Pharmacotherapy
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Assessment of a community pharmacy-based program for patients with asthma.
To implement and assess a community-based pharmaceutical care program for patients with asthma. ⋯ A community-based pharmaceutical care program was appreciated by the participants and had a positive impact on the vitality of patients with asthma, inhaler technique, and PEE.
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Case Reports
Biopsy-proved acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with vancomycin.
A 70-year-old man receiving vancomycin for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) abscess developed a drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction with rash, eosinophilia, and acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Renal biopsy revealed diffuse and marked interstitial and tubular infiltration by mononuclear cells and eosinophils; acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) was diagnosed. ⋯ This case further implicates vancomycin as a drug that infrequently can cause severe acute TIN and exfoliative dermatitis. When a renally excreted drug such as vancomycin is administered, serum drug levels should be serially monitored and high-dosage steroids be maintained or tapered slowly until serum drug levels become undetectable.
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Case Reports
Difficulties in anticoagulation management during coadministration of warfarin and rifampin.
The clinical significance of rifampin's induction of warfarin metabolism is well documented, but no published studies or case reports have quantified this interaction with respect to the international normalized ratio (INR). A patient receiving concomitant rifampin and warfarin to treat a mycobacterial infection and intraventricular thrombus, respectively, underwent routine INR testing at a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic to assess his anticoagulation regimen. ⋯ In addition, a gradual 70% reduction in warfarin dosage over 4-5 weeks was necessary to maintain a therapeutic INR after rifampin discontinuation, demonstrating the clinically significant offset of this drug interaction. Extensive changes in warfarin dosage are required to attain and maintain a therapeutic INR during the initiation, maintenance, and discontinuation of rifampin.