title: Evaluation of Inhaled Dornase Alfa Administration in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Patients at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of dornase alfa in a non-cystic fibrosis population has been proposed to help improve atelectasis and secretions. Data evaluating dornase alfa in a non-cystic fibrosis population are limited, and the prescribing practices at a tertiary academic medical center are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients ≥18 years of age were included if they received inhaled dornase alfa. Patients were excluded if they had cystic fibrosis. Data collected included demographic data, dornase alfa prescribing patterns, concomitant inhaled therapy, blood gas data, and documented efficacy and safety data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six orders for dornase alfa therapy were included in the analysis. Of the patients, 18% had asthma and 19% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Seventy-seven percent of the patients received concomitant inhaled therapy. Eighty-three percent of orders were for 2.5 mg of dornase alfa twice daily. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of doses received per patient was 6 (4-13) with a median (IQR) duration of 3 (2-7) days. After inhaled dornase alfa administration, 11% of patients were able to cough productively. No safety issues related to inhaled dornase alfa therapy were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhaled dornase alfa is commonly prescribed to improve atelectasis and secretions in a non-cystic fibrosis patient population at a tertiary academic medical center.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA torbich@ccf.org.
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Torbic
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Gaspar
authors: G
authors: Hacobian
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; C568813:dornase alfa
keywords: atelectasis; critical care; dornase alfa; inhalation