BACKGROUND: @entity786 ( @entity49844 ) is still considered to be the first-line treatment for many life-threatening autoimmune conditions. It does, however, carry a significant risk of serious adverse events, especially @entity281 . At present @entity49844 is administered as either a daily oral dose ( @entity4420 ) or an intravenous pulse (PIVC). There is uncertainty regarding the safety profiles of both regimens in settings with a high burden of @entity166 . OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency and nature of adverse events related to the use of @entity4420 and PIVC in such a setting. METHODS: A cohort of @entity1 treated with @entity49844 for @entity792 at Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, from 1 January 2008 to 31 May 2013 was studied. We compared @entity1 receiving @entity4420 and PIVC with regard to disease characteristics and the occurrence of major adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 134 @entity1 (92 @entity4420 and 42 PIVC) were included. @entity1 in the @entity4420 group were treated for longer (174 v. 101 days; p<0.01) and with higher cumulative doses (17 276 v. 3 327 mg; p<0.01). Risk of infection was similar in the two groups, although there were 6 deaths from @entity295 in the @entity4420 group (v. 0; p=0.18). Nadir leucocyte counts were also lower in the @entity4420 group (median 3.8 v. 5.3 * 109/L; p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Infection rates in the two groups were similar, but @entity4420 was associated with longer treatment duration, greater cumulative @entity49844 doses and more severe @entity1210 . If resources allow and available literature provides support for efficacy, consideration should be given to greater use of PIVC.

Oral v. pulse intravenous @entity786 : A retrospective analysis of adverse events in a setting with a high burden of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'patients', 'Participants'] @entity49844 :: ('D003520', 'Chemical') :: ['CPM'] @entity295 :: ('MESH:D018805', 'Disease') :: ['leucopenic sepsis'] @entity786 :: ('MESH:D003520', 'Chemical') :: ['Cyclophosphamide'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infections'] @entity792 :: ('MESH:D001327', 'Disease') :: ['autoimmune diseases'] @entity166 :: ('MESH:D003141', 'Disease') :: ['infectious diseases'] @entity4420 :: ('CHEBI:16973', 'Chemical') :: ['DOC'] @entity1210 :: ('MESH:C536227', 'Disease') :: ['leucopenia']
@entity166 :: (MESH:D003141,Disease) :: ['infectious disease']
