Expert opinion on drug safety
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By the year 2000, droperidol had become a standard drug for the treatment of behavioural emergencies in both psychiatric and medical settings. In 2001, the US FDA issued a 'black box' warning, citing cases of QT prolongation and/or torsades de pointes. As a result, the use of droperidol has been sharply circumscribed. ⋯ The authors conclude that, while in theory droperidol may prolong the QT interval to an extent similar to thioridazine, its long history of clinical use has shown no pattern of sudden deaths analogous to those that provoked the FDA warning. Although the numbers presented by the FDA initially appear alarming, after further evaluation it is clear that more definitive studies should have been carried out. Droperidol is safe, extremely effective, and now underused as a treatment for severely agitated or violent patients.
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The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2 is overexpressed in approximately 20-25% of human breast cancers and is an independent adverse prognostic factor. Targeted therapy directed against this receptor has been developed in the form of a humanised monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab. This antibody has shown activity as a single agent in metastatic breast cancer both prior to chemotherapy and in heavily pretreated patients. ⋯ Some patients may experience fever, chills, dyspnoea and pain, particularly with the first administration. Unexpectedly, cardiac toxicity has developed in some patients treated with trastuzumab, and this has a higher incidence in those treated in combination with an anthracycline. 'Cross-talk' between the oestrogen receptor and HER2 pathway has stimulated interest in using trastuzumab in combination with endocrine therapy. Current clinical trials are investigating the role of this agent in the adjuvant setting.