Laveena Chhatwani

All Publications

• Cystic fibrosis telemedicine in the era of COVID-19. JAMIA open Rad, E. J., Mirza, A. A., Chhatwani, L., Purington, N., Mohabir, P. K. 2022; 5 (1): ooac005

  Abstract

  The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in large-scale changes to incorporate telemedicine for the delivery of care. People with cystic fibrosis (CF) have care considerations that pose challenges to telemedicine; they include frequent visits for pulmonary disease progression, medication management, and evaluation by a multidisciplinary team of providers. We share our center's experience with video visits replacing in-person clinic evaluation, using quality improvement strategies to create a replicable workflow. Key considerations include incorporation of the multidisciplinary team into the visit, limitations of remote delivery of care, as well as patient and staff perceptions of this care model. Results revealed that video visits were convenient, efficacious, and comparable to in-person visits, with interest for its continued incorporation into the traditional CF care model.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac005

  View details for PubMedID 35224457

• Machine learning algorithms to differentiate among pulmonary complications after hematopoietic cell transplant. Chest Sharifi, H. n., Lai, Y. K., Guo, H. n., Hoppenfeld, M. n., Guenther, Z. D., Johnston, L. n., Brondstetter, T. n., Chhatwani, L. n., Nicolls, M. R., Hsu, J. L. 2020

  Abstract

  Pulmonary complications, including infections, are highly prevalent in patients after hematopoietic cell transplant with chronic graft-versus-host disease. These comorbid diseases can make the diagnosis of early lung graft-versus-host disease (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome) challenging. A quantitative method to differentiate among these pulmonary diseases can address diagnostic challenges and facilitate earlier and more targeted therapy.We conducted a single center study of 66 patients with computed tomography chest scans analyzed with a quantitative imaging tool known as parametric response mapping. Parametric response mapping results were correlated with pulmonary function tests and clinical characteristics. Five parametric response mapping metrics were applied to K-means clustering and support vector machine models to distinguish among post-transplant lung complications solely from quantitative output.Compared to parametric response mapping, spirometry showed a moderate correlation with radiographic air trapping, and total lung capacity and residual volume showed a strong correlation with radiographic lung volumes. K-means clustering analysis distinguished 4 unique clusters. Clusters 2 and 3 represented obstructive physiology (encompassing 81% of patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome) in increasing severity (percent air trapping 15.6% and 43.0%, respectively). Cluster 1 was dominated by normal lung, and cluster 4 was characterized by patients with parenchymal opacities. A support vector machine algorithm differentiated bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome with specificity of 88%, sensitivity of 83%, accuracy of 86% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85.Our machine learning models offer a quantitative approach for the identification of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome versus other lung diseases, including late pulmonary complications after hematopoietic cell transplant.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.chest.2020.02.076

  View details for PubMedID 32343962

• Lung transplantation following death by drowning: a review of the current literature. Clinical transplantation Pasupneti, S., Patel, K., Mooney, J. J., Chhatwani, L., Dhillon, G., Weill, D. 2016; 30 (10): 1195-1197

  Abstract

  While multiple donor characteristics have been cited as ideal for lung transplantation, there are minimal widely accepted exclusion criteria. One criterion that many centers view with hesitation is death by drowning. However, recent literature suggests such donors may result in acceptable outcomes following transplation. This review highlights a case of a patient who underwent successful bilateral lung transplant from a donor following a drowning event. A review of the current literature is presented, concluding with a new proposed set of favorable donor criteria following death by drowning. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/ctr.12822

  View details for PubMedID 27447443

• Lung transplantation following death by drowning: a review of the current literature CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION Pasupneti, S., Patel, K., Mooney, J. J., Chhatwani, L., Dhillon, G., Weill, D. 2016; 39 (10): 1195-1197

  Abstract

  While multiple donor characteristics have been cited as ideal for lung transplantation, there are minimal widely accepted exclusion criteria. One criterion that many centers view with hesitation is death by drowning. However, recent literature suggests such donors may result in acceptable outcomes following transplation. This review highlights a case of a patient who underwent successful bilateral lung transplant from a donor following a drowning event. A review of the current literature is presented, concluding with a new proposed set of favorable donor criteria following death by drowning. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/ctr.12822

  View details for Web of Science ID 000385758800002

• Increased Resource Use in Lung Transplant Admissions in the Lung Allocation Score Era AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Maxwelll, B. G., Mooney, J. J., Lee, P. H., Levitt, J. E., Chhatwani, L., Nicolls, M. R., Zamora, M. R., Valentine, V., Weill, D., Dhillon, G. S. 2015; 191 (3): 302-308

  Abstract

  Rationale: In 2005, the lung allocation score (LAS) was implemented to prioritize organ allocation to minimize waiting-list mortality and maximize one-year survival. It resulted in transplantation of older and sicker patients without changing one-year survival. Its effect on resource utilization is unknown. Objective: To determine changes in resource utilization over time in lung transplant admissions Methods: Solid organ transplant recipients were identified within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2000 to 2011. Joinpoint regression methodology was performed to identify a time point of change in mean total hospital charges amongst lung transplant and other solid organ transplant recipients. Two temporal lung transplant recipient cohorts identified by joinpoint regression were compared for baseline characteristics and resource utilization, including total charges for index hospitalization, charges per day, length of stay, discharge disposition, tracheostomy, and need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Measurements and Main Results: A significant point of increased total hospital charges occurred for lung transplant recipients in 2005, corresponding to LAS implementation, that was not seen in other solid organ transplant recipients. Total transplant hospital charges increased by 40% in the post-LAS cohort [$569,942 ($53,229) vs. $407,489 ($28,360)] along with an increased median length of stay, daily charges, and discharge disposition other than to home. Post-LAS recipients also had higher post-transplant utilization of ECMO (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.56, 3.55) and higher incidence of tracheostomy (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.22, 1.89). Conclusions: LAS implementation is associated with a significant increase in resource utilization during index hospitalization for lung transplant.

  View details for DOI 10.1164/rccm.201408-1562OC

  View details for Web of Science ID 000348827000014

  View details for PubMedID 25517213

• Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of bexarotene in combination with gefitinib in the third-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer: brief report. Anti-cancer drugs Padda, S. K., Chhatwani, L., Zhou, L., Jacobs, C. D., Lopez-Anaya, A., Wakelee, H. A. 2013; 24 (7): 731-735

  Abstract

  Gefitinib (an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and bexarotene (a rexinoid) affect similar oncogenic pathways and are both metabolized through cytochrome P450 CYP3A4. We studied the combination of bexarotene and gefitinib in the third-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer to examine pharmacokinetic interactions and establish the maximum tolerated dose. This was a single-institution, nonrandomized, open-label, phase I clinical trial with a standard 3+3 dose escalation. Three patients were enrolled at each dose level on the basis of pharmacokinetic analysis with dose level 1 including gefitinib (Iressa) 250 mg oral daily and bexarotene (Targretin) 400 mg/m oral daily and dose level +1 including gefitinib 500 mg oral daily and bexarotene 400 mg/m oral daily. Patients received gefitinib alone for 2 weeks to allow for steady state and thereafter, bexarotene was added. In dose level 1, two of three patients had undetectable gefitinib levels at day 15 for unknown reasons. However, the peak levels on day 29 for all three patients receiving 250 mg of gefitinib with bexarotene are lower than published peak levels. Among the three patients in dose level +1, ∼40% lower gefitinib plasma concentrations were noted on day 29 compared with day 15 along with a mean 44% reduction in area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24). Bexarotene appears to lower the Cmax and AUC0-24 of gefitinib through cytochrome P450 CYP3A4. Our results have pharmacokinetic implications for ongoing trials that combine bexarotene with other small molecules in the era of personalized cancer therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/CAD.0b013e32836100d7

  View details for PubMedID 23552470

• A phase I dose-escalation and pharmacokinetic study of enzastaurin and erlotinib in patients with advanced solid tumors CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY AND PHARMACOLOGY Padda, S. K., Krupitskaya, Y., Chhatwani, L., Fisher, G. A., Colevas, A. D., Pedro-Salcedo, M. S., Decker, R., Latz, J. E., Wakelee, H. A. 2012; 69 (4): 1013-1020

  Abstract

  Enzastaurin, an oral serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, targets the protein kinase C and AKT pathways with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects. Erlotinib, an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, has activity in solid tumors. Based on the promising combination of EGFR inhibitors and anti-angiogenic agents, this phase I trial was initiated.This single-institution, open-label, non-randomized trial used a standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation model in patients with advanced solid malignancies including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two dose levels of enzastaurin (with loading doses) were explored: 250 mg daily and 500 mg daily. Erlotinib was given at 150 mg daily.Sixteen patients were enrolled in this study (median age, 64 years). Most patients were heavily pre-treated, female, and Caucasian and had NSCLC. The highest dose of enzastaurin, 500 mg daily, was tolerated with no unexpected adverse events and no alteration in the pharmacokinetics of either drug at this dose level. The mean clearance was 5.75 L/h for erlotinib and 53.8 L/h for enzastaurin. The most common possibly drug-related grade 3-4 adverse events included diarrhea (25.0%), neurologic symptoms (18.8%), and vomiting (18.8%). Activity was noted, with a partial response in one patient and prolonged disease stability for >12 cycles in three patients.The combination of enzastaurin 500 mg daily and erlotinib 150 mg daily is well tolerated and does not alter the pharmacokinetics of the individual drugs, with clinical activity seen. A phase II trial of this combination has been initiated in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00280-011-1792-8

  View details for PubMedID 22160298

• Adjuvant chemotherapy for resected non-small cell lung cancer. Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Wakelee, H., Chhatwani, L. 2008; 20 (3): 198-203

  Abstract

  Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but even for stage IA, disease relapse rates remain as high as 30%. Patients with completely resected (R0) N1 disease have about a 50% chance of relapse. In the past 5 years, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy has finally been demonstrated for patients with lung cancer. Improvements of 5% to 10% 5-year survival have been reported with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Still, cure rates have significant room for improvement and ongoing trials with "targeted" agents such as those active against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and vaccine therapy will hopefully further increase the odds for patients with resected disease. Other studies looking at tumor gene and protein expression will lead us toward better identification of patients most likely to benefit from therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2008.09.001

  View details for PubMedID 19038728