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Gene mutations independent of BCR::ABL1 have been identified in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase, whereby mutations in epigenetic modifier genes were most common. These findings prompted the systematic analysis of prevalence, dynamics, and prognostic significance of such mutations, in a clinically well-characterized patient population of 222 CML patients from the TIGER study (CML-V) by targeted next-generation sequencing covering 54 myeloid leukemia-associated genes. In total, 53/222 CML patients (24%) carried 60 mutations at diagnosis with ASXL1 being most commonly affected (n = 20). To study mutation dynamics, longitudinal deep sequencing analysis of serial samples was performed in 100 patients after 12, 24, and 36 months of therapy. Typical patterns of clonal evolution included eradication, persistence, and emergence of mutated clones. Patients carrying an ASXL1 mutation at diagnosis showed a less favorable molecular response to nilotinib treatment, as a major molecular response (MMR) was achieved less frequently at month 12, 18, and 24 compared to all other patients. Patients with ASXL1 mutations were also younger and more frequently found in the high risk category, suggesting a central role of clonal evolution associated with ASXL1 mutations in CML pathogenesis.

Background Intravenous salbutamol is used to treat children with refractory status asthmaticus, however insufficient pharmacokinetic data are available to guide initial and subsequent dosing recommendations for its intravenous use. The pharmacologic activity of salbutamol resides predominantly in the (R)-enantiomer, with little or no activity and even concerns of adverse reactions attributed to the (S)-enantiomer. Objective Our aim was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile for intravenous salbutamol in children with status asthmaticus admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to use this model to study the effect of different dosing schemes with and without a loading dose. Methods From 19 children (median age 4.9 years [range 9 months–15.3 years], median weight 18 kg [range 7.8–70 kg]) treated with continuous intravenous salbutamol at the PICU, plasma samples for R- and S-salbutamol concentrations (111 samples), as well as asthma scores, were collected prospectively at the same time points. Possible adverse reactions and patients’ clinical data (age, sex, weight, drug doses, liver and kidney function) were recorded. With these data, a population pharmacokinetic model was developed using NONMEM 7.2. After validation, the model was used for simulations to evaluate the effect of different dosing regimens with or without a loading dose. Results A two-compartment model with separate clearance for R- and S-salbutamol (16.3 L/h and 8.8 L/h, respectively) best described the data. Weight was found to be a significant covariate for clearance and volume of distribution. No other covariates were identified. Simulations showed that a loading dose can result in higher R-salbutamol concentrations in the early phase after the start of infusion therapy, preventing accumulation of S-salbutamol. Conclusions The pharmacokinetic model of intravenous R- and S-salbutamol described the data well and showed that a loading dose should be considered in children. This model can be used to evaluate the pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationship of intravenous salbutamol in children, and, as a next step, the effectiveness and tolerability of intravenous salbutamol in children with severe asthma.

ObjectivesTo develop a population pharmacokinetic model of R-albuterol and S-albuterol for children suffering from status asthmaticus following continuous intravenous administration.MethodsAt the pediatric ICU 19 children suffering from severe status asthmaticus were treated using continuous intravenous albuterol in doses based on clinical symptoms (range 0.1–10 µg/kg/min). During therapy 111 blood samples were collected and analysed for R- and S-albuterol using a validated LC/MS-MS method. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using non-linear mixed effects modelling (NONMEM 7.2). Data was logarithmically transformed. Model selection criteria were decrease in objective function, diagnostic plots and NPDE. The covariates (range) analysed were bodyweight (7.8–70 kg), age (0.8–15.3 years), creatinine concentration (17–70 µmol/L), alanine transaminase (5–29 IU/L), and urea (1.6–4.8 mmol/L).ResultsA two-compartment model with separated clearance for R- (16.3 L/h) and S-albuterol (8.8 L/h) best described the data. Separated values for central volume of distribution (12.9 L), peripheral volume of distribution (45.2 L) and intercompartmental clearance (20.0 L/h) did not improve the model. Between-subject variability was described for clearance of R-albuterol (42%), clearance of S-albuterol (37%) and central volume of distribution (280%). Weight is a significant covariate using a power function. The exponent of the powerfunction was fixed at 0.75 for clearance and intercompartmental and at 1 for central and peripheral volume of distribution. Estimation of the exponent resulted in similar values and did not improve the model. No other covariates were identified.ConclusionThe population pharmacokinetics of R- and S-albuterol are described. This model can be used to evaluate the correlation between albuterol pharmacokinetics and effect in a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis.