fax: (902) 470-7216
meghan.pike@dal.ca
February 20th, 2021
Dear Dr. Newburger,
Thank you for considering our manuscript, entitled Asparaginase
activity monitoring and management of asparaginase hypersensitivity
reactions in Canada , for publication as a Research Article in Pediatric
Blood and Cancer. Myself, Meghan Pike MD and my co-authors, Tamara
MacDonald PharmD and Ketan Kulkarni MD FRCPC feel this study provides
valuable information about the use of asparaginase and asparaginase
activity level monitoring in Canada.
This survey study, which had responses from physicians in every province
in Canada, identifies that only 39.2% of pediatric oncologists in
Canada routinely measure asparaginase levels. The most common reason for
this not knowing how to use levels clinically. There is also variation
in the timing of levels and their target(s). The survey also identified
inconsistency of use of Erwinia and the authors feel that
consistent asparaginase activity level monitoring may decrease the
frequency of switching asparaginase formulations from pegaspargase toErwinia, which is especially important in light of the current
global Erwinia shortage.The information provided by this study
informs us of the need for a pan-Canadian guideline regarding
asparaginase activity level monitoring and management of asparaginase
reactions, which the authors intend to develop.
This manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere nor has it been
previously published. The authors do not have any conflict of interest
relating to this study.
All authors have contributed to the manuscript in significant ways, have
reviewed and agreed upon the manuscript content. Three potential
reviewers who are experts in this field without any identified conflict
of interest include Dr. Sunil Desai, Dr. Jim Whitlock, Dr. Sarah
Alexander.
Sincerely,
Meghan Pike, MD
Corresponding Author