Lancet
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Serelaxin, recombinant human relaxin-2, for treatment of acute heart failure (RELAX-AHF): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
Serelaxin, recombinant human relaxin-2, is a vasoactive peptide hormone with many biological and haemodynamic effects. In a pilot study, serelaxin was safe and well tolerated with positive clinical outcome signals in patients with acute heart failure. The RELAX-AHF trial tested the hypothesis that serelaxin-treated patients would have greater dyspnoea relief compared with patients treated with standard care and placebo. ⋯ Corthera, a Novartis affiliate company.
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Polymyalgia rheumatica is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of unknown cause that affects people over age 50 years. Classic symptoms include pain and long-term morning stiffness of the neck, shoulders, hips, upper arms, and thighs. Although markers of inflammation are often raised, no specific laboratory test exists for the disorder and the diagnosis is based on clinical assessment. ⋯ The standard treatment is low-dose glucocorticoids, which provide symptomatic relief for most patients. However, disease relapses are common, and treatment with glucocorticoids is associated with substantial morbidity. Improved understanding of disease pathogenesis might allow for more targeted immunotherapy.