The American journal of medicine
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Heart failure carries significant morbidity and mortality and affects a large population of patients cared for predominantly by primary care physicians. The complexity of managing heart failure patients is increasing as new therapies continue to emerge. This review outlines important clinical pearls and proposes strategies for optimization of medical therapy.
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Moderate or severe asthma is a complex disease process clinically manifesting as at least partially reversible airway obstruction due to airway hyperresponsiveness. Asthma therapy was based primarily on symptom control until recent studies of its mechanisms have led to a host of new targeted, safe, and effective therapies. These biologic therapies directly attack culprit inflammatory mediators at the molecular level. ⋯ We provide information deemed necessary to optimally consult with an asthma specialist to choose, assist in financial arrangements for, and coordinate the use of these new, promising, Food and Drug Administration-approved biologic agents. We will also briefly review the molecular pathways targeted with each class of biologic to provide a more in-depth understanding of why these targeted therapies are effective. These biologics are the first of many to come that modify newly discovered components of the immune system with which many physicians are unfamiliar.