Dr. Durand on the Management of Rhythm Disturbances Using Web-Based Technologies

Jean-Bernard Durand, MD, medical director of Cardiomyopathy Services, director of Cardiovascular Genetics Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses web-based management technologies for patients with cancer.

This remote technology is currently in use at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and physicians are able to use it in real time. This technology has been especially helpful for particular types of drugs that are known to cause rhythm disturbances.

There is a goal to successfully get patients through their treatments with minimal toxicities, Durand explains. When these toxicities manifest, physicians will generally halt administration of the patient’s treatment. One such drug is Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) which is approved for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and select lymphomas. However, if Ibrutinib is discontinued for more than 8 days, overall survival (OS) is negatively impacted.

Now, physicians have the ability to identify these problems, treat them, and ultimately prevent patients from stopping their treatment, so they can maximize their outcomes.