last year of clinical practice, the physician became the subject of three serious malpractice claims that question his competence.

I suspect that some of you have crossed paths with physicians whose competence and/or moral character you found concerning. Were they peers? Were you the individual’s supervisor or was he or she your mentor? How did you respond? Did anyone respond at all?

There has been a lot written and said in recent months about how and when to respond to respond to sexual harassment in the workplace. But I don’t recall reading any articles that discuss how one should respond to incompetence. Of course competency can be a relative term, but in most cases significant incompetence is hard to miss because it tends to be repeated.

It is easy for the airports and subway systems to post signs that say “If you see something say something.” It’s a different story for hospitals and medical schools that may have systems in place for reporting and following up on poor practice. But my sense is that there are too many cases that slip through the cracks.

This is another example of a problem for which I don’t have a solution. However, if this column prompts just one of you who sees something to say something then I have had a good day.
 

Dr. Wilkoff practiced primary care pediatrics in Brunswick, Maine, for nearly 40 years. He has authored several books on behavioral pediatrics, including “How to Say No to Your Toddler.” Email him at pdnews@mdedge.com.

Over the last several decades science has fallen off this country’s radar screen. Yes, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has recently had a brief moment in the spotlight as a buzzword de jour. But the critical importance of careful and systematic investigation into the world around us using observation and trial and error is a tough sell to a large segment of our population.

SDI Productions/iStock/Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic is providing an excellent opportunity for science and medicine to showcase their star qualities. Of course some people in leadership positions persist in disregarding the value of scientific investigation. But I get the feeling that the fear generated by the pandemic is creating some converts among many previous science skeptics. This gathering enthusiasm among the general population is a predictably slow process because that’s the way science works. It often doesn’t provide quick answers. And it is difficult for the nonscientist to see the beauty in the reality that the things we thought were true 2 months ago are likely to be proven wrong today as more observations accumulate.

Unfortunately, even in this time of renewal, science and medicine continue to generate a bumper crop of bad apples. A recent New York Times article examines the career of one such unscrupulous physician/scientist whose recent exploits threaten to undo much of the positive image the pandemic has cast on science (“The Doctor Behind the Disputed Covid Data,” by Ellen Gabler and Roni Caryn Rabin, The New York Times, July 27, 2020). The subject of the article is the physician who was responsible for providing some of the large data sets on which several papers were published about the apparent ineffectiveness and danger of using hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients. The authenticity of the data sets recently has been seriously questioned, and the articles have been retracted by the journals in which they had appeared.

Based on numerous interviews with coworkers, the Times reporters present a strong case that this individual’s long history of unreliability make his association with allegedly fraudulent data set not surprising but maybe even predictable. At one point in his training, there appears to have been serious questions about advancing the physician to the next level. Despite these concerns, he was allowed to continue and complete his specialty training. It is of note that in his last year of clinical practice, the physician became the subject of three serious malpractice claims that question his competence.

I suspect that some of you have crossed paths with physicians whose competence and/or moral character you found concerning. Were they peers? Were you the individual’s supervisor or was he or she your mentor? How did you respond? Did anyone respond at all?

There has been a lot written and said in recent months about how and when to respond to respond to sexual harassment in the workplace. But I don’t recall reading any articles that discuss how one should respond to incompetence. Of course competency can be a relative term, but in most cases significant incompetence is hard to miss because it tends to be repeated.

It is easy for the airports and subway systems to post signs that say “If you see something say something.” It’s a different story for hospitals and medical schools that may have systems in place for reporting and following up on poor practice. But my sense is that there are too many cases that slip through the cracks.

This is another example of a problem for which I don’t have a solution. However, if this column prompts just one of you who sees something to say something then I have had a good day.
 

Dr. Wilkoff practiced primary care pediatrics in Brunswick, Maine, for nearly 40 years. He has authored several books on behavioral pediatrics, including “How to Say No to Your Toddler.” Email him at pdnews@mdedge.com.

Over the last several decades science has fallen off this country’s radar screen. Yes, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has recently had a brief moment in the spotlight as a buzzword de jour. But the critical importance of careful and systematic investigation into the world around us using observation and trial and error is a tough sell to a large segment of our population.

SDI Productions/iStock/Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic is providing an excellent opportunity for science and medicine to showcase their star qualities. Of course some people in leadership positions persist in disregarding the value of scientific investigation. But I get the feeling that the fear generated by the pandemic is creating some converts among many previous science skeptics. This gathering enthusiasm among the general population is a predictably slow process because that’s the way science works. It often doesn’t provide quick answers. And it is difficult for the nonscientist to see the beauty in the reality that the things we thought were true 2 months ago are likely to be proven wrong today as more observations accumulate.

Unfortunately, even in this time of renewal, science and medicine continue to generate a bumper crop of bad apples. A recent New York Times article examines the career of one such unscrupulous physician/scientist whose recent exploits threaten to undo much of the positive image the pandemic has cast on science (“The Doctor Behind the Disputed Covid Data,” by Ellen Gabler and Roni Caryn Rabin, The New York Times, July 27, 2020). The subject of the article is the physician who was responsible for providing some of the large data sets on which several papers were published about the apparent ineffectiveness and danger of using hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients. The authenticity of the data sets recently has been seriously questioned, and the articles have been retracted by the journals in which they had appeared.

Based on numerous interviews with coworkers, the Times reporters present a strong case that this individual’s long history of unreliability make his association with allegedly fraudulent data set not surprising but maybe even predictable. At one point in his training, there appears to have been serious questions about advancing the physician to the next level. Despite these concerns, he was allowed to continue and complete his specialty training. It is of note that in his last year of clinical practice, the physician became the subject of three serious malpractice claims that question his competence.

I suspect that some of you have crossed paths with physicians whose competence and/or moral character you found concerning. Were they peers? Were you the individual’s supervisor or was he or she your mentor? How did you respond? Did anyone respond at all?

There has been a lot written and said in recent months about how and when to respond to respond to sexual harassment in the workplace. But I don’t recall reading any articles that discuss how one should respond to incompetence. Of course competency can be a relative term, but in most cases significant incompetence is hard to miss because it tends to be repeated.

It is easy for the airports and subway systems to post signs that say “If you see something say something.” It’s a different story for hospitals and medical schools that may have systems in place for reporting and following up on poor practice. But my sense is that there are too many cases that slip through the cracks.

This is another example of a problem for which I don’t have a solution. However, if this column prompts just one of you who sees something to say something then I have had a good day.
 

Dr. Wilkoff practiced primary care pediatrics in Brunswick, Maine, for nearly 40 years. He has authored several books on behavioral pediatrics, including “How to Say No to Your Toddler.” Email him at pdnews@mdedge.com.

The Trump administration is sticking with a plan to boost certain Medicare pay for many primary care and other specialties focused heavily on office visits while lowering that for other groups to balance these increased costs.

On Aug. 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted on the Federal Register draft versions of two of its major annual payment measures: the physician fee schedule and the payment rule for hospital outpatient services. On Aug. 3, the CMS informally posted a copy of the physician fee schedule on its own website, allowing medical groups to begin reading the more than 1,300-page rule.

Federal officials normally use annual Medicare payment rules to make many revisions to policies as well as adjust reimbursement.

The draft 2021 physician fee schedule, for example, calls for broadening the authority of clinicians other than physicians to authorize testing of people enrolled in Medicare.

The CMS intends to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certain other health care professionals to more widely supervise diagnostic psychological and neuropsychological tests, in keeping with applicable state laws.

The draft 2021 hospital outpatient rule proposes a gradual changeover to allow more procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis. This shift could save money for Medicare as well as for the people enrolled in the giant federal health program who need these services, the CMS explained.

Medicare would begin with a change in status for almost 300 musculoskeletal-related services, making them eligible for payment in the hospital outpatient setting when appropriate, CMS wrote in a fact sheet.

The initial reaction to Medicare’s proposed 2021 rules centered on its planned redistribution of funds among medical specialties. The CMS had outlined this plan last year. It is part of longstanding efforts to boost pay for primary care specialists and other physicians whose practice centers more around office visits than procedures.

There is broad support in health policy circles for raising pay for these specialties, but there also are strong objections to the cuts the CMS plans to offset the cost of rising pay for some fields.

Susan R. Bailey, MD, president of the American Medical Association, addressed both of these ideas in an AMA news release on the proposed 2021 physician fee schedule. The increase in pay for office visits, covered under evaluation and management services (E/M), stems from recommendations on resource costs from the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee, Dr. Bailey said.

“Unfortunately, these office visit payment increases, and a multitude of other new CMS proposed payment increases, are required by statute to be offset by payment reductions to other services, through an unsustainable reduction of nearly 11% to the Medicare conversion factor,” Dr. Bailey explained.

In the news release, Dr. Bailey asked Congress to waive Medicare’s budget-neutrality requirements to allow increases without the cuts.

“Physicians are already experiencing substantial economic hardships due to COVID-19, so these pay cuts could not come at a worse time,” she said.

Winners and losers

The CMS details the possible winners and losers in its payment reshuffle in Table 90 of the proposed 2021 physician fee schedule. In the proposed rule, CMS notes in the draft that these figures are based upon estimates of aggregate allowed charges across all services furnished by physicians and other clinicians.

“Therefore, they are averages, and may not necessarily be representative of what is happening to the particular services furnished by a single practitioner within any given specialty,” the CMS said.

Specialties in line for increases under the 2021 draft rule include allergy/immunology (9%), endocrinology (17%), family practice (13%), general practice (8%), geriatrics (4%), hematology/oncology (14%), internal medicine (4%), nephrology (6%), physician assistants (8%), psychiatry (8%), rheumatology (16%), and urology (8%).

In line for cuts would be anesthesiology (–8%), cardiac surgery (–9%), emergency medicine (–6%), general surgery (–7%), infectious disease (–4%), neurosurgery (–7%), physical/occupational therapy (–9%), plastic surgery (–7%), radiology (–11%), and thoracic surgery (–8%).

An umbrella group, the Surgical Care Coalition, on Aug. 3 had a quick statement ready about the CMS proposal. Writing on behalf of the group was David B. Hoyt, MD, executive director of the American College of Surgeons.

“Today’s proposed rule ignores both patients and the surgeons who care for them. The middle of a pandemic is no time for cuts to any form of health care, but today’s announcement moves ahead as if nothing has changed,” Hoyt said in the statement. “The Surgical Care Coalition believes no physician should see payment cuts that will reduce patients’ access to care.”

The Surgical Care Coalition already has been asking Congress to waive budget-neutrality requirements. Making a similar request Aug. 4 in a unified statement were the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

“Our organizations call on Congress and CMS to advance well-reasoned fee schedule payment policies and waive budget neutrality,” the groups said. “While APTA, AOTA, and ASHA do not oppose payment increases for primary care physicians, we believe these increases can be implemented without imposing payment reductions on other providers.”
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

The Trump administration is sticking with a plan to boost certain Medicare pay for many primary care and other specialties focused heavily on office visits while lowering that for other groups to balance these increased costs.

On Aug. 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted on the Federal Register draft versions of two of its major annual payment measures: the physician fee schedule and the payment rule for hospital outpatient services. On Aug. 3, the CMS informally posted a copy of the physician fee schedule on its own website, allowing medical groups to begin reading the more than 1,300-page rule.

Federal officials normally use annual Medicare payment rules to make many revisions to policies as well as adjust reimbursement.

The draft 2021 physician fee schedule, for example, calls for broadening the authority of clinicians other than physicians to authorize testing of people enrolled in Medicare.

The CMS intends to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certain other health care professionals to more widely supervise diagnostic psychological and neuropsychological tests, in keeping with applicable state laws.

The draft 2021 hospital outpatient rule proposes a gradual changeover to allow more procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis. This shift could save money for Medicare as well as for the people enrolled in the giant federal health program who need these services, the CMS explained.

Medicare would begin with a change in status for almost 300 musculoskeletal-related services, making them eligible for payment in the hospital outpatient setting when appropriate, CMS wrote in a fact sheet.

The initial reaction to Medicare’s proposed 2021 rules centered on its planned redistribution of funds among medical specialties. The CMS had outlined this plan last year. It is part of longstanding efforts to boost pay for primary care specialists and other physicians whose practice centers more around office visits than procedures.

There is broad support in health policy circles for raising pay for these specialties, but there also are strong objections to the cuts the CMS plans to offset the cost of rising pay for some fields.

Susan R. Bailey, MD, president of the American Medical Association, addressed both of these ideas in an AMA news release on the proposed 2021 physician fee schedule. The increase in pay for office visits, covered under evaluation and management services (E/M), stems from recommendations on resource costs from the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee, Dr. Bailey said.

“Unfortunately, these office visit payment increases, and a multitude of other new CMS proposed payment increases, are required by statute to be offset by payment reductions to other services, through an unsustainable reduction of nearly 11% to the Medicare conversion factor,” Dr. Bailey explained.

In the news release, Dr. Bailey asked Congress to waive Medicare’s budget-neutrality requirements to allow increases without the cuts.

“Physicians are already experiencing substantial economic hardships due to COVID-19, so these pay cuts could not come at a worse time,” she said.

Winners and losers

The CMS details the possible winners and losers in its payment reshuffle in Table 90 of the proposed 2021 physician fee schedule. In the proposed rule, CMS notes in the draft that these figures are based upon estimates of aggregate allowed charges across all services furnished by physicians and other clinicians.

“Therefore, they are averages, and may not necessarily be representative of what is happening to the particular services furnished by a single practitioner within any given specialty,” the CMS said.

Specialties in line for increases under the 2021 draft rule include allergy/immunology (9%), endocrinology (17%), family practice (13%), general practice (8%), geriatrics (4%), hematology/oncology (14%), internal medicine (4%), nephrology (6%), physician assistants (8%), psychiatry (8%), rheumatology (16%), and urology (8%).

In line for cuts would be anesthesiology (–8%), cardiac surgery (–9%), emergency medicine (–6%), general surgery (–7%), infectious disease (–4%), neurosurgery (–7%), physical/occupational therapy (–9%), plastic surgery (–7%), radiology (–11%), and thoracic surgery (–8%).

An umbrella group, the Surgical Care Coalition, on Aug. 3 had a quick statement ready about the CMS proposal. Writing on behalf of the group was David B. Hoyt, MD, executive director of the American College of Surgeons.

“Today’s proposed rule ignores both patients and the surgeons who care for them. The middle of a pandemic is no time for cuts to any form of health care, but today’s announcement moves ahead as if nothing has changed,” Hoyt said in the statement. “The Surgical Care Coalition believes no physician should see payment cuts that will reduce patients’ access to care.”

The Surgical Care Coalition already has been asking Congress to waive budget-neutrality requirements. Making a similar request Aug. 4 in a unified statement were the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

“Our organizations call on Congress and CMS to advance well-reasoned fee schedule payment policies and waive budget neutrality,” the groups said. “While APTA, AOTA, and ASHA do not oppose payment increases for primary care physicians, we believe these increases can be implemented without imposing payment reductions on other providers.”
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

The Trump administration is sticking with a plan to boost certain Medicare pay for many primary care and other specialties focused heavily on office visits while lowering that for other groups to balance these increased costs.

On Aug. 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted on the Federal Register draft versions of two of its major annual payment measures: the physician fee schedule and the payment rule for hospital outpatient services. On Aug. 3, the CMS informally posted a copy of the physician fee schedule on its own website, allowing medical groups to begin reading the more than 1,300-page rule.

Federal officials normally use annual Medicare payment rules to make many revisions to policies as well as adjust reimbursement.

The draft 2021 physician fee schedule, for example, calls for broadening the authority of clinicians other than physicians to authorize testing of people enrolled in Medicare.

The CMS intends to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certain other health care professionals to more widely supervise diagnostic psychological and neuropsychological tests, in keeping with applicable state laws.

The draft 2021 hospital outpatient rule proposes a gradual changeover to allow more procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis. This shift could save money for Medicare as well as for the people enrolled in the giant federal health program who need these services, the CMS explained.

Medicare would begin with a change in status for almost 300 musculoskeletal-related services, making them eligible for payment in the hospital outpatient setting when appropriate, CMS wrote in a fact sheet.

The initial reaction to Medicare’s proposed 2021 rules centered on its planned redistribution of funds among medical specialties. The CMS had outlined this plan last year. It is part of longstanding efforts to boost pay for primary care specialists and other physicians whose practice centers more around office visits than procedures.

There is broad support in health policy circles for raising pay for these specialties, but there also are strong objections to the cuts the CMS plans to offset the cost of rising pay for some fields.

Susan R. Bailey, MD, president of the American Medical Association, addressed both of these ideas in an AMA news release on the proposed 2021 physician fee schedule. The increase in pay for office visits, covered under evaluation and management services (E/M), stems from recommendations on resource costs from the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee, Dr. Bailey said.

“Unfortunately, these office visit payment increases, and a multitude of other new CMS proposed payment increases, are required by statute to be offset by payment reductions to other services, through an unsustainable reduction of nearly 11% to the Medicare conversion factor,” Dr. Bailey explained.

In the news release, Dr. Bailey asked Congress to waive Medicare’s budget-neutrality requirements to allow increases without the cuts.

“Physicians are already experiencing substantial economic hardships due to COVID-19, so these pay cuts could not come at a worse time,” she said.

Winners and losers

The CMS details the possible winners and losers in its payment reshuffle in Table 90 of the proposed 2021 physician fee schedule. In the proposed rule, CMS notes in the draft that these figures are based upon estimates of aggregate allowed charges across all services furnished by physicians and other clinicians.

“Therefore, they are averages, and may not necessarily be representative of what is happening to the particular services furnished by a single practitioner within any given specialty,” the CMS said.

Specialties in line for increases under the 2021 draft rule include allergy/immunology (9%), endocrinology (17%), family practice (13%), general practice (8%), geriatrics (4%), hematology/oncology (14%), internal medicine (4%), nephrology (6%), physician assistants (8%), psychiatry (8%), rheumatology (16%), and urology (8%).

In line for cuts would be anesthesiology (–8%), cardiac surgery (–9%), emergency medicine (–6%), general surgery (–7%), infectious disease (–4%), neurosurgery (–7%), physical/occupational therapy (–9%), plastic surgery (–7%), radiology (–11%), and thoracic surgery (–8%).

An umbrella group, the Surgical Care Coalition, on Aug. 3 had a quick statement ready about the CMS proposal. Writing on behalf of the group was David B. Hoyt, MD, executive director of the American College of Surgeons.

“Today’s proposed rule ignores both patients and the surgeons who care for them. The middle of a pandemic is no time for cuts to any form of health care, but today’s announcement moves ahead as if nothing has changed,” Hoyt said in the statement. “The Surgical Care Coalition believes no physician should see payment cuts that will reduce patients’ access to care.”

The Surgical Care Coalition already has been asking Congress to waive budget-neutrality requirements. Making a similar request Aug. 4 in a unified statement were the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

“Our organizations call on Congress and CMS to advance well-reasoned fee schedule payment policies and waive budget neutrality,” the groups said. “While APTA, AOTA, and ASHA do not oppose payment increases for primary care physicians, we believe these increases can be implemented without imposing payment reductions on other providers.”
 

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Hospital costs for the nation’s 35.8 million inpatient stays in 2017 totaled $434.2 billion, for an average of $11,700 per stay, according to a recent analysis from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The single most expensive inpatient condition that year, representing about 8.8% of all hospital costs, was septicemia at $38.2 billion, nearly double the $19.9 billion spent on the next most expensive condition, osteoarthritis, Lan Liang, PhD, of the AHRQ, and associates said in a statistical brief.

These figures “represent the hospital’s costs to produce the services – not the amount paid for services by payers – and they do not include separately billed physician fees associated with the hospitalization,” they noted.

Third in overall cost for 2017 but first in total number of stays were live-born infants, with 3.7 million admissions costing just under $16 billion. Hospital costs for acute myocardial infarction ($14.3 billion) made it the fourth most expensive condition, with heart failure fifth at $13.6 billion, based on data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National Inpatient Sample.

The 20 most expensive conditions, which also included coronary atherosclerosis, pneumonia, renal failure, and lower-limb fracture, accounted for close to 47% of all hospital costs and over 43% of all stays in 2017. The total amount spent by hospitals that year, $1.1 trillion, constituted nearly a third of all health care expenditures and was 4.7% higher than in 2016, Dr. Liang and associates reported.

“Although this growth represented deceleration, compared with the 5.8% increase between 2014 and 2015, the consistent year-to-year rise in hospital-related expenses remains a central concern among policymakers,” they wrote.

rfranki@mdedge.com

Hospital costs for the nation’s 35.8 million inpatient stays in 2017 totaled $434.2 billion, for an average of $11,700 per stay, according to a recent analysis from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The single most expensive inpatient condition that year, representing about 8.8% of all hospital costs, was septicemia at $38.2 billion, nearly double the $19.9 billion spent on the next most expensive condition, osteoarthritis, Lan Liang, PhD, of the AHRQ, and associates said in a statistical brief.

These figures “represent the hospital’s costs to produce the services – not the amount paid for services by payers – and they do not include separately billed physician fees associated with the hospitalization,” they noted.

Third in overall cost for 2017 but first in total number of stays were live-born infants, with 3.7 million admissions costing just under $16 billion. Hospital costs for acute myocardial infarction ($14.3 billion) made it the fourth most expensive condition, with heart failure fifth at $13.6 billion, based on data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National Inpatient Sample.

The 20 most expensive conditions, which also included coronary atherosclerosis, pneumonia, renal failure, and lower-limb fracture, accounted for close to 47% of all hospital costs and over 43% of all stays in 2017. The total amount spent by hospitals that year, $1.1 trillion, constituted nearly a third of all health care expenditures and was 4.7% higher than in 2016, Dr. Liang and associates reported.

“Although this growth represented deceleration, compared with the 5.8% increase between 2014 and 2015, the consistent year-to-year rise in hospital-related expenses remains a central concern among policymakers,” they wrote.

rfranki@mdedge.com

Hospital costs for the nation’s 35.8 million inpatient stays in 2017 totaled $434.2 billion, for an average of $11,700 per stay, according to a recent analysis from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The single most expensive inpatient condition that year, representing about 8.8% of all hospital costs, was septicemia at $38.2 billion, nearly double the $19.9 billion spent on the next most expensive condition, osteoarthritis, Lan Liang, PhD, of the AHRQ, and associates said in a statistical brief.

These figures “represent the hospital’s costs to produce the services – not the amount paid for services by payers – and they do not include separately billed physician fees associated with the hospitalization,” they noted.

Third in overall cost for 2017 but first in total number of stays were live-born infants, with 3.7 million admissions costing just under $16 billion. Hospital costs for acute myocardial infarction ($14.3 billion) made it the fourth most expensive condition, with heart failure fifth at $13.6 billion, based on data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National Inpatient Sample.

The 20 most expensive conditions, which also included coronary atherosclerosis, pneumonia, renal failure, and lower-limb fracture, accounted for close to 47% of all hospital costs and over 43% of all stays in 2017. The total amount spent by hospitals that year, $1.1 trillion, constituted nearly a third of all health care expenditures and was 4.7% higher than in 2016, Dr. Liang and associates reported.

“Although this growth represented deceleration, compared with the 5.8% increase between 2014 and 2015, the consistent year-to-year rise in hospital-related expenses remains a central concern among policymakers,” they wrote.

rfranki@mdedge.com

The first-in-class drug belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) has been granted an accelerated approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in patients who have already tried other therapies.

This follows a recommendation for approval on July 15 by an FDA advisory committee, which voted 12-0 in favor of the drug’s benefits outweighing risks in this patient population.

The product has a novel mechanism of action: it targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein that is present on the surface of virtually all multiple myeloma cells but is absent from normal B cells.

The drug had already received an FDA breakthrough therapy designation, which facilitates the development of drugs that have shown clinical promise for conditions in which there is significant unmet need.

Belantamab mafodotin was recommended for conditional marketing approval in the European Union on July 24 and was accepted into the European Medicines Agency PRIME scheme for medicines that have potential to address unmet medical needs.

The new drug is indicated for patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma who have already tried treatment with one of the three major classes of drugs, namely, an immunomolatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and a CD38 monoclonal antibody.

For patients who no longer respond to these drugs, the outlook is bleak, the EMA comments. There is an unmet medical need for new treatments that improve survival of these patients beyond the currently observed 3 months or less.

“While treatable, refractory multiple myeloma is a significant clinical challenge with poor outcomes for patients whose disease has become resistant to the current standard of care,” commented Sagar Lonial, MD, chief medical officer of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, chair of the department of hematology and medical oncology at Emory, and a principal investigator for the clinical trial that led to the approval.

“Due to the limited options currently available, these patients are often retreated with drugs from the same classes after they relapse, which is why the approval of belantamab mafodotin, the first anti-BCMA therapy, is significant for both patients and physicians alike,” he said.

The product is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines a monoclonal antibody that targets BCMA with the cytotoxic agent maleimidocaproyl monomethyl auristatin F. It homes in on BCMA on myeloma cell surfaces. Once inside the myeloma cell, the cytotoxic agent is released, leading to apoptosis, the programmed death of the cancerous plasma cells.
 

Approval based on response rates

The accelerated approval from the FDA and the recommendation for conditional approval from the EMA are based on results for overall response rate and duration of response from a phase 2, open-label, randomized, two-arm study known as DREAMM-2. Both agencies said that they are waiting for further data on clinical benefit from ongoing trials.

The DREAMM-2 study investigated the efficacy and safety of two doses of belantamab mafodotin in multiple myeloma patients whose disease was still active after three or more lines of therapy and who no longer responded to treatment with immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Six-month results from this study were published in The Lancet Oncology in December. The overall response rate was 31% in the cohort given a 2.5-mg/kg dose of the drug; 30 of 97 patients had outcomes that met the study’s positive threshold.

Another 99 patients in DREAMM-2 received a dose of 3.4 mg/kg, which was judged to have a less favorable safety profile.

The median duration of response had not been reached at the 6-month analysis, but for 73% of responders, DoR was ≥6 months.

The most commonly reported adverse events (≥20%) were keratopathy (changes in the cornea), decreased visual acuity, nausea, blurred vision, pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, and fatigue, the manufacturer notes.
 

Ocular toxicity

One of the most common adverse events with this product affects the eyes.

Ocular adverse reactions occurred in 77% of the 218 patients in the pooled safety population and included keratopathy (76%), changes in visual acuity (55%), blurred vision (27%), and dry eye (19%).

Corneal adverse events were monitored with eye exams prior to each dose, allowing dose reductions or interruptions as appropriate, the manufacturer noted. Patients also used preservative-free eyedrops. Keratopathy leading to treatment discontinuation affected 2.1% of patients in the 2.5-mg/kg cohort.

Because of this ocular toxicity, the company has set up a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for the product. This requires education for all physicians who prescribe the product as well as their patients regarding the ocular risks associated with treatment. It also requires monitoring that includes regular ophthalmic examinations. Information about the scheme can be found at www.blenreprems.com.

At the FDA advisory committee meeting last month, one of the panelists, Gita Thanarajasingam, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., said belantamab appeared to be well tolerated but for ocular toxicity. Physicians need to acknowledge how severe this risk may be for patients while keeping in mind that belantamab still may be more tolerable for some people than current treatments.

“It’s reasonable to leave open the option for decision making. Patients can express their values and preferences,” Dr. Thanarajasingam said. “There’s adequate, albeit not complete, information to guide this risk-benefit discussion in a REMS program.”

Another panelist, Heidi D. Klepin, MD, a professor at Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston Salem, N.C., agreed that the informed consent process should allow patients “to choose whether the trade-off is worth it to them” with belantamab.

This article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The first-in-class drug belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) has been granted an accelerated approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in patients who have already tried other therapies.

This follows a recommendation for approval on July 15 by an FDA advisory committee, which voted 12-0 in favor of the drug’s benefits outweighing risks in this patient population.

The product has a novel mechanism of action: it targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein that is present on the surface of virtually all multiple myeloma cells but is absent from normal B cells.

The drug had already received an FDA breakthrough therapy designation, which facilitates the development of drugs that have shown clinical promise for conditions in which there is significant unmet need.

Belantamab mafodotin was recommended for conditional marketing approval in the European Union on July 24 and was accepted into the European Medicines Agency PRIME scheme for medicines that have potential to address unmet medical needs.

The new drug is indicated for patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma who have already tried treatment with one of the three major classes of drugs, namely, an immunomolatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and a CD38 monoclonal antibody.

For patients who no longer respond to these drugs, the outlook is bleak, the EMA comments. There is an unmet medical need for new treatments that improve survival of these patients beyond the currently observed 3 months or less.

“While treatable, refractory multiple myeloma is a significant clinical challenge with poor outcomes for patients whose disease has become resistant to the current standard of care,” commented Sagar Lonial, MD, chief medical officer of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, chair of the department of hematology and medical oncology at Emory, and a principal investigator for the clinical trial that led to the approval.

“Due to the limited options currently available, these patients are often retreated with drugs from the same classes after they relapse, which is why the approval of belantamab mafodotin, the first anti-BCMA therapy, is significant for both patients and physicians alike,” he said.

The product is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines a monoclonal antibody that targets BCMA with the cytotoxic agent maleimidocaproyl monomethyl auristatin F. It homes in on BCMA on myeloma cell surfaces. Once inside the myeloma cell, the cytotoxic agent is released, leading to apoptosis, the programmed death of the cancerous plasma cells.
 

Approval based on response rates

The accelerated approval from the FDA and the recommendation for conditional approval from the EMA are based on results for overall response rate and duration of response from a phase 2, open-label, randomized, two-arm study known as DREAMM-2. Both agencies said that they are waiting for further data on clinical benefit from ongoing trials.

The DREAMM-2 study investigated the efficacy and safety of two doses of belantamab mafodotin in multiple myeloma patients whose disease was still active after three or more lines of therapy and who no longer responded to treatment with immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Six-month results from this study were published in The Lancet Oncology in December. The overall response rate was 31% in the cohort given a 2.5-mg/kg dose of the drug; 30 of 97 patients had outcomes that met the study’s positive threshold.

Another 99 patients in DREAMM-2 received a dose of 3.4 mg/kg, which was judged to have a less favorable safety profile.

The median duration of response had not been reached at the 6-month analysis, but for 73% of responders, DoR was ≥6 months.

The most commonly reported adverse events (≥20%) were keratopathy (changes in the cornea), decreased visual acuity, nausea, blurred vision, pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, and fatigue, the manufacturer notes.
 

Ocular toxicity

One of the most common adverse events with this product affects the eyes.

Ocular adverse reactions occurred in 77% of the 218 patients in the pooled safety population and included keratopathy (76%), changes in visual acuity (55%), blurred vision (27%), and dry eye (19%).

Corneal adverse events were monitored with eye exams prior to each dose, allowing dose reductions or interruptions as appropriate, the manufacturer noted. Patients also used preservative-free eyedrops. Keratopathy leading to treatment discontinuation affected 2.1% of patients in the 2.5-mg/kg cohort.

Because of this ocular toxicity, the company has set up a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for the product. This requires education for all physicians who prescribe the product as well as their patients regarding the ocular risks associated with treatment. It also requires monitoring that includes regular ophthalmic examinations. Information about the scheme can be found at www.blenreprems.com.

At the FDA advisory committee meeting last month, one of the panelists, Gita Thanarajasingam, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., said belantamab appeared to be well tolerated but for ocular toxicity. Physicians need to acknowledge how severe this risk may be for patients while keeping in mind that belantamab still may be more tolerable for some people than current treatments.

“It’s reasonable to leave open the option for decision making. Patients can express their values and preferences,” Dr. Thanarajasingam said. “There’s adequate, albeit not complete, information to guide this risk-benefit discussion in a REMS program.”

Another panelist, Heidi D. Klepin, MD, a professor at Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston Salem, N.C., agreed that the informed consent process should allow patients “to choose whether the trade-off is worth it to them” with belantamab.

This article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The first-in-class drug belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) has been granted an accelerated approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in patients who have already tried other therapies.

This follows a recommendation for approval on July 15 by an FDA advisory committee, which voted 12-0 in favor of the drug’s benefits outweighing risks in this patient population.

The product has a novel mechanism of action: it targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein that is present on the surface of virtually all multiple myeloma cells but is absent from normal B cells.

The drug had already received an FDA breakthrough therapy designation, which facilitates the development of drugs that have shown clinical promise for conditions in which there is significant unmet need.

Belantamab mafodotin was recommended for conditional marketing approval in the European Union on July 24 and was accepted into the European Medicines Agency PRIME scheme for medicines that have potential to address unmet medical needs.

The new drug is indicated for patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma who have already tried treatment with one of the three major classes of drugs, namely, an immunomolatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and a CD38 monoclonal antibody.

For patients who no longer respond to these drugs, the outlook is bleak, the EMA comments. There is an unmet medical need for new treatments that improve survival of these patients beyond the currently observed 3 months or less.

“While treatable, refractory multiple myeloma is a significant clinical challenge with poor outcomes for patients whose disease has become resistant to the current standard of care,” commented Sagar Lonial, MD, chief medical officer of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, chair of the department of hematology and medical oncology at Emory, and a principal investigator for the clinical trial that led to the approval.

“Due to the limited options currently available, these patients are often retreated with drugs from the same classes after they relapse, which is why the approval of belantamab mafodotin, the first anti-BCMA therapy, is significant for both patients and physicians alike,” he said.

The product is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines a monoclonal antibody that targets BCMA with the cytotoxic agent maleimidocaproyl monomethyl auristatin F. It homes in on BCMA on myeloma cell surfaces. Once inside the myeloma cell, the cytotoxic agent is released, leading to apoptosis, the programmed death of the cancerous plasma cells.
 

Approval based on response rates

The accelerated approval from the FDA and the recommendation for conditional approval from the EMA are based on results for overall response rate and duration of response from a phase 2, open-label, randomized, two-arm study known as DREAMM-2. Both agencies said that they are waiting for further data on clinical benefit from ongoing trials.

The DREAMM-2 study investigated the efficacy and safety of two doses of belantamab mafodotin in multiple myeloma patients whose disease was still active after three or more lines of therapy and who no longer responded to treatment with immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Six-month results from this study were published in The Lancet Oncology in December. The overall response rate was 31% in the cohort given a 2.5-mg/kg dose of the drug; 30 of 97 patients had outcomes that met the study’s positive threshold.

Another 99 patients in DREAMM-2 received a dose of 3.4 mg/kg, which was judged to have a less favorable safety profile.

The median duration of response had not been reached at the 6-month analysis, but for 73% of responders, DoR was ≥6 months.

The most commonly reported adverse events (≥20%) were keratopathy (changes in the cornea), decreased visual acuity, nausea, blurred vision, pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, and fatigue, the manufacturer notes.
 

Ocular toxicity

One of the most common adverse events with this product affects the eyes.

Ocular adverse reactions occurred in 77% of the 218 patients in the pooled safety population and included keratopathy (76%), changes in visual acuity (55%), blurred vision (27%), and dry eye (19%).

Corneal adverse events were monitored with eye exams prior to each dose, allowing dose reductions or interruptions as appropriate, the manufacturer noted. Patients also used preservative-free eyedrops. Keratopathy leading to treatment discontinuation affected 2.1% of patients in the 2.5-mg/kg cohort.

Because of this ocular toxicity, the company has set up a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for the product. This requires education for all physicians who prescribe the product as well as their patients regarding the ocular risks associated with treatment. It also requires monitoring that includes regular ophthalmic examinations. Information about the scheme can be found at www.blenreprems.com.

At the FDA advisory committee meeting last month, one of the panelists, Gita Thanarajasingam, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., said belantamab appeared to be well tolerated but for ocular toxicity. Physicians need to acknowledge how severe this risk may be for patients while keeping in mind that belantamab still may be more tolerable for some people than current treatments.

“It’s reasonable to leave open the option for decision making. Patients can express their values and preferences,” Dr. Thanarajasingam said. “There’s adequate, albeit not complete, information to guide this risk-benefit discussion in a REMS program.”

Another panelist, Heidi D. Klepin, MD, a professor at Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston Salem, N.C., agreed that the informed consent process should allow patients “to choose whether the trade-off is worth it to them” with belantamab.

This article first appeared on Medscape.com.