This is notification that the thirty-ninth issue of the Virtual Journal Club (VJC) is available on the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) website. To access it, visit the Virtual Journal Club Surveys page or follow the direct link to the survey. 

 "Incidence of late onset neutropenia associated with rituximab use in B Cell lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation"

Ha VH, Ghosh S, Leyshon C, Ryan N, Chambers CR, Stewart DA

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice (JOPP) published March 2017

In several small studies (N<57) the reported incidence of late onset neutropenia in B-cell lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) with rituximab has been variable (15%-70%). In this larger, single site study, N=315 adults, the incidence was 29.2% with 16 infections. If you treat patients with B-cell lymphoma with ASCT including rituximab, this paper will inform your practice. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the risk for late onset neutropenia (LON) associated with rituximab in B Cell Lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplant;
2. Recognize the self-limiting and reversible nature of LON associated with rituximab;
3. Review the infectious complications associated with LON; and
4. Extrapolate and apply to your patient population prophylactic measures to prevent infectious complications associated with LON.

Accessing JOPP is easy. Log in as a member, go to the JOPP Access page and click the Access JOPP button. You have instant access.

As a reminder, ISOPP's Virtual Journal Club features online articles from the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice (JOPP). Members are encouraged to read articles and then answer a series of multiple choice questions through the Virtual Journal Club Surveys. 

After completing the questionnaire, a certificate will be emailed to you. Although not formally accredited for continuing medical education (CME) points, participation is equal to one hour of CME activity.  

Members are also encouraged to use the Member Discussion Forum to stimulate discussion about articles they have read. Your ISOPP membership provides many great benefits and we are hopeful you will find the Virtual Journal Club another asset to your oncology pharmacy practice.