Current vascular pharmacology
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Anticoagulation is recommended for prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) and/or arterial thromboembolism. The therapeutic arsenal of anticoagulants available to clinicians is mainly composed by unfractionated heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), fondaparinux and oral vitamin K antagonists (VKA) (i.e. warfarin and acenocumarol). These anticoagulants are effective, but they require parenteral administration (UFH, LMWH, fondaparinux) and/or frequent anticoagulant monitoring (intravenous UFH, oral VKA). ⋯ These new compounds have the potential to complement heparins and fondaparinux for short-term anticoagulation and/or to replace VKA for long-term anticoagulation in most patients. Dabigatran and rivaroxaban have been the firsts of the new oral anticoagulants to be licensed for the prevention of VTE after hip and knee replacement surgery. In the present review, we discuss the pharmacology of new anticoagulants, the key points necessary for interpreting the results of studies on VTE prophylaxis and treatment, the results of clinical trials testing these new compounds and their potential advantages and drawbacks over existing therapies.
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Curr Vasc Pharmacol · Jul 2009
ReviewCurrent management of intermittent claudication: the role of pharmacological and nonpharmacological symptom-directed therapies.
Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis, with a prevalence ranging from 4% to 12% in the adult population and increasing up to 20% in older individuals. Intermittent claudication (IC) may markedly impair walking ability, overall functional status and quality of life. PAD is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Endovascular or surgical revascularization is indicated for selected patients with vocation- or lifestyle-limiting claudication who are unresponsive to exercise and pharmacotherapy. New drug candidates for managing claudication symptoms include propionyl-L-carnitine and statins. Preliminary studies suggest that therapeutic angiogenesis holds promise for future treatment of IC.
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In the last decade there have been considerable advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VA) and Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). Over 80% of SCD occurs in patients with organic heart disease. However, approximately 10-15% of SCD occurs in the presence of structurally normal heart and the majority of those patients are young. ⋯ Many are associated with other somatic and neurological abnormalities besides the risk of VA and SCD. The current management of cardiac ion channelopathy could be summarized as follows: 1) in symptomatic patients, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is the only viable option; 2) in asymptomatic patients, risk stratification is necessary followed by the ICD, pharmacotherapy, or a combination of both. A genotype-specific approach to pharmacotherapy requires a thorough understanding of the molecular-cellular basis of arrhythmogenesis in cardiac ion channelopathies as well as the specific drug profile.